About American Alligator
Each American Alligator used contributes to preserving and protecting the Earth’s precious wetlands and the 8,000 native plants and animals species that live in them.
and the 8,000 native plants and animals species that live in them.
Are alligators an invasive species? No. the American Alligator is a vitally important native species that has existed mostly unchanged for 200 million years. The alligator is considered a keystone species. It provides refuges for aquatic native wildlife, fresh water and food for other animals, and nesting and feeding sites for egrets and herons. They help maintain populations of native fish, and keep areas of open water free from invading vegetation. The alligator also helps keep invasive species, like nutria, in check. Without alligators, the ecosystem would change drastically and many species of native plants, reptiles, and animals would disappear. And their habitats are crucial to combating climate change, as wetlands sequester significantly more carbon per square mile than rainforests.
Once viewed as a menace, the alligator was once excessively hunted. Their swampy habitats were undervalued and destroyed by agriculture and development. This led to their near extinction by 1967, when they were added to the Endangered Species List and put under federal wildlife protection.
Fortunately, strict regulation and careful management under the Endangered Species Act quickly revived the alligator population. Their swift recovery led to their removal from the Endangered Species List just 20 years later in 1987. Now alligators number in the millions. Still federally protected, they're currently labeled "LC" for species of least concern.
Surprisingly, this was accomplished by commercializing them. A well-regulated market for hides and meat incentivizes wetland owners to maintain alligators' natural habitats. These funds also support alligator farming, where alligator farmers collect and raise wild eggs. Releasing a percentage back into their native ecosystems when they're a year old ensures stronger populations than if they were left to hatch in the wild.
This program safeguards the alligator, it's habitats, and local biodiversity, preventing potential extinction. Investing in alligator leather supports a successful conservation initiative and promotes a healthier planet.
These scientifically-supported facts are backed by the United Nations, CITES, and wildlife biologists around the world.
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