A video taken at the Splash Mountain ride at Disney World in Florida shows a park employee fighting off an alligator near the ride.
The incident, filmed in 2009, was posted online this week following the death of a 2-year-old boy who was dragged into the water by an alligator at one of Disney’s resorts in Orlando, Florida.
In the clip, the small gator is seen in the water as an employee pokes at it. The reptile eventually gets next to a pathway before the employee hits it with a pool cleaning stick. When it goes back in the water, the worker hits the water near it.
The video then pans up to customers riding the Splash Mountain ride.
Inside Edition originally posted the clip online.
Nick Wiley, executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said Disney workers commonly remove alligators near the park. “Any time they see an alligator or a complaint is called in, it can be taken out,” he said at a press conference on June 15.
Since the death of the boy, identified as Lane Graves, there have been complaints and criticism saying Disney should have put up better signage. Previously, Disney had “No Swimming” signs up. Now, according to a Disney spokesperson on June 17, Disney has a sign that reads in bold: “Danger. Alligators and snakes in area. Stay away from the water. Do not feed the wildlife.”
