National Geographic: Realm of the Alligator Page #5

---

Disturbing alligators here in

the refuge is strictly outlawed.

Even scientists like Vliet need

special permission just to touch one.

Let's cut off the engine for a minute

and get some peace. Okay.

Wow! That makes a difference,

doesn't it?

Let's pole from here.

It's beautiful in here.

Nice and quiet without that outboard.

Sure thing.

Do you see any gators yet, or not?

I haven't seen any

in this small stretch here.

I'll just flash the light around there

Is that one over there?

Yeah. That's one back

in the water lilies.

Let's try and get a bit closer to it,

can we?

I'll pole some more if you'll keep

paddling on that side.

Unlike the closely related crocodile,

alligators rarely attack man.

There are only about a half dozen

fatalities on record,

and there has never been a serious

incident in the Okefenokee Refuge.

Even so, there's a certain tension

whenever they're about.

Do you see one?

I'll keep going. Say when.

Okay, Just a little closer.

You got one?

The captured baby gives

a continuous cry of alarm.

John and Kent work quickly.

They want to minimize stress

on the baby

and avoid trouble with its mother

who might be nearby.

Forty-two-and-a-half centimeters.

Forty-two?

Uh huh. Forty-two. Good.

What's it reading?

It's just at 200 grams.

Watch it, watch it, watch it, watch it

My god! She's really cruising.

Is it the call of the baby?

Yeah. The baby's just

continually calling.

Well, hang on. Her jaws are open a bit

Her teeth are showing.

Kent, are you sure it's okay?

I don't think it's a good idea

to stay here.

Do you want to put the baby back,

or what?

Probably what I should do is just tap her

on the nose and see if it scares her.

They are often a little more brave

at night than they are in the daytime.

Watch! She's coming, Kent.

Boy, she really concentrates on that...

She just localizes right

on the distress call.

I think I had better push her off.

Are you sure?

She's a little too close.

This is not safe.

She's not safe?

No.

How about just putting the baby back?

Don't you think that's the best idea?

Yeah. We're definitely

at a disadvantage.

So Kent builds a record of

alligator growth in different areas.

Females grow to an average

of seven to eight feet,

While males may be up to 14 feet

and weigh 850 pounds.

Not all of Okefenokee's wonders

are found in the marshes.

John Paling explores a pine forest in

search of the red-cockaded woodpecker.

The birds are endangered

and difficult to find.

They live in groups of three or more,

and each of these so-called "clans"

requires about 200 acres of home range

This small woodpecker,

only seven inches in length,

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes