Tous les ans, quelques 600 nids d'alligators sont pillés en toute légalité dans l'état de Floride (USA). Plus de 54,000 oeufs viables sont ainsi retirés de leur environnement naturel pour être vendus par le gouvernement aux propriétaires des fermes d'alligators. Une industrie florissante et une très bonne affaire pour l'état de Floride. Pour certains ces fermes d'élevage ont permis l'arrêt des massacres et ont contribué à sauver l'espèce. Pour d'autres, les prélèvements d'oeufs augmentent les risques de disparition des alligators de Floride dont l'espèce est déjà menacée par la disparition de son habitat, les Everglades.
Alligators en Floride : une industrie controversée. Photos ©Mauricio Granados/Lightmediation Contact - Thierry Tinacci Agence Lightmediation +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry@lightmediation.com
1440-11: Taking out the eggs from the nest carefully. The eggs are 3 to 3 1/2 inches long, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, and are buried 3 to 14 inches deep in the nests. Alligator eggs cannot be turned or repositioned when taken from the nest, this change of position will cause the egg to die.
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-01: Lindsey Hord, biologist and supervisor for the state's alligator management program, in the Floridian annual alligator eggs collection, in the waters of Lake
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-02: Alligator eggs collection team, integrated by alligator farmers and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. / United States / Florida
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-03: Hunting eggs in the waters of Lake Okeechobee, the nests are spotted from the air by a helicopter which gives the exact location by radio to the airboats. /
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-04: Biologists have the responsibility of locating nests by helicopter, since it's easier to spot the mounds from above. After marking the locations, the egg hunting
1440-12: Collecting, during collection the hunters have to place 8 to 12 inches of nesting material or grass hay (moisten several days in advance) in the bottom of the collection container to support the eggs then
1440-01: Lindsey Hord, biologist and supervisor for the state's alligator management program, in the Floridian annual alligator eggs collection, in the waters of Lake Okeechobee.
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-05: A helicopter circled the edge of the lake and the islands, looking for the telltale signs: a clearing where the alligator dug up vegetation with its hind legs, and
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-06: A two biologist team excavating the nests looking for the eggs, while keeping an eye on the nearby female Alligator. Fortunately, the noise and disturbance
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-07: Excavating the nests / United States / Florida
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-08: Excavating an alligator nest, which is a pile of rotting grass, other vegetation and mud. The pile is 3 1/2 to 6 feet across and 1 to 2 feet high, sitting in a site 13
1440-20: Collected eggs in one day of work. Boxes with the eggs inside to be sold to the farmers. Annually around 600 nests are being pick up for a average of 54,000 hunted eggs each year in Florida.
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-09: Founded eggs in a nest. Eggs should be marked across the top before removing them from the nest so that they can be maintained during transportation
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-10: Taking out the eggs from the nest carefully. The eggs are 3 to 3 1/2 inches long, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, and are buried 3 to 14 inches deep in the
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-11: Taking out the eggs from the nest carefully. The eggs are 3 to 3 1/2 inches long, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, and are buried 3 to 14 inches deep in the
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-12: Collecting, during collection the hunters have to place 8 to 12 inches of nesting material or grass hay (moisten several days in advance) in the bottom of
1440-19: Farmer in the final egg count
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-13: Taking the containers back with the eggs to the airboats / United States / Florida
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-14: During collection the hunters have to place 8 to 12 inches of nesting material or grass hay (moisten several days in advance) in the bottom of the collection
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-15: Lindsey Hord, counting and supervising the eggs hunted. / United States / Florida
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-16: Supervising and checking each egg. This process is called candling which is done to ensure they pay only for eggs that will produce alligators. Sitting with his
1440-21: In a farm, an alligator getting out of the incubated egg. Incubation process and temperature is critical to survival and proper development for alligators. It also determines the sex of the hatchlings. Temperatures of 86ยกF and below produce all females while temperatures of 91ยกF and above produce males.
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-17: Supervising and checking each egg. This process is called candling which is done to ensure they pay only for eggs that will produce alligators. Sitting with his
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-18: Dead Alligator embryo / United States / Florida
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-19: Farmer in the final egg count / United States / Florida
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-20: Collected eggs in one day of work. Boxes with the eggs inside to be sold to the farmers. Annually around 600 nests are being pick up for a average of 54,000
1440-31: Two-month-old alligators the will not be traded in the international market. These alligators will be use for exhibition to educate the public about the specie.
