Californians for Sustainable Conservation

Many dogs (and cats!) suffer from food allergies or sensitivities to certain types of protein commonly used in the production of pet food. Alligator meat is now used in production of specialty pet foods which are well tolerated by those pets sensitive to other proteins.

Breeds more commonly seen with a food allergy include German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Boxers and Pugs. A high-quality protein from alligator may help ease the symptoms that dogs with food sensitivities may experience.

Alligator meat provides a lean, protein-rich, novel ingredient source for dogs suffering from adverse food reactions... alligators are not harvested for the pet food industry but use assures full utilization of the animal.

"Discoveries made by George Mason's 17-member, multidisciplinary research team could eventually find their way to the battlefield to protect warfighters from wound infections and potential exposure to biothreat agents."

Alligator blood contains naturally strong germ fighters Alligator blood contains bacteria fighters that could help wounded soldiers in the field, according to new research. Alligators live in bacteria-filled environments and dine on carrion. Yet this ancient reptile rarely falls ill.

"I want to be clear here. CITES works. Regulated and sustainable trade works. Sustainable use works.

"I could cite many examples of successes, but let me mention just one.

"Crocodiles were listed in 1975, in response to severe depletion.

"The crocodile industry is now worth over 100 million dollars a year, the illegal trade has all but vanished and crocodiles are far more abundant than they were 50 years ago."

"The United Nations Environment Programme remains committed to working with the CITES Secretariat and with Parties to bring more success in advancing sustainable trade in wildlife and plants."

Opening remarks of Executive Director of UN Environment Programme at the 18th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES | CITES CITES is an international agreement between governments, aimed to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

"Doyle’s first project with the species was done in summer 2015 through the Office of Student Research, where she studied musculoskeletal development in the American alligator following removal of the eggshell during incubation. Then in 2016, for an undergraduate research project, she studied the effects of caudofemoralis longus tentomy on terrestrial locomotion in the American alligator."

Biology student, with interest in neuroscience, named recipient of the CSUSB Professor Richard Fehn Memorial Scholarship Award | CSUSB News Janelle Doyle, center, the 2018 Professor Richard Fehn Memorial Scholarship recipient, with Mike Chao (left), chair of the biology department, and Peter Williams, College of Natural Sciences interim dean. Photo: Peter Acosta/CSUSB Mon, April 09, 2018 Biology student, with interest in neuroscience, n...

“The American alligator is the greatest success story of a large animal in the history of environmental conservation,” [Dr. John] Eme said. “To have an animal have such a low population to now having millions and millions, if you want to think about a big animal, it’s the most successful."

Professor Takes Unexpected Path to Alligator Research John Eme is familiar with the misconceptions some people have about alligators and crocodiles. He had some himself. Eme, an adjunct faculty member in Cal State San Marcos’ biology department, has been researching alligators and crocodiles for about 12 years. That research includes significant hand...

"American alligators have an enviable innate immune system, the “primitive” first line of defense that is shared by all vertebrates. In 2008, chemists in Louisiana found that blood serum taken from the reptiles destroyed 23 strains of bacteria and depleted reserves of the HIV virus."

Germ-killing molecules identified in alligator blood Over more than 37 million years, alligators have developed a formidable defence against infections that we might be able to harness

"We're very excited about the potential of these alligator blood proteins as both antibacterial and antifungal agents," says study co-author Mark Merchant, Ph.D., a biochemist at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La. "There's a real possibility that you could be treated with an alligator blood product one day."

Alligator blood may put the bite on antibiotic-resistant infections Despite their reputation for deadly attacks on humans and pets, alligators are wiggling their way toward a new role as potential lifesavers in medicine. Scientists report that proteins in gator blood may provide powerful new antibiotics to help fight infections associated with diabetic ulcers, sever...

"If we can harness these secrets," [biologist Adam] Britton said, "we could be on the verge of a major advance in medical science."

Alligator Blood May Lead to Powerful New Antibiotics American alligator blood can destroy multiple strains of bacteria, including those resistant to antibiotics.