Santa Barbara Zoo - Alligator Training

Featured in this video, you will find Mary Lou, the Santa Barbara Zoo's 48-year-old American alligator. She is the oldest animal at the Zoo, and the only animal that has been at the Zoo since its opening. Alligators typically live 80-100 years.

The keepers in the video, Lindsay and Mark, are performing what is called "target training." The blue board is the target, and Mary Lou knows to touch it with her nose in order to get a reward. Because there is no other blue in her exhibit, and therefore less room for confusion, blue was chosen for color of the target. Having her target trained lets the keepers safely feed and clean her exhibit, and also gets her to exercise by moving the target around.

Mary Lou will eat pretty much anything (fish, rats, croc biscuits, etc.) and is fed twice a week in the summer. During the months of October through March, alligators go through a natural process called brumation, which is similar to hibernation except for the fact that the animals are not asleep. The alligators' body systems (i.e. heart rate, breathing, metabolism) all slow down, and because they are not exercising and burning calories, it can actually be fatal for an alligator to eat during this time period. Therefore, Mary Lou will not be fed from October through March.

At the beginning of the video, you see Mary Lou doing one of her favorite things - splashing around and enjoying the running water!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• American alligator
• Santa Barbara Zoo
• SB Zoo
• Santa Barbara
• Mary Lou

[Frogosim]

48 wow thats one old aligator!

[nickgaetano]

i came to the zoo in june i loved mary lou she actually did stuff all other gators just sit there and do nothing her and the merkat where my favorties