White Alligator is One of Rarest in World

The Telegraph ^ | 16 Feb 2009

[nickcarraway]

A white alligator, one of only 12 of its kind anywhere in the world, has been brought in from the swamps of Louisiana.

With its piercing blue eyes and pale skin this rare Alligator stands out like a sore thumb.

Weighing over 500 pounds, 22 year old male Bouya Blan is one of only 12 white alligators in the world.

The 500lb, 22-year-old male alligator, Bouya Blan, whose name means white fog, is kept at the Gatorland theme park in Florida.

He is one of four giant leucistic alligators kept at the park.

"People are awestruck when they see them, and just one look into those icy, blue eyes will give you chills," says Mark McHugh, President & CEO of Gatorland.

"We're excited to bring these thrilling animals to Florida."

Collected from deep in a Louisiana swamp, the ivory reptiles were part of a clutch of seventeen infants recovered by workers from the Louisiana Land and Exploration Company while surveying the area in 1986.

The group later brought the hatchlings to the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans where only a few of the rare reptiles survived, before they were brought to Gatorland last year.

"This is the largest group of giant white gators in the world," says Tim Williams of Gatorland.

"These are not albino animals, they are what we call leucistic, which means they have a little bit of pigmentation around the mouth and a little touch on the tail and they have piercing blue eyes."

Leucistic animals have rare genetic condition that reduces the colour pigmentation in their skin.

[Pistolshot]

[albie]

Looks more like chicken.

[americanophile]

Smile:

[Pistolshot]

Looks more like my new luggage.

[Joe 6-pack]

They must have evolved from polar bears fleeing global warming.

[txnativegop]

Freakish!

[SolidWood]

Smile? Fail.

[Retired Greyhound]

Awesome. What a beautiful creature.

From a distance, of course.

[Tex Pete]

“A white alligator, one of only 12 of its kind anywhere in the world”

How could they possibly know that?!

[Puppage]

Would make a nice pair of shoes

[TChris]

They have one in the Omaha zoo. It’s pretty impressive from a closer view. :-)

[Puppage]

Looks more like chicken

Tastes like chicken, too.

[TChris]

How could they possibly know that?!

Oh, come on. You know! Journalists know everything!

[prismsinc]

We here in South Florida, fortunately, have one ON DISPLAY at the Dreher Park Zoo in Palm Beach County. Really cool!

[Constitutions Grandchild]

The article said the folks in Florida wanted to breed more of them, but stated that they can’t survive in the wild — so like what’s the purpose? They’ll have to be housed somewhere their whole lives — how many does the zoo have room for?

[Old Professer]

Vulcanize that sucker and I’ll bet he’s good for 200,000 miles...

[armymarinemom]

Looks like he could use from chlorine to deal with that pesky algae buildup.

[Reagan69]

“A white alligator, one of only 12 of its kind anywhere in the world”

How could they possibly know that?!

+++++ ++++++ +++++++

Oh, please, ACORN did the census.

[max americana]

That’s racist! A White alligator? The NAACP Animal Wing will be there shortly.

[tx_eggman]

Looks more like my new luggage.

I see several pairs of really nice Lucchese boots

[angcat]

He’s adorable. Reminds me of Winter.

[LonePalm]

I don't know who translated for the writer or maybe they didn't ask for a spelling, but "White Fog" in French is "brouillard blanc." It would sound like "BREWY-ya blawn."

I guess that is something like Bouya Blan.

His deceased brother was named Bouya Base.

'La bonne cuisine est la base du véritable bonheur.' - Auguste Escoffier
(Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness.)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[abigailsmybaby]

They know that because of global warming.

[JimRed]

Raised in captivity, no doubt. In the wild as a hatchling, lacking protective camoflage, it would have been quickly eaten by anything bigger.

[brytlea]

We saw some years ago at the Audobon Park Zoo in New Orleans years ago. Very cool looking. I wondered how they did during Katrina.

[353FMG]

Would make some awesome boots.

[Quix]

Hmmmm breeding . . . can you spell naturally white alligator shoes and purses?

[brytlea]

I haven’t been to the Palm Beach County Zoo, is it worth going to see?

[brytlea]

I’m sure there could be a market for white gator purses...

[TheKidster]

i saw these this weekend, very beautiful. Thier skin looks like white chocolate in person.

[TheKidster]

i saw these this weekend, very beautiful. Thier skin looks like white chocolate in person.

[sit-rep]

If ever there was a Helen thomas moment, this is it!! Gotta have one straight on though!!

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Well, that would be a “green” industry — no more petrol products needed to create vinyl allegator bags and shoes. I guess that’s cool — for everyone, except the gators.

[George Smiley]

I think one is at the Audobon Zoo in New Orleans.

Or used to be.

[brytlea]

I’m pretty sure the gators wouldn’t be all that excited about it!

[brytlea]

When we were there, back in the 90s I think, they had several.

[Daffynition]

White alligator spotted west of Vero Beach December 26, 2008

[brytlea]

Might be of interest on this thread:

http://www.leeric.lsu.edu/le/cover/lead014.htm

[antiRepublicrat]

His deceased brother was named Bouya Base.

That's the best groaner I've heard in weeks. Thanks.

[CholeraJoe]

I saw these animals at the Audubon Zoo in NOLA in the 90’s. He was only about 4 feet long then.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

White Alligator is One of Rarest in World

After 8 years of Obama:

"White Human is One of Rarest in World"

[prismsinc]

It’s worth seeing if you haven’t. The Zoo also has a new leopard cub.

[JoeProBono]

[Jane Austen]

The face reminds me of Barney Frank. Sneaky & not to be trusted.

[TASMANIANRED]

They are rare because they don’t survive in the wild..Little white gators are easy to find and eat.

[ABN 505]

From what I have been told every clutch of alligators contains several white ones, they just can’t survive in the wild. Easy prey because they stand out.

[brytlea]

I’ll put it on my agenda!

[prismsinc]

How dare you insult this majestic creature that way!

[Jane Austen]

LOL