Alligator Exchange 

Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve’s alligators have outgrown their tank in the reptile room! Every couple of years, they are exchanged for three babies. Otherwise, they would become too big for the tank. Ranger Zach Lepera and Aquarist Sarah Moulton took the overgrown alligators back to Gatorland in Orlando, and exchanged them for babies that hatched earlier this year. After the toy containers used to transport them, the mature alligators were named Slinky, Jenga and Yo-Yo. Staff will name two of the babies and Rick, a volunteer who has cleaned the alligator tank every week for the past few years, will name one.