Snowball and Snowflake set to become Mighty Mike’s new neighbors

NEWPORT, Ky. – There will be guaranteed snow in Northern Kentucky this summer as albino American alligators Snowball and Snowflake are set to return to Newport Aquarium on Thursday, July 17.

The white alligators will make their new permanent home at the Gator Alley exhibit, which features one of the most distinct collections of alligators in the country.

Snowball (left) and Snowflake.

Snowball and Snowflake are two of less than 100 known white alligators in the world. Due to a lack of camouflage and sensitivity to UV rays, white alligators have a low survival rate in the wild.

Their new neighbor, Mighty Mike, is the largest American alligator in the United States outside the state of Florida at 14 feet in length and 800 pounds.

Mighty Mike

“We are thrilled to provide our guests the opportunity to see a variety of truly unique crocodilians species all in one exhibit,” said Chris Pierson, husbandry operations director at Newport Aquarium. “Snowball and Snowflake are truly wondrous creatures. Pairing them side by side with Mighty Mike really makes for a special exhibit that you can’t find anywhere else but at Newport Aquarium.”

Each white gator measures roughly six feet in length, with the female Snowflake weighing approximately 65 pounds and the male Snowball approaching 85 pounds.

Snowball and Snowflake made their Newport Aquarium debut in November 2013 at what was then known as the Rainforest exhibit.

At the end of February, the two white alligators were moved off exhibit as Newport Aquarium prepped to convert the Rainforest into the new Turtle Canyon exhibit that opened in March.

For more information on Newport Aquarium, visit NewportAquarium.com or call toll free 800-406-FISH (3474).

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Newport Aquarium, the No. 1 aquarium in the country according to USA Today’s 10Best.com, has showcased thousands of animals from around the world in a million gallons of water since 1999. Named a top U.S. aquarium by US City Traveler in 2014 and by Travel Channel in 2013, Newport Aquarium is a Herschend Family Entertainment company and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Newport Aquarium is open to the public 365 days a year and is located across the Ohio River from downtown Cincinnati at Newport on the Levee.

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One Aquarium Way | Newport, KY 41071 | 859-261-7444
www.newportaquarium.com