Combining Education and Entertainment
About Insta-Gator Ranch
About Insta-Gator Ranch
In 1978, Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries hatched a plan to rescue Louisiana’s alligators from the brink of extinction. This Alligator Conservation Program involved harvesting alligator eggs from the wild and hatching them safely at local ranches.
John Price and his family joined the LDWF’s efforts by opening Insta-Gator Ranch & Hatchery in 1989. His Covington, Louisiana ranch began hatching eggs by the thousands. Thanks to John and other ranchers, this conservation program has become recognized worldwide as the most successful sustainable conservation program for any animal.
In September 2001, Insta-Gator Ranch & Hatchery opened its doors to provide visitors a behind-the-scenes look at how the LDWF Conservation Program brought American alligators back from the endangered species list.
Today Insta-Gator Ranch hosts visitors through group tours, school field trips, birthday parties, and even mobile alligator entertainment, Gators-To-Geaux. With Gators-To-Geaux, John and his team travel up to 100 miles from their home at the ranch with live alligators – delivering entertainment onsite for festivals and large events.
Insta-Gator Ranch has become the most informative and interactive alligator tour in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas and now is home to nearly 2,000 alligators. Book a tour with us today to learn more about the Alligator Conservation Program and come face-to-face with our live Alligators!
What is the Alligator Conservation Program?
The Alligator Conservation Program’s success has dramatically increased the alligator population since its beginnings in the 1970s. The program has become recognized worldwide as possibly the most successful sustainable conservation program for any animal in the world.
The basic principle is that ranchers harvest alligator eggs in the marshes of Louisiana, with the understanding that 17% of those hatched must be returned to the marsh once they reach an average size of 4 feet. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries found that only 6-8% of hatchlings make it to average size in the wild, but, with human intervention, the survival rate is 85%.