Disney World removes 400+ alligators since 2016 attack

A decade after a fatal alligator attack at Walt Disney World, officials have removed more than 400 alligators from the Florida resort as part of an ongoing safety initiative. The effort, a collaboration between Disney and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), has intensified significantly since the June 2016 tragedy.

The incident occurred when a two-year-old boy, Lane Graves, was attacked by an alligator while playing in shallow water along the shore of Seven Seas Lagoon near Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. In response, Disney swiftly implemented new safety measures, including the installation of fencing, boulder barriers, and warning signs around waterfront areas. The Graves family later established a foundation in his memory focused on pediatric organ donation and supporting families with critically ill children.

Data shows the scale of the wildlife management response. In the eight years preceding the attack, state-contracted trappers removed an average of 23 alligators annually from Disney property. That figure jumped to 83 removals in 2016 alone. In the ten years since the attack, a total of 414 alligators have been removed. These actions are...