Albino alligator to debut Saturday at SC aquarium

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By Bob Behanian bio | email

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - The newest feature of the South Carolina Aquarium is set to make his debut Saturday in an 8,000 gallon freshwater tank.

He's a seven-foot, 100-pound, 10-year-old albino alligator born in the wild and raised in a Florida zoo. For the last six weeks, he's made his home and the South Carolina Aquarium as while staffers prepared his new habitat.

"It's very exciting. It's exciting that our guests will be able to share this experience," said Curator Rachel Kalisperis.

Kalisperis can't wait to put the gator on display and educate the public about the rare gator. The alligator is one of only about 50 in the world. The reptile lacks melanin in its eyes and skin, leaving him a translucent white, light-sensitive and particularly vulnerable to predators in the wild.

"He's beautiful, he is a beautiful animal and the guests will appreciate that when they see him. He is pretty rare," said Kalisperis. "He would sunburn easily from UV radiation. He would also be susceptible to predation cause he would stand out and not be camouflaged."

The new attraction will live in the aquarium's renovated Blackwater Swawmp exhibit. The exhibit already houses life-sized cypress trees, rattle snakes, screech owls and a host of other new species.

Kalisperis said the aquarium staff has a system of acclimation for all new exhibits to allow the animals time to adjust to their new environment before being put on display.

"We are making sure the exhibit is suitable and ready. We also make sure he is doing well and that he is eating well and adjusting to his new home," said Kalisperis.

The albino alligator exhibit came a year after the aquarium launched the Penguin Planet exhibit. Original plans called for the penguins to move out of the aquarium once the alligator went on display, but because of an attendance and revenue spike due, in part, to the waddling, black-and-white birds, that exit has been pushed back to October.

The aquarium is hosting a pair of members-only sneak peeks Friday. The first is scheduled for 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The second sneak peek runs from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.

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