An alligator captured in The Villages has a new home at Gatorland in Orlando.
The 10 feet-long, 700-pound alligator, approximately 30 years old, was taken to Gatorland by local trapper Robbie Keszey. Because the capture and transfer coincided with the July 4 holiday, the alligator has been named Uncle Sam.
Uncle Sam is Gatorland’s second rescue alligator from The Villages. Larry The Alligator also found a home at the park in 2019 after he was removed from The Villages.
Gatorland is home to more than 2,000 alligators. Originally opened as a roadside attraction in 1949, the park celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 2024. Today the iconic park provides affordably priced family fun featuring thousands of alligators and crocodiles, breeding marsh with observation tower, popular capybara encounter, a free-flight aviary, nature walk, petting zoo, educational wildlife programs and award-winning gift shop.
Gatorland Global was created in 2018 with a mission to Protect, Conserve, and Educate and a vision to help create a world that loves and respects all animals. In January 2025, Gatorland sought to formalize and advance its reach to save alligators and crocodiles through the official development of Gatorland Global as a 501(c)(3) non-profit to provide dedicated resources to help conservation organizations locally and around the world.