I'm aliiiive!!

The alligator swim happened! It was about as fantastic as any experience can be, a little scary at first what with it being a different environment and style of handling animals than I am used to, but once I got in the swing of things (and Battle the alligator got used to me) it really was incredible. I feel so privileged to have had such an awesome predator tolerate me in his own environment, and the support of my friends, colleagues and family, and even friends of friends, in supporting me in my fund raising challenge has been fantastic. It's not too late to give support to the crocodile conservations charity I chose... Follow the instructions below!

It was a pleasure to finally meet the lovely Mr James Hennesy at the Reptile Village, and we talked about some field survey work in Guatamala next year... watch this space!!

As for now, this afternoon I will leave Llandudno where I've been for a couple of nights with family, and head for the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to meet my friend Paul Rowley, who is a venom extractor- I've been wanting to snoop around his snake collection for a while now so am very excited!

Swimming with alligators!

As I type I am sat in the cafe on Holyhead ferry port. Not the most plush of venues, but the hot chocolate is doing the job after my 5am start and 4 hour 40 drive to get here. The reason for my journey is my latest mini adventure and a cause that is very close to my heart- this evening I will swim with alligators in a bid to raise as much funding as possible to support the in and ex situ conservation work of Crocodiles of the World, who are the UK's only crocodile zoo and have recently been granted charitable status to aid in their work. One of their most exciting in-house triumphs recently is breeding and hatching American alligators, only the second time this has been achieved in the UK, and the father of the babies is Albert, a big gator to whom I was primary care taker for at Amazing Animals for many years. I miss him terribly, but when he transferred up the road to be set up with his now mate Daisy, and I saw how happy he is, I couldn't be more pleased for him. Here is one of his babies:

The conservation projects around the world that COTW support include the Crocodile Specialist Group, Tomistoma Task Force, Gharial Conservation Alliance and the Chinese Alligator Fund.

I will be doing my swim at Ireland's only reptile park, Reptile Village, who also support a variety of excellent conservation projects globally. if you are in Ireland, check out their webpage for listings of all their awesome Halloween activities and encounter programmes, they have tons going and and doing some really worthwhile work!

To sponsor me and help in the conservation of corcodiles, alligators and caiman, it's easy! All toy have to do is text CROC13 followed by wither £3, £5 or £10 to 70070 and it will come out of your next phone bill. 100% of your donation will go to the charity. Thank you so much for your support!!!