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-21: In a farm, an alligator getting out of the incubated egg. Incubation process and temperature is critical to survival and proper development for alligators. It
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-22: Newborn alligator . Alligators don't breed well in captivity, so without the wild eggs, farmers would have a limited supply. / United States / Florida
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-23: A bunch of young crocodiles where there are less than a hundred juvenile reptiles taking the sun in the tanks of Gatorama, one of the Florida alligators
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-24: A bunch of young crocodiles where there are less than a hundred juvenile reptiles taking the sun in the tanks of Gatorama, one of the Florida alligators
1440-27: Alligator and Crocodile of two weeks of age. A Caiman (Caiman crocodiles) looks more like the American crocodile than the American alligator. Its color is similar to the crocodile's but with a shorter more rounded snout. Caimans are found primarily in freshwater canals and lakes and rarely exceed 5 feet in length. The Common caiman is an exotic species in Florida, although it has become established in the southeastern part of the state. Caiman are native to Central and South America, and their distribution in Florida will probably remain confined to south Florida because they cannot tolerate cold temperatures.
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-25: In their rush to get some shadow the reptiles pilled up in their captivity cells, the floor of the tanks where there are kept are of soft cement so the value skin
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-26: American crocodile / United States / Florida
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-27: Alligator and Crocodile of two weeks of age. A Caiman (Caiman crocodiles) looks more like the American crocodile than the American alligator. Its color
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-28: Alligators are among the largest animals in North America. Males can attain a size of more than 14 feet (4.3 m) and 1,000 pounds (473 kg). Females can
1440-36: Alligators are carnivorous reptiles whose primary feeding time is at night. Small alligators will eat snails, frogs, insects, and small fish. Larger gators will eat fish, turtles, snakes, waterfowl, small mammals, and even smaller alligators.
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-29: The alligator is a very important part of wildlife heritage, and plays an extremely important part in Florida's ecosystem. During the dry season, alligators
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-30: The alligator is a very important part of wildlife heritage, and plays an extremely important part in Florida's ecosystem. During the dry season, alligators
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-31: Two-month-old alligators the will not be traded in the international market. These alligators will be use for exhibition to educate the public about the specie.
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-32: The eyes of the Florida alligator are found in the top of the alligator head. This Florida alligator fact is an adaptation to a predominantly aquatic existence. The
1440-37: Caimans body in a giant cooler ready to be sold to different types of industries that benefits from this animal, which are, the skin (tanning and leather companies), meat (human consumption), the feet and jaws for souvenirs, among others
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-33: Alligators live in freshwater environments such as ponds, marshes, rivers and swamps, occasionally venture into salt water. Although alligators have heavy
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-34: Alligators live in freshwater environments such as ponds, marshes, rivers and swamps, occasionally venture into salt water. Although alligators have heavy
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-35: Alligators are carnivorous reptiles whose primary feeding time is at night. Small alligators will eat snails, frogs, insects, and small fish. Larger gators will eat
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-36: Alligators are carnivorous reptiles whose primary feeding time is at night. Small alligators will eat snails, frogs, insects, and small fish. Larger gators will eat
1440-39: Caimans body in a giant cooler ready to be sold to different types of industries that benefits from this animal, which are, the skin (tanning and leather companies), meat (human consumption), the feet and jaws for souvenirs.
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-37: Caimans body in a giant cooler ready to be sold to different types of industries that benefits from this animal, which are, the skin (tanning and leather
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-38: Caimans body in a giant cooler ready to be sold to different types of industries that benefits from this animal, which are, the skin (tanning and leather
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-39: Caimans body in a giant cooler ready to be sold to different types of industries that benefits from this animal, which are, the skin (tanning and leather
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-40: Caimans body in a giant cooler ready to be sold to different types of industries that benefits from this animal, which are, the skin (tanning and leather
1440-47: David Travis, owner of a tanning and Leather company, holding a Exotic Alligator colored skin
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-41: Alligators skin ready to be sold to the tanning and leather companies. / United States / Florida
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-42: Exotic Alligator colored skins.ĂŠĂŠTanned alligator skins are available in matte and gloss finishes and come in a nearly endless variety of colors in the
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-43: Alligator cellular phone case, made with an alligator foot / United States / Florida
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-44: Alligator Belt, one of the big varieties of products and accessories offer in the market, made from American Alligators / United States / Florida
1440-43: Alligator cellular phone case, made with an alligator foot
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-45: Polishing the Alligator colored skins. This process reduces the thickness of the leather by shaving part of the back from the finished skin. This results in
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-46: Several machines are used in the processing of alligator leather. The skins are tumbled in this tanning drum. The action of the drum softens the leather,
