ORLANDO, Fla. – Gatorland Global, the conservation arm of Gatorland, has welcomed its first rescue alligator of the 2025 breeding season.
Meet Lil’ Yachty, an 8-foot-long gator named after the Atlanta rapper, who was discovered at the Mount Dora Yacht Club with a healed tail injury.
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Lil’ Yachty, weighing in at 125 pounds and estimated to be between 15-20 years old, was brought to Gatorland, the renowned “Alligator Capital of the World,” by a local trapper, according to a news release.
Mark McHugh, President and CEO of Gatorland, shared insights into the seasonal influx of rescue gators.
“During the breeding season, alligators are more active, searching for mates and food as the weather warms,” he said. “Lil’ Yachty is a beautiful and healthy addition to our breeding marsh.”
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Despite some minor scars and a tail injury, Lil’ Yachty is thriving in his new home. McHugh describes him as a “scrapper,” having survived his fair share of scuffles.
The gator is now part of Gatorland Global’s success story, where nuisance alligators are rescued from euthanasia. Before his capture and relocation, Gatorland said Lil’ Yachty was being fed by humans.
“In the state of Florida, if an alligator is being fed by a human, they lose their fear of humans and they become a nuisance alligator,” said Savannah Boan, international ambassador for Gatorland Global and Crocodilian Enrichment coordinator at Gatorland Orlando.
Gatorland also shared a video of the team relocating Lil’ Yachty on its popular Gatorland VLOGS YouTube channel.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, alligator mating season, or breeding season, typically begins with courtship in early April, with mating occurring between May and June.