WHITE alligator

WHITE alligator · Posted by travis_cooper, 02-27-2008, 04:33 PM

Yes, you read it right this is a white alligator. Today when I went to meet my wife and kids during lunch at free zoo day I was surprised to see that this fella was still around. We had him on loan and he was supposed to go back home in October. Last summer we went to the zoo and partially to get a chance to take pictures of him. At that time I was extremely new to photography and I didn't have decent equipment. He was sitting in a really dark area of the habitat and my shots were terrible. So today equipped with my 50mm 1.4 and my new K10D I was really excited to see he was still there. Although he was in a much brighter spot of the habitat, so I didn't need a wide aperture, I'm still glad I had some good glass this time around. It isn't as sharp as it could have been, since he was behind glass, but I think it turned out okay.

These are on loan from Louisiana somewhere there are only 8 of them in the world. They aren't albino, because their eyes actually have pigment to them. I hope you enjoy the shot.

**J.Scott** · 02-27-2008, 04:39 PM

Those brutes give me the willies! I will never swim in a lake or river south of Michigan! If one of these monsters grabbed hold of me I'd be nothing but alligator poo!

clarenceclose · 02-27-2008, 08:50 PM

Nice shot of a primitive eating machine.

*borno* · 02-27-2008, 09:11 PM

HA! That is one crazy looking gator

bluespearbone · 02-27-2008, 09:21 PM

Laid back, don't mess attitude

G M Fude · 02-27-2008, 11:42 PM

Fantastic, it really is white, would not have believed it without the proof. Nice shot, too, you've captured a relaxed malevolence in the creature.

**roentarre** · 02-28-2008, 12:06 AM

Mmmm Albino? Really a great shot. Love it!

kbrabble · 02-28-2008, 06:08 AM

This ones Mardi, another on loan from Louisiana, amazing creatures....

SLC Flyfishing · 02-28-2008, 07:28 AM

I took my daughter there a few weeks ago. That alligator never even blinks, in fact if I hadn't seen him move one of his feet I'd be telling everyone he's fake.

Good shot Travis!

SLC

travis_cooper · 02-28-2008, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by G M Fude

Fantastic, it really is white, would not have believed it without the proof. Nice shot, too, you've captured a relaxed malevolence in the creature.

No, I just did some good PPing to fool everybody. I didn't believe it either when we saw all the commercials on tv that it was coming, it really is pretty cool.

Originally Posted by roentarre

Mmmm Albino? Really a great shot. Love it!

Its actually not albino, that is what I thought at first too. The eyes aren't pink, they actually have pigment, so they say he isn't albino.

Thanks everyone for the comments. I'm really glad I got another chance to get this shot, since my last attempts were terrible.

SLC Flyfishing · 02-28-2008, 09:55 AM

The alligator has some sort of genetic mutation that causes his skin to be without pigment, but the rest of him is just fine!

He's no albino.

SLC

**Peter Zack** · 02-28-2008, 10:52 AM

Prada is dieing to get their hands on these guys. neat shots, I'd never heard of white ones. Something odd in the bayou water? Thanks for posting, Travis.

travis_cooper · 02-28-2008, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Peter Zack

... Something odd in the bayou water? ...

Or just the parents, if I remember right all 8 are siblings. I could be wrong, but I think that is what the sign at the zoo said.