Ok, my kids and I just watched an episode of Animal Planet's "Pet Stories". It was about a man who has been working with reptiles for many many years. One of the reptiles he has is an American Alligator named Bubba, who is 8 feet long, 14 years old, and about 250 pounds. He claims that Bubba "completely trusts and respects him" and vice versa. While Bubba seems to be gentle and accomodating and responds to basic commands like "up" and "down", AND supposedly knows not to ever open his mouth if it's not feeding time, I find it hard to believe that Bubba could ever be considered a "pet" as opposed to a wild animal who is putting up with people for whatever reason he may have.

This guy puts his 3 year old grandson on Bubba's back for rides! He isn't even necessarily close enough to snatch his grandson up if should Bubba decide it's feeding time. He took him to a professional photography studio where he had his photo made while snuggling with Bubba, AND he took Bubba to a school to see 7th graders and let him get too darn close for comfort (from a mom's perspective) to these kids. Is he crazy??? Or do I just have too much of a primal fear of gators??? ...I live in Florida, so I'm used to them, but I would never "completely trust" one up close and personal, even if it lived in my house like Bubba with this guy! They kept referring to Bubba as this guy's "pet", and that just doesn't seem right somehow... Opinions?

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~Juliane~

I too find this most disturbing. When I did my herp awareness class at my 2nd graders school I made sure I had the baby corn snake restrained.

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Ken
" The United States Marine Corps......sure we are a department of the Navy,,,,,,we're the MENS department "

I personally don't think you can COMPLETELY trust any animal (or most people either, for that matter)
The Swiss Animal Protection Agency, classifies all reptiles as "wild animals kept as pets." I think this is a fair classification and anyone treating them like ponies or dogs is just not connected to reality.
(Nobody handles Talyn or Q except me and I always warn people to keep a distance from them. So far, they've only bitten me and I'd like to keep it that way!!) -- Well, my sister Baxter held Talyn a lot, but that was at her own risk and she knew it.

This guy is walking on thin ice and risking another headline news story that will harm responsible herpetoculturists everywhere. (In addition to harming himself, whatever kid that gator chooses for lunch, and, of course, the gator, which will probably be put down if anything like that happens.)

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Andrea

I think that he needs to take alot more steps to better protect himself cause you just never know

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Love Always,
Audrey

Owned By,

1.0.0 Iguana Iguana -Louie
0.0.1 Avicularia avicularia (pink toe Trantula)-Muffy
0.1.0 Ceratophrys ornata (Pac Man Frog)-Sparticus
1.0.0 Albino Rat -conspericy
0.1.0 Betta-Alphie
0.0.1 Apple snail- Mr. Bubbles
1.1.0 Mutt puppy's- Socks & Meeko
1.0.0 fieance-Brett

I think you're absolutely right!

Did anyone else happen to see the show in question?

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~Juliane~

"Bubba" is actually quite famous, having been exihibited at some of the larger herp shows, where people are encouraged to touch him and put their children with him for pictures! I have never personally seen him but I agree, it sounds like this guy has gotten far too complacent with this animal. Its one thing for a keeper who is knowledgable about the animal's moods and body language to take such risk but to bring the general public into the mix is asking for trouble.
I wouldn't allow one of MY kids or grandkids to do it!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

I actually did get to meet "Bubba" at a show, he seemed very medicated, er I mean docile.

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Answers are great. But I prefer questions!

Visit me at www.jaysreptiles.com

Do you think that's actually a possibility? He did seem AWFULLY tranquil...

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~Juliane~

I have wondered about THAT possibilty myself!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

THAT was the word I was trying to think of...complacent. This guy seemed extremely complacent about it...and I'm with you. I wouldn't let my kids near an alligator that large. All it would take would be one sudden *snap*

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~Juliane~