Jungle Jim Greene will be the guest speaker in April for the Discovery Lecture Series at Marine Discovery Center. His presentation, “Living With Alligators,” will be held on Thursday, April 3, at 6 p.m., and will feature some “special guests” with live ambassador alligators.
Greene is a retired alligator control contractor for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and has led educational programs on alligators since 1980. A specialist with these reptiles, he has worked with crocodilians in Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, five countries in Central America and in three countries in Africa.
An estimated population of 1.3 million alligators reside in Florida as a part of their geographic range spanning from eastern North Carolina to Texas. Alligator mating season begins with courtship in early April, followed by breeding during May and June – making spring a key time for alligator awareness by Florida residents.
American alligators were widely harvested for their hides and meat and were listed on the Endangered Species List by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1967. With the establishment of greater conservation efforts and tighter harvest regulations, the American alligator population rebounded and they were removed from the list in 1987. Considered “ancient reptiles,” alligator ancestry traces them on earth for an estimated 84 million years during the time of dinosaurs.
Our Discovery Lecture Series presentations are open to the public at no charge, but donations to the center are always appreciated. Pre-registration for this lecture is required and may be done online or by phone at 386.428.4828.
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