Fred the Alligator and some of the other crocodilians taken from Reptile World have found their new home across the border.
    Reptile World closed in February of this year and 142 animals were taken into protective custody. A number of the animals were taken to Indian River Reptile Zoo in Peterborough County in Ontario, while others, including Fred the Alligator were taken to Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo Ottawa.
    On Tuesday, Fred the Alligator, and two other crocodilians from Reptile World finally arrived at their new home in at Alligator Adventure in North Myrtle Beach in South Carolina.
    “We hit many snags along the way but after 6 months of focused energy and a unified front these photos represent the first of 4 crocodilian moves we are facilitating out of Canada. All of the animals have arrived safely and securely in Arizona and South Carolina,” said Little Ray’s Facebook posting.
    It has been a long road for the animals. Once taken from Reptile World, They were transported across Canada in a van in mid-winter. The animals were well cared for in their homes in Ontario, before what is being dubbed Alligator express took off.
    Last Friday, 17 reptiles were crated, and put on a 747 at Pearson International Airport. They were flown to Los Angeles, where they were driven to new habitats in Phoenix and South Carolina.
    According to their website over the next four months the migration will continue, as they moved almost 50 crocodiles, alligators and caimans to new homes in four trips.
    “This entire project has been years in the making and start to finish will be the largest move of crocodilians out of Canada,” said Little Ray’s Facebook.
    It is obvious they see the value for their efforts.
    “Many people asked why we are moving these animals including some very famous animals who have lived in Canada a long time. If a photo is worth a 1,000 words, these photos are probably worth a million. The vast majority of the animals we receive can never go back to the wild and we love utilizing them for educational programs but when an opportunity comes up to give them the closest thing to the wild they would ever see... it’s a no brainer.”

    In wake of dry conditions throughout the province and worries over livestock feed, the Alberta government has declared a disaster.
    The Alberta Cabinet met on Thursday, August 20, and made the declaration that. “…agricultural economics losses and hardship resulting from extreme weather conditions to be a disaster, in accordance with section 7 of the Fiscal Management Act.”
    Oneil Carlier, Alberta Agriculture Minister tells The Mail that the declaration will allow Alberta Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) to respond to producers’ needs.
    “It’s been a tough year for farmers, with low moisture content, right from when the snow melted. So what happened is the Order in Council allowed Alberta Financial Services Corporation to access the funds they have in reserve," Carlier tells The Mail. “It helps AFSC access their funds.”
    He explains that this will give AFSC the ability to respond to insurance claims.
    “Thankfully the slate of the programs that AFSC has is well subscribed to, we have a bit over 80 per cent of our producers in the province subscribing to the insurance program.
    Rick Strankman, MLA for Drumheller-Stettler and agriculture critic is wary of declaring a blanket disaster when not all producers are facing extreme hardship.
    “To make a government policy that is applicable from High Level to Foremost, is onerous at best, because there is always unintended consequences when the government is involved,” he said.
    Carlier says he has no concern about the province declaring a province-wide disaster.
    “It’s the nature of weather patterns. Right across the province, there are some counties that are doing better. There are some farmers doing well in one spot, while down the road the other is not doing well, so it is spotty,” He said. “The declaration is for AFSC to access funds, that’s all it did, so the people that are hardest hit will be able to access their insurance policies.”
    Cattle producers and lack of feed appear to be the most affected by the drought conditions. Strankman says that their pasture insurance is not well subscribed to.
    “Even though hay is a major supplement for cattle, there are other options available and innovative producers can use something other than hay, and unfortunately, the pasture and hay insurance under AFSC is only received by 8-10 per cent of Alberta producers, so there needs to be some reworking of these programs,” he said.
    Wider concerns about the economy could dictate what kind of help producers get.
    “I am so guarded by the financial position the province is in right now, with falling oil prices etc., I don’t think there will be anything forthcoming,” said Strankman. “Agriculture is easily renewable, easily sustainable and we understand that markets fluctuate, let's continue on,” he said.