Kat Daley, who recently graduated from McNeese State University, posed for an incredibly unconventional photo. The 22-year-old, who helps run Gator Country in Beaumont, Texas, decided to feature a 14-foot alligator named Big Al in her graduation photos. The photoshoot included one of Daley planting a kiss right on the snout of the water creature. Social media was left in complete shock as the photos circulated, but for Daley, being face-to-face with an alligator isn’t out of the ordinary. She pointed out that she wanted to highlight what she does with the animals every day and what they mean to her. Daley went on to explain that she believes reptiles are demonized in the media, saying that they’re not as aggressive as people like to think. “When people don’t interfere with those wild animals, they aren’t going to interfere with us,” she said. In her photos, Daley showed no fear of the massive reptile, which speaks to her routine of handling them daily on the job. She pointed out that Big Al and Big Tex have been trained for a long time and aren’t just some random alligators. Daley, who began working with wildlife seven years ago with her fiancé Eddie, said that now that she has her degree in natural sciences she’s going to stay at Gator Country and see where it takes her. Gator Country Adventure Park & Sanctuary is the largest alligator adventure park in Southeast Texas, housing over 450 American alligators along with crocodiles, snakes, lizards, tortoises, and other wildlife.
