25/09/2021
12 Foot Gator devours smaller gator in Lakeland, Florida. Picture provided by Florida Sportsman Magazine.
Cannibal croc. Well, alligator in this case. The massive Florida gator, aptly named Humpback, was spotted in the Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland, Florida. The photographer who caught the show, Bobby Wummer says, “He is the biggest gator in the pond, which allows him to do what he wants. I’ve seen other gators totally avoid or yield to get out of his way. They will give him room when he rests on his favorite sunning beach. The other gators won’t challenge him! He is the alpha male. And he is absolutely huge!”
It’s estimated that 6-7% of juvenile alligators are cannibalized by larger gators before reaching adulthood. Although that’s not the case here. This gator had already passed away and according to Bobby, was stinking up something fierce.
“I’ve seen lots of gators,” Wummer shares, “But he is huge. The trail is like 12 feet across and he was head-to-tail totally across the trail.”