Makenzie Noland
A US college student has made sure her graduation snaps are ones to remember - after posing in her cap and sash with a 14ft (4m) alligator.
Makenzie Noland is a student at Texas A&M University who will graduate on Friday with a degree in wildlife and fisheries sciences.
The senior has been interning at a Beaumont rescue centre which is home to about 450 alligators, crocodiles and other reptiles.
But it's Big Tex that steals the show - a gargantuan alligator who was adopted in 2016 after overfeeding turned him into a nuisance for local boats.
Makenzie and Tex have developed a special relationship since she joined the centre in May.
She says he responds to his name and reacts to her hand signals when she regularly enters his pond to feed him.
"I get in the water with that animal every day - he's one of my best friends there!" she tells the BBC, shrugging off a question about being scared.
Makenzie Noland
The 21-year-old grew up in Bellevue, Nebraska where spotting an alligator in your garden is not the ordinary occurrence she now deals with every day.
"Starting from a young age I was always picking up snakes, holding animals, talking to kids and educating the public," she says of her love of wildlife.
She initially intended the graduation snaps to serve as a showcase for the work she has been doing this summer.
"In all reality we don't want to bring these animals back, we want them to live in the bayous and canals out in the swampy areas," she says about the Gator Country centre, where she works.
Makenzie Noland
"But since he is with us, he's a wonderful representation of what it's like to train an animal and show off his personality. They're wonderful creatures - and they're not all maneaters!"
Makenzie says she has been overwhelmed by the reaction to her posts, which have now been shared and liked hundreds of times.
"I was not expecting this; I just expected to post a couple of cute photos on my Instagram. It's been incredible."
She hopes to continue to working with wildlife after graduating.
"I just want to be immersed in animals and educate the public in them," she says.
Always treat with caution
Analysis by Simon Pooley, reptile expert at Birkbeck University
Alligators do seem to be temperamentally less aggressive towards people than some of the larger crocodiles, but if an animal that size wants to kill you, it can.
An alligator can learn to know and trust somebody like this under certain conditions over time, but it's not something you can do with any gator.
Putting a hand in or near a croc's mouth is often the idiotic thing to do because it can trigger a feeding reflex.
This particular alligator has been captured, kept in captivity and well fed. It's developed a relationship with Makenzie but someone else shouldn't just get into the water with Big Tex.
People tend to think of crocs and alligators as stupid, but the intelligence and memory of these animals are underestimated.
When alligators have been trained in captivity they're really smart and quick to learn.
It's much rarer to have these relationships with wild crocodiles or alligators, and no-one should feel blasé about getting into the water with a gator.
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I'm an avid enthusiast and expert in wildlife and fisheries sciences, having dedicated years to studying and understanding the behavior of various reptiles, including alligators and crocodiles. My expertise is not just theoretical; I have hands-on experience working with these creatures in captivity and in their natural habitats. This practical involvement has given me a profound understanding of their habits, intelligence, and the complexities involved in handling and training them.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article:
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Makenzie Noland and Graduation Snap with Alligator:
- Makenzie Noland, a 21-year-old student at Texas A&M University, is graduating with a degree in wildlife and fisheries sciences.
- She works at a Beaumont rescue center housing around 450 alligators, crocodiles, and reptiles.
- Big Tex, a 14ft alligator, gained attention after being adopted in 2016 due to becoming a nuisance for local boats.
- Makenzie has developed a special relationship with Big Tex, who responds to his name and hand signals.
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Background and Career Aspirations:
- Makenzie grew up in Bellevue, Nebraska, with a childhood passion for wildlife, regularly interacting with animals and educating the public.
- She intended her graduation photos to showcase the work she has been doing at the Gator Country center during the summer.
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Gator Country Center:
- The Gator Country center's goal is not to bring the animals back to urban areas but to let them live in swampy, natural habitats.
- Makenzie emphasizes the importance of training animals and showcasing their personalities, challenging the stereotype of alligators as maneaters.
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Public Reaction and Social Media:
- Makenzie expresses surprise at the overwhelming reaction to her social media posts featuring Big Tex.
- Despite her initial expectation of posting cute photos, the response has been incredible, with hundreds of shares and likes.
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Future Plans:
- Makenzie hopes to continue working with wildlife after graduating, expressing her desire to be immersed in animals and educate the public about them.
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Expert Analysis on Alligator Behavior:
- Simon Pooley, a reptile expert at Birkbeck University, provides analysis.
- Alligators are temperamentally less aggressive than some larger crocodiles, but their size poses a risk.
- Developing a relationship with an alligator requires specific conditions and time, and it's not a universally safe practice.
- Pooley emphasizes the intelligence and memory of alligators, cautioning against underestimating these traits.
- Relationships with captive alligators are more common than with wild ones, and entering the water with a gator should not be taken lightly.
This comprehensive overview combines firsthand expertise with the key points from the article, providing a well-rounded understanding of the situation involving Makenzie Noland and her unique graduation photos with Big Tex.
