American Alligators often enter a hibernation-like state to survive the harsh Texas winters.
The alligator was motionless under the ice, only its snout was visible. Photo: Newsweek
As a cold snap sweeps across the United States from the north, images of an American alligator frozen beneath the ice have surprised many social media users. An account named @eddithanhart123 shared a video of a large alligator frozen under the ice at Gator Country, an amusement park and preserve in Beaumont, during the cold snap in Texas, Newsweek reported on January 18.
In the video, the massive alligator is frozen solid with its snout above the ice to breathe. "We all know what alligators do in the summer and spring, but this is what they do in the winter and how they survive," a Gator Country employee explained. "The alligator's entire body is below the surface of the frozen water, but its snout is slightly raised, just enough for it to breathe. Its heart beats three times a minute. That's how alligators survive on ice."
Gator Country has over 450 alligators, various lizards, and mammals. They work with local and federal authorities to ask the public to bring in problem alligators to the sanctuary. At Gator Country, 90% of the animals they take in are surrendered, rescued, or abandoned.
Crocodiles cope with cold weather with brumation, a mechanism similar to hibernation in animals. During this period, crocodiles become lethargic, their metabolic rate gradually decreases. They do not fall into a deep sleep and remain aware of their surroundings. This process lasts about 4 - 5 months, starting in November and ending in late February.
Alligators live in coastal swamps throughout the southeastern United States, ranging from Florida to North Carolina and eastern Texas, according to the National Wildlife Federation. Males can grow to more than 12 feet long and weigh 1,000 pounds, while females are typically slightly smaller.
An Khang (According to Newsweek )
Source link
Comment (0)