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-47: David Travis, owner of a tanning and Leather company, holding a Exotic Alligator colored skin / United States / Florida
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-48: Exotic Alligator colored skin / United States / Florida
1440-53: Expanding urban areas in places that just a few years ago were the exclusive preserve of alligators, had brings frequent and fatal contact between humans and this predatory reptile
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-49: Alligators Foot Key chains. All kind of Gifts and novelties are available in the market made with the alligator's foot, tooth, jaws, Skulls even with the heads
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-50: At night biologists go to the waters of Lake Okeechobee as part of Florida's annual alligator count, which is used to set the number of hunting permits
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-51: Using a GPS system to track the boat's location in the near blackness of the night, Lindsey Hord zipped around the lake aiming a spotlight at the surface and
Alligators in Florida, Controversial Industry / 1440-52: The Florida's annual alligator count is used to set the number of hunting permits issued in coming years, around 4,000 hunting permits are give every year
Alligators in Florida : a controversial Industry. Fertilized alligator eggs gathered from their natural environment are being sold to farmers to be grown in captivity in order to be traded in the international market in the form of skin, meat, bones, as well as in the form of manufactured articles. Alligator from Florida are a reliable form of income, and a lucrative business for the State and all the groups involved in this industry except for this reptilian species which suffers the detrimental consequences of this market. Annually around 600 nests are legally looted in the entire State of Florida (USA), where more than 54,000 viable eggs are removed from their natural environment to be raised in captivity to support the alligator industry. The majority of the American Alligators inhabit in Florida, this state has been for decades a paradise for this specie but, over the last 20 years, Florida's human population has doubled, in the other hand, during the same period of time, Florida's alligator population has also continued to increase to more than one million, this is the result of natural processes and human influence which leads to a competition between two rapidly growing species in the same territory. The fastest-growing metropolitan area and expanding urban areas in places that just a few years ago were the exclusive preserve of alligators and their prey, results in a frequent contact between humans and this predatory reptile and even though, in most cases, it is a timid animal, his appearance evokes fear fortified by the increased number of attacks on humans which is a cause for worry for the human communities. Nevertheless, the alligator has some human friends who are concerned for the safety of the species, and who are trying to develop methods to create a peaceful co-existence between these two species.
To reduce the number of confrontations and control alligator populations, the state government develops some programs for this purpose. Nuisance alligator control, private lands alligator management, statewide alligator harvest on state waters, alligator farming, alligator hunting licenses and alligator egg collection are some of the programs, which are opposed by some animal rights groups, cut down a big number of adult alligators each year and contributed to the growing alligator industry. The Alligator eggs collection is one of the programs that makes this industry possible and provides the raw material for the commercial production of alligators.
Captions. 1440-01: Lindsey Hord, biologist and supervisor for the state's alligator management program, in the Floridian annual alligator eggs collection, in the waters of Lake Okeechobee. 1440-02: Alligator eggs collection team, integrated by alligator farmers and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 1440-03: Hunting eggs in the waters of Lake Okeechobee, the nests are spotted from the air by a helicopter which gives the exact location by radio to the airboats. 1440-04: Biologists have the responsibility of locating nests by helicopter, since it's easier to spot the mounds from above. After marking the locations, the egg hunting team would then return by airboat to gather the eggs in a large plastic bucket, cover them with the hay from the nest, and then take the eggs back to the research facility to be placed in an incubator. 1440-05: A helicopter circled the edge of the lake and the islands, looking for the telltale signs: a clearing where the alligator dug up vegetation with its hind legs, and the mound, a foot or so high, in the middle of the clearing. Then, the spotter leaned out the door of the chopper and pointed down, with as much precision as possible, to the nest, while giving the airboat captains directions over the radio. The nearest one gunned the airboat as far into the brush as possible. 1440-06: A two biologist team excavating the nests looking for the eggs, while
keeping an eye on the nearby female Alligator. Fortunately, the noise and disturbance created by the helicopter and airboats frightens most females away. 1440-07: Excavating the nests 1440-08: Excavating an alligator nest, which is a pile of rotting grass, other vegetation and mud. The pile is 3 1/2 to 6 feet across and 1 to 2 feet high, sitting in a site 13 to 18 feet across that has been cleared of vegetation by the female. 1440-09: Founded eggs in a nest. Eggs should be marked across the top before removing them from the nest so that they can be maintained during transportation and incubation in the same position as they were laid. Eggs that are laid upright in the nest (long axis perpendicular to the ground) will die unless repositioned correctly (long axis parallel or laying on its side and not on end) before artificial incubation. This repositioning can only take place in the first few hours after nesting. 1440-10: Taking out the eggs from the nest carefully. The eggs are 3 to 3 1/2 inches long, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, and are buried 3 to 14 inches deep in the nests. Alligator eggs cannot be turned or repositioned when taken from the nest, this change of position will cause the egg to die. 1440-11: Taking out the eggs from the nest carefully. The eggs are 3 to 3 1/2 inches long, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, and are buried 3 to 14 inches deep in the nests. Alligator eggs cannot be turned or repositioned when taken from the nest, this change of position will cause the egg to die.
