Tag: zoos

A reptile handler says her love life is a load of croc.

Savannah Boan revealed that even though she loves her job feeding crocodiles and other deadly creatures, the cost is that her dating life suffers.

“My job affects my dating life in the way that I believe most people are afraid to date such a strong woman that works with prehistoric beasts on a daily basis,” the Florida native told NeedToKnow.Online. “Maybe they’re afraid of me? Maybe they’re afraid of the animals I work with? Maybe they think I’m crazy? I’m not too sure.”

Boan said that any partner of hers “would have to be a superhero just like me” but is also quite sure there is someone out there for her.

In the meantime, Boan said that she is quite content with loving her deadly creatures.

“My romantic interests are always put off by what I do, but I like the alligators and crocodiles better anyway,” admitted Boan. “At least the animals’ intentions are always clear.”

“Humans are a bit more difficult to try and figure out when it comes to motives,” she continued.

Even without a romantic partner, Boan manages to keep busy with her job at Gatorland in Orlando, Florida.

“I get into work early in the morning and check all the animals under my personal care – feeding, setting up nesting areas, general husbandry, enrichment activities for all the animals including huge alligators, saltwater crocodiles, American crocodiles and Cuban crocodiles,” said Boan.

Boan’s passion for taking care of animals started at a young age.

“I have been saving bugs, snakes, lizards and more since I was knee-high to a grasshopper,” recalls Boan. “My family thinks my job is right in line with my personality.”

Boan said that before landing her dream job, she worked with smaller animals in California.

“Prior to Gatorland I worked with some smaller crocodilians, huge pythons, monitor lizards and other various venomous and non-venomous reptiles at a Reptile Zoo in Southern California,” explained the croc handler.

“I’m a Florida girl at heart though and I have always wanted to work for Gatorland.”

Boan achieved that dream in 2016 when she started working at Gatorland.

“I’ve definitely achieved a life goal by working at the alligator capital of the world every day alongside modern-day dinosaurs,” gushed Boan. “I watch over huge alligators, giant saltwater crocodiles, Nile crocodiles, Orinoco crocodiles and more.”

Since joining the team, Boan has become an ambassador for the preserve as well as developed a taste for danger.

“Gatorland is a very safe park but danger is always part of the day,” stated Boan. “One day a lady dropped her phone into our main lake and we had to take a boat out to get it – she dropped it under a walkway.”

”We had to paddle the boat under the walkway into the darkness to try and retrieve the phone,” continued Boan. ”As we were splashing in the water searching for the phone under the walkway we came face to face with a 13-foot alligator eye level with us.”

Boan speculates that the phone retrieval team might have startled the reptile from a nap because it allegedly turned and splashed away from the phone retrieval team.

According to Boan, there is a sense of camaraderie between reptiles and handlers.

“Our alligators and crocodiles pretty much know us by sight and I know them all by name,” said Boan. “Their behavior patterns are all different individually, so getting to know them personally is key to working with them.”

Boan loves her job but has been the subject of many trolls online.

“Any pushback I ever get is generally from men though I have some excellent male colleagues at Gatorland and throughout the world,” said Boan. “There are lots of women working in crocodile conservation and we are all very supportive of one another.”

“Male colleagues that I work with directly are generally great and respectful if they know me,” continued Boan. “However the internet is filled with men and women that think I’m ill-equipped for my position because I’m female and because of my southern accent.”

“People have commented things such as it’s only a matter of time” stated that she doesn’t let the haters get her down, despite the nasty comments she receives on her social media page where she shows off some of the animals she works with.

“I don’t let their hate or wishes for me to be injured bother me though,” stated Boan. “People have commented things such as it’s only a matter of time or even ‘she’ll be dead soon.’”

Boan, who flaunts a whopping 247,000 followers on Instagram, dedicates her page to a few of her favorite crocs including the fan-favorite named Jaws, who in one clip shows off how much he loves when Boan pets him.

“He looks a little like Godzilla lol,” commented one user.

“Jawsome,” quipped another.

“Good boy,” laughed a third.