Colorado Gators Reptile Park, Reptile sanctuary in Mosca, United States.
Colorado Gators Reptile Park is a reptile park in Mosca, Colorado, 17 miles north of Alamosa. It started as a tilapia farm in 1977 and now includes a bird sanctuary, reptile rescue, education and display areas, and a biodome. A geothermal well feeds ponds and wetlands where alligators rest in shallow, murky water, and over 125 bird species have been sighted.
In 1977 Erwin and Lynne Young bought 80 acres at Mosca and started a tilapia and African perch farm, using a geothermal well to warm the water. In 1987 they bought 100 one-year-old alligators to dispose of fish-processing waste. The alligators grew and locals asked to see them, so the farm opened to the public in 1990.
The park hosts Gatorfest each August with roping and barrel racing competitions, marking the world's first alligator rodeo event.
The park lies 17 miles (27 km) north of Alamosa, Colorado, in Mosca. The geothermal well keeps the ponds at 87°F (30.5°C), so alligators stay outdoors year-round. The Two Mile Creek Wildlife Habitat allows fishing, boating and picnicking, and over 125 bird species have been sighted there.
The park's geothermal well, 2,050 feet deep and 87°F, was drilled for the tilapia farm and now feeds the alligator ponds. The first 100 alligators, bought in 1987, were one-year-olds brought in to eat fish-processing waste.
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