1440-12: Collecting, during collection the hunters have to place 8 to 12 inches of nesting material or grass hay (moisten several days in advance) in the bottom of the collection container to support the eggs then place the marked eggs in a single layer in the container and in the same position that they were in the nest the final step before moving the is to cover the eggs with 2 to 3 inches of nesting material. 1440-13: Taking the containers back with the eggs to the airboats 1440-14: During collection the hunters have to place 8 to 12 inches of nesting material or grass hay (moisten several days in advance) in the bottom of the collection container to support the eggs then place the marked eggs in a single layer in the container and in the same position that they were in the nest the final step before moving the is to cover the eggs with 2 to 3 inches of nesting material. 1440-15: Lindsey Hord, counting and supervising the eggs hunted. 1440-16: Supervising and checking each egg. This process is called candling which is done to ensure they pay only for eggs that will produce alligators. Sitting with his head under a black drape, the farmer holds a tiny light bulb up to each egg. The light renders the shell translucent, the embryo visible as a black band. A break in the band means the egg is thrown out. 1440-17: Supervising and checking each egg. This process is called candling which is done to ensure they pay only for eggs that will produce alligators. Sitting with his head under a black drape, the farmer holds a tiny light bulb up to each egg. The
light renders the shell translucent, the embryo visible as a black band. A break in the band means the egg is thrown out. 1440-18: Dead Alligator embryo 1440-19: Farmer in the final egg count 1440-20: Collected eggs in one day of work. Boxes with the eggs inside to be sold to the farmers. Annually around 600 nests are being pick up for a average of 54,000 hunted eggs each year in Florida. 1440-21: In a farm, an alligator getting out of the incubated egg. Incubation process and temperature is critical to survival and proper development for alligators. It also determines the sex of the hatchlings. Temperatures of 86째F and below produce all females while temperatures of 91째F and above produce males. 1440-22: Newborn alligator . Alligators don't breed well in captivity, so without the wild eggs, farmers would have a limited supply. 1440-23: A bunch of young crocodiles where there are less than a hundred juvenile reptiles taking the sun in the tanks of Gatorama, one of the Florida alligators farmers. 1440-24: A bunch of young crocodiles where there are less than a hundred juvenile reptiles taking the sun in the tanks of Gatorama, one of the Florida alligators farmers 1440-25: In their rush to get some shadow the reptiles pilled up in their captivity cells, the floor of the tanks where there are kept are of soft cement so the value skin won?t get scratch. In a few months they will go to the gigantic market of reptiles skin
which ads more that 1.5 million of skins annually around the world. 1440-26: American crocodile 1440-27: Alligator and Crocodile of two weeks of age. A Caiman (Caiman crocodiles) looks more like the American crocodile than the American alligator. Its color is similar to the crocodile's but with a shorter more rounded snout. Caimans are found primarily in freshwater canals and lakes and rarely exceed 5 feet in length. The Common caiman is an exotic species in Florida, although it has become established in the southeastern part of the state. Caiman are native to Central and South America, and their distribution in Florida will probably remain confined to south Florida because they cannot tolerate cold temperatures. 1440-28: Alligators are among the largest animals in North America. Males can attain a size of more than 14 feet (4.3 m) and 1,000 pounds (473 kg). Females can exceed 10 feet (3.1 m) and 250 pounds (116 kg). Alligators of both sexes become sexually mature when they attain a length of 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 m), but their full reproductive capacity is not realized until females and males are at least 7 feet (2.1 m) and 8 feet (2.4 m) long, respectively. 1440-29: The alligator is a very important part of wildlife heritage, and plays an extremely important part in Florida's ecosystem. During the dry season, alligators create "gator holes" which may be the only source of water around. This provides sustenance not only to the wildlife of the area, but to the alligator as
