A group of tourists in the Everglades have been caught on camera throwing caution and common sense to the wind, and crowding around a large alligator eating a turtle to snap pictures. The Florida Everglades are home to over 200,000 alligators, so there's a good chance that you'll spot one on a hiking trip, but the (NPS) warns visitors to "keep a safe and respectable distance of at least 15 feet" from the animals at all times to avoid the risk of injuries. A photo of the incident, shared at the weekend via Instagram account , shows that the group included a woman who had brought her young child for a closer view of the alligator, putting him and herself in danger.
Alligator and crocodile attacks are rare, but they do happen. Earlier this year, a man was bitten by a crocodile after falling out of a boat at a marina in the Everglades. As reported at the time, the man was trying to swim to shore with his boat when he was bitten, and suffered leg injuries that required medical attention.
Many Instagram users were shocked that a parent would put their child in such a risky situation. "They are waaaayyyy too close," wrote one commenter. "Putting not just themselves in danger, but their children too.
It is [one] thing to be a touron, but to [put] your child in danger like that is unbelievable." The (NPS) explains that alligators are an important part of the ecosystem in the Everglades. Their nesting activities are important for creation of peat, several species of turtle live inside .
