Wonder Gardens unveils baby alligator habitat, the Dorothy Guigon Vivarium
The Floridant/10315486

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. - Floridant -- Wonder Gardens has officially unveiled the Dorothy Guigon Vivarium, now home to two juvenile American Alligators, Jessie and James.

The $25,000 habitat was made possible by Dorothy Guigon and is designed with both animal welfare and the viewing experience in mind. The habitat includes a pond with a waterfall for swimming and climbing, as well as sand for digging. The vivarium was created to mirror their natural environment and includes plants and rocks for enrichment.

"We are thrilled to introduce our two baby gators to the Wonder Gardens, and we are so grateful to Dorothy Guigon for making this possible," said Neil Anderson, president and CEO of Wonder Gardens. "Alligators are a natural part of life here in Florida, but many people never get the chance to see them up close in a safe setting. Our new habitat allows guests to safely engage with these animals and learn a deeper appreciation for Florida's native wildlife."

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Once the baby alligators outgrow their current space, Wonder Gardens will work with its community partners to secure them a new home at another facility with a larger habitat.

To learn more about the exhibit, please visit WonderGardens.org. (https://wondergardens.org/)

About Wonder Gardens

The Wonder Gardens is a nonprofit zoological park and botanical garden established in 1936 in Bonita Springs that is dedicated to preserving and upgrading the best of the site's history; caring for rescued, rehabilitated and non-releasable animals; growing its botanical beauty and delivering engaging education programs and events. For information, visit WonderGardens.org or call 239-992-2591.