Experts Say 'Nothing Abnormal' About Massive Gator Freaking Out Social Media
An enormous alligator spotted in Naples, Florida, has caused some to make a snap judgment.
The Naples Daily News reported Wednesday that the baby dinosaur was spotted at Valencia Golf & Country Club by PGA professional Jeff Jones, who shot footage of the gargantuan gator.
HUGE FLORIDA GATOR! 🐊👀 Yep, this monster is real. Caught on camera during Hurricane #Eta in Naples. Credit: Jeff Jones @WINKNewspic.twitter.com/LGn0Hb19Rd
— Matt Devitt (@MattDevittWINK) November 12, 2020
Even before Jones’ video was circulated on social media, Wink News meteorologist Matt Devitt tweeted photos of the gator, and the buff beast appeared so colossal, many thought the images could be fake.
I thought the photos were fake...
This gator in Naples is massive 😳
🎥: Jeff Jones pic.twitter.com/aotOKeNBKU— Zach Abolverdi (@ZachAbolverdi) November 12, 2020
It looks fake but saw this video https://t.co/W2jgHSIrI3
— Sara K. Satullo (@sarasatullo) November 12, 2020
It almost looks fake but apparently there is a video of it too!! I have seen some big ones in the Everglades but dang! That's an impressive gator! https://t.co/vT57XHDOkT
— Dr. Kaitlin Gallagher (@kait_a_gallaghr) November 12, 2020
One suspicious aspect of the photos and videos is that the ripped reptilian’s legs look suspiciously long.
“Not very many people get to see alligators high walk,” John Brueggen, director at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, told HuffPost via email. “But there is nothing abnormal about this alligator.”
Brandon Fisher, a gator expert and director of media relations at Orlando’s Gatorland, agreed.
“Nowadays anything can be make-believe or altered in some way,” Fisher told HuffPost over the phone. “But honestly, it seems pretty legit.”
Fisher explained that a high walk occurs when an alligator stands up with “full legs spread out completely,” and that the right front leg will move with the left back leg, and vice versa.