SARASOTA, Fla. – During a photography expedition at a Florida state park earlier this year, wildlife photographer Tim Smith captured a breathtaking image of an alligator propelling itself through the air, a sight he had never witnessed before.
“I’ve been living in Florida for nearly five decades, and this is an entirely unprecedented event for me. Even after searching online, I couldn’t find anything quite similar,” Smith shared with WFLA’s online platform.
In April, Smith embarked on a journey to Myakka River State Park in Sarasota, accompanied by a park ranger with a decade of experience. The ranger also confirmed that she had never encountered such a spectacle.
Regarding the reason behind the alligator’s aerial maneuver, Smith explained that the creature appeared to be responding to a group of fish that had been stirred up right in front of it.
As per information from Experience Kissimmee, alligators are capable of leaping up to five feet out of the water to catch their prey. This feat is achieved by utilizing their tails to propel themselves upwards.
On April 18, Smith shared this remarkable photograph on a Facebook group dedicated to Myakka River State Park. Since then, the image has garnered over 1,000 likes, been shared hundreds of times, and received numerous comments.
