JOURNEY HOME--part 4--HOW TO SAVE THE ALLIGATOR

A BOLD, BRIGHT, NEW IDEA IS SWEEPING THE ECOLOGICAL WORLD.
AN IDEA THAT CAN---PROBABLY---SAVE ANY ENDANGERED ANIMAL.
LET ME SHOW YOU HOW IT WORKS---WITH ALLIGATORS---CONSIDERED AN ENDANGERED SPECIES SOME 20 ODD YEARS AGO.

Meet my nephew Jeff a prime contributor to alligator restoration.  I asked a lot of questions----he offers to show me first hand how this brilliant new idea works.

First the facts: only 17% of a clutch of alligator eggs will survive to viability----IN THE WILD.  Incubated in captivity the viability rate is 90%.  SO WHY NOT LEGALIZE THE GATHERING OF WILD EGGS---HATCH THEM--- RAISE THEM TO VIABILITY and RELEASE 17% OF THE GATORS BACK INTO THE WILD. The remaining 73% can be raised for 2 or 3 years and "harvested" FOR PROFIT----Thus satisfying market demand for hides and meat---Undercutting the need for poaching.  As the wild population increases it becomes possible to allow a controlled hunting season.  AND BINGO!  IT WORKED---EXACTLY LIKE THAT.
Jeff does a thorough pre flight check of his helicopter.

 Provides me with noise deadening headgear that allows normal conversation.

 

Up and over his rooftop---fantastic feeling---as near as we can come to a magic carpet ride. 

 West Monroe ---affluent---lovely---and now famous

 

as the home of the Duck Dynasty family---they live down there--(middle left) 

 A few minutes and we look down on his main--facility---growing about 60,000 gators. 

 He circles me round his Texas-sized "ranch"---has it's own swamp.

 Looking down the hallway of one of the 8 buildings.  I noted they are super insulated and super clean.

Hundreds of separate rooms, each  with water  and automatic timed food supply.  This door receives his immediate attention because it has had the highest deaths. (4)

Opened door---light shone into a warm---normally darkened room.  About a hundred of them scurry about and dive from sight. That's fresh water going in.  

 

 Another dead one is spotted and this calls for immediate action. Miguel---without hesitation steps into the 3 ft deep waters---retrieves the body.

 Hands it to Jeff and hurries out.

 

 A death is a matter of considerable concern---It could the first sign of West Nile virus.  With Millions of dollars at stake---the whole team focus on the body.

 

 Naturally, I ask Miguel if he ever gets bit.  He shows me several scars.

 The team conferences outside---at length---discussing the possibilities and what corrective measures will be taken.  In this case--draining and sterilizing the pool---walls and floors.

 

Also, the body is packed in ice and  sent to a vet for a post-mortem.

 

Here's my favorite photo of the day---the wind-up conversation between Jeff and Miguel. I see in the body language here friendship and respect of team members.  I observed carefully for tone and dominance posturing---AND SAW NONE.  I concluded that two reasons for his success are attention to detail and generous employee relations. 

 

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  En route home I asked Jeff for some secrets of his success.  He says that his Mother instilled fundamental values and that his dad modeled a great work ethic---AND ESPECIALLY GENEROSITY.  His father --A medical doctor practiced giving as earnestly as he practiced medicine. 

Jeff seems to have "caught" the generosity bug---seems to enjoy sharing ---house, pool, weekend retreat, food, money and time. 

   This is only half the story----will pick it up here tomorrow--show you the end game process and tell you of a world wide movement mimicking  the gator technique that can save almost all endangered species.