When mentioning American alligators, many people shudder and shiver. However, in central Florida, a brave woman has not only tamed these animals easily but also bonded with them like family.
The woman's name is Savannah Boan, a brave alligator trainer at Gatorland in Orlando, Florida.
Dealing with and approaching these giant predators is Savannah's daily job. (Photo: Savannah Boan/Facebook)
Not only is Savannah Boan a wildlife conservationist, she is also the park director at Gatorland. She is very knowledgeable about the habits and training skills of these fierce alligators, whether they are always hungry, irritable or angry.
Savannah was born and raised in the old town of Cheraw, and discovered her love for insects, snakes and lizards at an early age. Savannah remembers kneeling down to save a grasshopper, then a bug, a snake and a lizard.
Savannah's 'Red Carpet Moment'
It was her imagination and dreams of Walt Disney World that brought Savannah to Central Florida. At the age of 16, she came to Florida with the dream of becoming Cinderella and working at the theme park.
Then she realized that Walt Disney World wasn't looking for a 16-year-old girl like Savannah to be the park's Cinderella. That's when she decided to pursue her original true passion, working with reptiles, as her eventual career.
Before coming to Gatorland, Savannah worked at a reptile zoo in Orange County, California, where she cared for baby alligators, lizards, giant pythons, and other reptiles, including giant venomous ones. While she loved being around alligators, her heart was in Florida.
To get back to Florida, Savannah Boan wanted to work at Gatorland. It took her seven years to get her first gig at Gatorland. Finally, in 2016, Savannah started working at the gator capital of the world, Gatorland, home to more than 2,500 crocodiles and alligators. Savannah Boan calls this moment her “red carpet moment,” because it was her ultimate dream.
Savannah Boan's love for American alligators. (Photo: @Savannah Boan/Facebook)
At Gatorland, Savannah's job is to look after and care for giant crocodiles, giant saltwater crocodiles, Nile crocodiles, and Orinoco crocodiles. Every day, Savannah Boan interacts with the crocodiles, along with a special character named Blackwater, an American alligator who is her best friend.
“Blackwater and I spend time together every day. We go for walks together. Sometimes we just sit together and he loves to scratch his butt,” said Savannah Boan.
Since joining the Gatorland team, Savannah has gone on to become an International Ambassador for Gatorland Global Conservation, the Alligator Enrichment Coordinator, and has supported conservation projects around the world. She is currently the Park Director for Gatorland.
The alligators recognize her by sight and voice, while she learns each one by their behavior and name. According to Savannah Boan, each alligator has its own unique personality and behavior. The only way to work with them is to learn each one's nature and behavior.
Much criticism and turmoil
Savannah keeps people safe by getting up close and personal with the crocodiles and alligators at Gatorland, but she has faced criticism for dedicating so much of her life to these “modern-day dinosaurs.”
Several anonymous men and strangers brazenly wished for her to be attacked by a giant alligator. Many even told her that being constantly surrounded by alligators would put her life in danger at any moment. Some women said Savannah Boan was not cut out for the job.
Savannah also shared that this special profession affects her personal life. Men do not want to date her just because she has to work with giant predators every day. However, for Savannah, alligators are always the top priority.
Despite the criticism, Savannah has always had a positive attitude and doesn't care about such words. "I'm so happy to be a part of the animal family at Gatorland. Alligators are the most misunderstood animals in the animal kingdom. I want people to love alligators, as well as crocodiles, and realize how important they are to the ecosystems in which they thrive," said Savannah Boan.
300,000 followers on Instagram
As an alligator expert, Savannah Boan is not only incredibly good at deciphering the behavior of these creatures, but also using her influence to protect them. Savannah has a large fan base with 304,000 followers on Instagram and 221,000 followers on Facebook.
Savannah Boan with her best friend Blackwater - who she says has the best personality of any crocodile she has ever met. (Photo: @AFP)
Her social media posts focus on the behavior, ecology, and deciphering knowledge of alligators and crocodiles, and she is also actively working to change negative perceptions of fear of these reptiles.
Not only is Savannah one of the most influential voices in the alligator and wildlife world in Florida, she is also a longtime fixture on Orlando's top-rated talk show, “The Monsters in the Morning.”
Huynh Dung (Source: Unbelievable-facts)
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