Big Padre

For most people, Big Padre is the star attraction at the Birding and Nature Center on South Padre Island. And he is most definitely impressive - 12.5 feet long and weighing about 800 pounds. It's hard to look away, even though I'm here for the birds. Big Padre's story is sad, and all too common - well-meaning fishermen in Port Arthur fed him when he was wild and he became a danger to tourists, jumping on to a boat. The Nature Center adopted him and now he lives with a female alligator called Lady Laguna. According to the Nature Center website, at the time of writing he is about 56 years old (I don't know how they know this).

Birding and Nature Center, South Padre Island, Texas