New Employee at Reptile Park Realizes How Strong an Alligator's Tail Is the Hard Way

A new employee at a reptile park in Orlando, Florida, discovered the hard way just how strong an alligator’s tail was while in the animal’s enclosure with its longtime trainer.

Accompanied by performing animal wrangler Michael Womer, known as The Gator Crusader, the employee, who normally works in the gift shop at Gator Golf Adventure Park, can be seen touching the alligator’s tail in the video uploaded to YouTube on October 5. The animal swiftly swings its tail and knocks her off her feet.

“He was TRYING to knock her down,” Womer said of the alligator, “I am leaning back trying to give him space and lightly picking that annoying algae off him when she leans into his personal space and pats and grabs his tail!” he added.

Womer has worked training alligators for over 28 years. He said that it’s important to read and understand the animal’s body language. Credit: The Gator Crusader via Storyful