well. Alligators also feed upon the "trash fish" such as gars, which are natural predators of young game fish like bass. The alligator is now considered to be a renewable resource, and is an important part in Florida's growing aquaculture industry 1440-30: The alligator is a very important part of wildlife heritage, and plays an extremely important part in Florida's ecosystem. During the dry season, alligators create "gator holes" which may be the only source of water around. This provides sustenance not only to the wildlife of the area, but to the alligator as well. Alligators also feed upon the "trash fish" such as gars, which are natural predators of young game fish like bass. The alligator is now considered to be a renewable resource, and is an important part in Florida's growing aquaculture industry. 1440-31: Two-month-old alligators the will not be traded in the international market. These alligators will be use for exhibition to educate the public about the specie. 1440-32: The eyes of the Florida alligator are found in the top of the alligator head. This Florida alligator fact is an adaptation to a predominantly aquatic existence. The eyes are large and provide the alligator with superior night vision. During the day when sunlight is abundant, the pupils will close down to no more than a narrow gash. The upper and lower eyelids are well developed, and the eyes are also equipped with nictitating membranes. 1440-33: Alligators live in freshwater environments such as ponds, marshes, rivers and swamps, occasionally venture into salt water. Although alligators have heavy bodies and slow metabolisms, they
are capable of short bursts of speed that can exceed 30 miles per hour. 1440-34: Alligators live in freshwater environments such as ponds, marshes, rivers and swamps, occasionally venture into salt water. Although alligators have heavy bodies and slow metabolisms, they are capable of short bursts of speed that can exceed 30 miles per hour. 1440-35: Alligators are carnivorous reptiles whose primary feeding time is at night. Small alligators will eat snails, frogs, insects, and small fish. Larger gators will eat fish, turtles, snakes, waterfowl, small mammals, and even smaller alligators. 1440-36: Alligators are carnivorous reptiles whose primary feeding time is at night. Small alligators will eat snails, frogs, insects, and small fish. Larger gators will eat fish, turtles, snakes, waterfowl, small mammals, and even smaller alligators.
1440-40: Caimans body in a giant cooler ready to be sold to different types of industries that benefits from this animal, which are, the skin (tanning and leather companies), meat (human consumption), the feet and jaws for souvenirs. 1440-41: Alligators skin ready to be sold to the tanning and leather companies. 1440-42: Exotic Alligator colored skins.Tanned alligator skins are available in matte and gloss finishes and come in a nearly endless variety of colors in the market. 1440-43: Alligator cellular phone case, made with an alligator foot. 1440-44: Alligator Belt, one of the big varieties of products and accessories offer in the market, made from American Alligators
1440-37: Caimans body in a giant cooler ready to be sold to different types of industries that benefits from this animal, which are, the skin (tanning and leather companies), meat (human consumption), the feet and jaws for souvenirs, among others
1440-45: Polishing the Alligator colored skins. This process reduces the thickness of the leather by shaving part of the back from the finished skin. This results in leather that is much easier to work with, for such things as wallets and purses, where thick leather would not be desirable
1440-38: Caimans body in a giant cooler ready to be sold to different types of industries that benefits from this animal, which are, the skin (tanning and leather companies), meat (human consumption), the feet and jaws for souvenirs.
1440-46: Several machines are used in the processing of alligator leather. The skins are tumbled in this tanning drum. The action of the drum softens the leather, preparing it for use.
1440-39: Caimans body in a giant cooler ready to be sold to different types of industries that benefits from this animal, which are, the skin (tanning and leather companies), meat (human consumption), the feet and jaws for souvenirs.
1440-47: David Travis, owner of a tanning and Leather company, holding a Exotic Alligator colored skin 1440-48: Exotic Alligator colored skin 1440-49: Alligators Foot Key chains. All
kind of Gifts and novelties are available in the market made with the alligator's foot, tooth, jaws, Skulls even with the heads 1440-50: At night biologists go to the waters of Lake Okeechobee as part of Florida's annual alligator count, which is used to set the number of hunting permits issued in coming years. If a powerful flashlight is turned on at nigh in the alligator habitat you can see that alligators are everywhere, their red bulbous eyes will glow on the water's black surface 1440-51: Using a GPS system to track the boat's location in the near blackness of the night, Lindsey Hord zipped around the lake aiming a spotlight at the surface and counting eyes. Alligators are easier to find in the dark when a single spotlight can illuminate dozens, even some hidden in saw grass. 1440-52: The Florida's annual alligator count is used to set the number of hunting permits issued in coming years, around 4,000 hunting permits are give every year (each hunter can kill two reptiles) to keep the alligator populations controlled, Ò Basically we have to get 20,000 reptiles every yearÓ says a biologist from the Fish and Wild Conservation Commission 1440-53: Expanding urban areas in places that just a few years ago were the exclusive preserve of alligators, had brings frequent and fatal contact between humans and this predatory reptile