A US college student has made sure her graduation snaps are ones to remember - after posing in her cap and sash with a 14ft (4m) alligator.
Makenzie Noland is a student at Texas A&M University who will graduate on Friday with a degree in wildlife and fisheries sciences.
The senior has been interning at a Beaumont rescue centre which is home to about 450 alligators, crocodiles and other reptiles.
But it's Big Tex that steals the show - a gargantuan alligator who was adopted in 2016 after overfeeding turned him into a nuisance for local boats.
Makenzie and Tex have developed a special relationship since she joined the centre in May.
She says he responds to his name and reacts to her hand signals when she regularly enters his pond to feed him.
"I get in the water with that animal every day - he's one of my best friends there!" she tells the BBC, shrugging off a question about being scared.
"But since he is with us, he's a wonderful representation of what it's like to train an animal and show off his personality. They're wonderful creatures - and they're not all maneaters!"
Makenzie says she has been overwhelmed by the reaction to her posts, which have now been shared and liked hundreds of times.
"I was not expecting this; I just expected to post a couple of cute photos on my Instagram. It's been incredible."
She hopes to continue to working with wildlife after graduating.
"I just want to be immersed in animals and educate the public in them," she says.
Source: BBC
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
this is not true; don't try it. either the aligator is not real or the pic is photo shop.
That sounds interesting, but she must be careful! ***barred word*** will always remain an ***barred word***, despite all training. Even human beings could act stupidly sometimes, let alone ANIMALS. "A word to the wise is enough"