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THE
ALLIGATOR BOOK
(see cover)
“In the production of
the Wild America television series, I have been
blessed to be able to explore most of our great continent.
There are no areas I have found more intriguing than the
places where water meets land. My friend C. C. Lockwood
documents this habitat better than anyone I know. I am
certain that as he turns his attention to the American
alligator in this book,
C. C.’s words and
photographs will stir your emotions and arouse your interest
in this unique, prehistoric, and powerful reptile and, in
fact, in all of wildlife.”—Marty Stouffer
The
modern-day American alligator has existed for over two
million years, a relic of nature’s wildness. This complex
creature with a constant crooked grin rules the swamps of
the South, forms an integral part of wetland conservation,
and thrills tourists to its natural habitat each year. Loved
or feared, the alligator attracts the attention of anyone
who encounters it. But what do we really know about the
fascinating reptile? Renowned wildlife photographer and
naturalist C. C. Lockwood devotes himself to uncovering the
latest facts about this ancient, dragon-like species in The
Alligator Book.
Lockwood traveled the Gulf Coast to study the
alligator in its environment, primarily Louisiana and
Florida. He also followed biologists through wetland
refuges, visited tourist attractions and theme parks, and
toured alligator farms and meat processors to create a
stunning, definitive photo gallery: newly hatched alligators
still bearing an egg tooth; mothers cavorting with their
young; nine-foot alligators confronting the camera; and
females defending their nests. Lockwood brings us alongside
scientists tagging alligators for research, seasoned guides
hand-feeding both captive and wild gators, and nuisance
trappers pursuing aggressive or displaced ones.
Firsthand
tales about alligators from an array of
individuals—including victims of attack and a professional
gator wrestler—make for lively reading. In addition,
Lockwood fills in important details about the creature’s
diet, growth, reproduction, and taxonomy. He features a
family album of related species, leaving no question about
how gators differ from crocs. For stouthearted enthusiasts
or even the mildly curious, an appendix of alligator zoos
and attractions throughout Louisiana and Florida is
included.
The
Alligator Book $39.95
10 x 11 – 152 Pages – 144 Pictures
ISBN
0-8071-2828-7
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P.O. Box 14876, Baton Rouge, LA 70898