Kymberly Clark revealed that she spent months searching for Croczilla, the famous alligator at Everglades National Park in Florida, USA.
Croczilla sunbathing on the bank of a pond and often opening its mouth to regulate its body temperature. (Photo: Kymberly Clark).
After several failed attempts to locate the giant alligator, Kymberly finally spotted Croczilla basking by the Nine Mile Pond, a kayaking area within Everglades National Park, Florida, USA.
The wild American alligator can reach lengths of up to 4.3 meters. (Photo: Kymberly Clark).
Croczilla measures up to 4.3 meters in length and is believed to be the largest alligator in the Everglades. Typically, alligators in captivity can grow significantly larger than their wild counterparts; an adult male in captivity can reach lengths of up to 6 meters, while in the wild, few alligators exceed 4.3 meters.
Kymberly told PetaPixel: “I was shocked to see the infamous alligator, not from a distance but right in front of me. The alligator looked absolutely incredible.”
This species of alligator is quite docile. (Photo: Kymberly Clark).
Kymberly was captivated while photographing Croczilla for over an hour, always maintaining a safe distance. The American alligator is an extremely timid predator, and the rule is that humans must stay at least 6 meters away from them. This species can lunge up to 1.8 meters from a resting position.
Kymberly shared: “It wasn’t until I saw the giant Croczilla that I realized how small I was in comparison. Looking back at the times I tried but couldn’t find this alligator, I have no regrets. I will continue searching for Croczilla on every trip to Everglades National Park.”
Croczilla is believed to be the largest alligator at Everglades National Park. (Photo: Kymberly Clark).
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, it is estimated that around 2,000 alligators reside in the state, out of a total of 1.3 million alligators across the United States. In 1975, alligators were placed on the endangered species list, but fortunately, they are now successfully reproducing and are currently listed as threatened.
This species of American alligator lives in brackish and saltwater, found only in the extreme southern part of Florida.
