Forget about the latest slot machines and trending table games! The newest highlight at Louisiana’s Paragon Casino Resort features two incredibly rare albino alligators.
Managed by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, Paragon is excited to introduce two rare albino alligator sisters to its Bayou Atrium. A free public event is planned for Saturday, July 25, at 4 PM CDT to formally welcome these new inhabitants.
Opened in 2007 during a significant expansion, the Paragon alligator habitat is a family-friendly attraction that features an indoor bayou pond adorned with cypress trees and live alligators.
Located in Marksville, Paragon boasts a sprawling 65,000-square-foot casino area with over 900 slot machines and numerous live dealer table games. The resort is home to three hotel towers offering more than 500 rooms and suites, a luxury spa and salon, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a supervised childcare center, 75,000 square feet of meeting facilities, and an 18-hole golf course.
Significance of Alligators
Alligators play a vital role in the cultural heritage of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe. The tribe’s creation story features the blue and red alligator as guardians of their ancestral lineage.
For the Tunica-Biloxi and many other Native American societies in the South, albino alligators hold special significance. Due to their rarity, these creatures and other albino animals are viewed as “extraordinary beings” imbued with spiritual meaning and associated with renewal.
“Bringing these rare alligators to Paragon transcends merely enhancing our Bayou Atrium experience. It’s a chance to honor the cultural importance of alligators to the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe while inviting our guests and community to witness something truly exceptional,” stated Marshall Ray Sampson Sr., general manager of Paragon Casino Resort, in a recent press release to Casino.org.
“Although traditions differ among tribes, white alligators are recognized in Southeastern Native traditions as symbols reminding us that every living creature serves a purpose and that nature must be cherished and preserved,” the Paragon statement elaborated.
How Rare Are Albino Alligators?
Albino alligators are remarkably uncommon. Estimates from Florida Gulf Coast University suggest there are only about 100 to 200 remaining worldwide, primarily residing in captivity due to the numerous risks they face in natural habitats.
Due to the absence of camouflage, young albino alligators are vulnerable to various predators, including wading birds, fish, large snakes, and even adult alligators. Additionally, albino alligators are sensitive to sunlight and experience vision issues, which complicate their ability to hunt and survive to adulthood.
Albinism is an autosomal recessive trait, meaning that both parent alligators must possess a recessive gene for their offspring to inherit this condition.