ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Gatorland has transformed a section of its establishment into a nonprofit to expand its outreach, focusing on the protection of alligators and educating the community on coexisting safely with these formidable creatures.
Launched in 2018, “Gatorland Global” was created to encourage respect and affection for all animals. Now, by transitioning into a nonprofit, it is intensifying its mission to conserve alligators and crocodiles. The organization’s straightforward mission: Protect, conserve, and educate.
“It has been the conservation division of Gatorland Orlando for some time,” stated Savannah Boan, International Ambassador for Gatorland Global. “However, we’ve been diligently working on taking on new challenges and projects. We have now attained official 501(c)(3) status.”
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As a nonprofit, Gatorland Global will focus on rescuing nuisance alligators and hosting crocodilian conservation programs around the globe.
Boan regularly travels to Australia, Jamaica and Cuba to assist with research efforts and teach communities there how to coexist with these large reptiles.
“They need educational programs for schools, for little kids, for businesses, and things like that,” Boan said. “They also need to have respect for the animal and talk about crocodilian dangers.”
With nonprofit status, Gatorland Global can now apply for grants, which Boan says will help expand their reach.
“For us to have a big conservation entity called ‘Gatorland Global’ will give us more exposure that way and also allow us to maybe work in some other countries that we’re not working in right now and help some people that might need some help,” she said.
Educating the public is a major part of their work, including here in Florida. Right now, it is alligator mating season, which means the animals are more aggressive as they search for mates. Boan warns that due to drier conditions, alligators are also out looking for water, so staying alert is crucial.
“Be careful, be aware of your surroundings, as we are right now. Just do the best job you can to coexist with all the wildlife,” she advised.
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