Visit South of the Border its absurdist roadside extravaganza, stay for its surprisingly comprehensive crocodile exhibit. The kitschy South Carolina rest stop started yet another improbable attraction: a single story commercial building alongside I-95 building turned into a habitat for crocodiles, turtles and snakes.
How is this better than a roadside zoo? Well, it’s not, except they house unloved reptiles and donate money to crocodile causes. None of the animals are rescues, says Dr. Sam Seashole, a veterinarian who loves reptiles and has spent a career working with them. They just “came from other institutions.” The 40,000 square foot reptile lagoon has a few endangered species, though, and they might one day take part in a breeding and reintroduction program–if that’s necessary.
The lagoon promises that “part of every admission goes to the Crocodile Conservation Institute, which helps save crocodiles and their habitat around the world.” That’s not exactly the reptilian version of Audubon. It’s a non-profit built to give money from South of the Border to croc causes. Animal tourists pay $5 to visit. The Crocodile Conservation Institute’s online tax return shows a budget of only $35,000 for its first year; none of the board got paid. Dr. Seashole says they recently wired off a donation to a Philippine group.
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SEE ANIMALS IN THE SOUTH (AL, AR, GA, KY, MS, LA, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV) |
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Where to SEE TURTLES & TORTOISES |
- endangered American crocodile
- Aladabra tortoise
- Gift shop only sells fake reptile parts
- pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta)
- African slender-snouted crocodile
- endangered paraguan caiman
- nile crocodile
- gift shop at the reptile lagoon of South of the Border
- threatened American alligator
- endangered morelet’s crocodile
[…] in India, you might be interested in a popular U.S. tourist destination that features snakes: South of the Border, the cheesy, ever-expanding roadside stop along Route 95. Better known for giant animal statues, […]