Additional Coverage:
- Glamorous graduate shocks internet with graduation stunt involving 14 foot alligator (irishstar.com)
A recent graduate from McNeese State University made headlines with a strikingly unconventional graduation photoshoot featuring a 14-foot alligator named Big Al. Kat Daley, 22, who co-manages Gator Country in Beaumont, Texas, alongside her fiancé Eddie, chose to incorporate the massive reptile into her celebratory pictures, highlighting her unique connection to wildlife.
One standout image shows Daley confidently planting a kiss on Big Al’s snout, a moment that stunned many online viewers. However, for Daley, close encounters with alligators are part of her daily routine. “I wanted to showcase what I do with these animals and what they mean to me,” she explained.
Daley also addressed common misconceptions about reptiles, particularly alligators. “They’re often demonized in the media, but they’re not as aggressive as people think. When left alone, wild alligators won’t bother humans,” she said.
The photoshoot features Daley in her navy graduation gown, wading through water toward Big Al, and even holding onto the alligator’s tail with a bright smile. Photographer Laura Oglesbee, who captured these now-viral images, noted Daley’s remarkable calmness around the creature.
“Big Al and another alligator, Big Tex, have been specially trained for years. These aren’t random wild animals,” Oglesbee clarified.
While Oglesbee felt comfortable around Big Al-partly because of her husband’s experience wrestling alligators at the park-she drew the line at a timber rattlesnake Daley also posed with. “I had to use a wide lens for that shot,” Oglesbee said. “They wouldn’t let me get too close, but Kat handled the snake like it was nothing.”
Daley’s passion for wildlife dates back to age seven when she began working in rehabilitation. She recently earned a degree in general studies with a concentration in natural sciences, balancing her education with full-time work at Gator Country.
“I already have my dream job,” she shared. “I’m excited to stay here and see where it takes me.”
Gator Country is home to approximately 450 alligators at any given time and rescues around 250 annually. Daley described the park’s mission as providing care for alligators that wouldn’t survive in the wild, allowing them to live out their lives safely in captivity. She emphasized the dual focus on conservation and education, aiming to dispel fears and foster appreciation for these often-misunderstood animals.
Through her unique graduation photoshoot, Daley not only celebrated her academic achievement but also spotlighted her commitment to wildlife conservation and education.