ORLANDO, Fla. — This has been an exciting week for Gatorland as it has received dozens of giant alligators and crocodiles from Everglades Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs.
None larger than Wednesday's newest arrival, Bonecrusher II, who measures in at 15-feet and roughly 1,400 lbs. The giant American crocodile is a direct descendant of the original Bonecrusher, who ruled Gatorland in the 1950s and 1960s. Billed as the largest crocodile in captivity, Gatorland founder Owen Godwin offered a $1,000 reward to anyone who could prove he wasn't the largest crocodile in captivity. He never had to pay out the reward.
Over 40 years later, Bonecrusher II has come to Gatorland to fill the void left in the park when his daddy, Bonecrusher, died in 1971.
Bonecrusher II is a 15-foot long American crocodile that was raised for over 45 years at Everglades Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs, Florida. That historic family-owned park closed their doors in April 2013 and Gatorland was able to bring the beast to his new home at Gatorland. Even at approximately 1,400 lbs., Bonecrusher II can jump seven feet out of the water.