Huge Alligator in Florida Backyard Nicknamed ‘Thanos’ Shocks Internet

A video of an alligator spotted “slapping his head” in the waters of a home in southwest Florida has gone viral on TikTok.

The reptile was spotted by Tiffany Rowan in her backyard pond. “I have alligators out back daily and film them after I get off work,” she told Newsweek.

Rowan, 53, who lives in Venice in Sarasota County and works in home health care, captured the sighting in a video posted on her TikTok account, @mamatiffsworld. The clip has amassed 1.7 million views since it was first shared on May 31.

A message overlaid on the video reads: “Ok…calling all alligator experts. This is my new backyard alligator ‘THANOS’…,” the name of the formidable villain character from the Avengers films and other movies in the Marvel franchise.

The footage shows an alligator peeking its head just above the water before suddenly snapping its head down underwater.

The note across the screen continues: “This looks like a mating call to me but I do not hear the deep roar or see the water beads dancing off his back. I have also never seen one slap its head down like this…”

Rowan told Newsweek: “Alligators get such a bad rap. As long as humans leave them alone and don’t feed them, they keep to themselves.”

The alligator sighting comes as no surprise because gators are found in all 67 of Florida’s counties, and they’ve inhabited the state’s marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes for many centuries, says the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Alligators are regularly sighted within around 6.2 miles of city centers, an October 2020 study in Scientific Reports says.

Florida has seen tremendous growth in its human population in recent years, which “can result in more frequent alligator-human interactions, and a greater potential for conflict,” warns the FWC.

The FWC advises: “Remember, never feed an alligator and keep your distance if you see one. Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours. And keep pets on a leash and away from the water.”

While serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, the potential for conflict between the reptiles and humans “always exists,” the FWC says.

Those concerned about an alligator are advised to call the FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286. The FWC will send over one of their “nuisance alligator trappers” to resolve the issue.

‘Slapping His Head’

Rowan told Newsweek: “I have lived here five years and we have alligators in our back pond every day. They come and go, so we always see different ones. This particular alligator stayed in our back pond for about a week and was one of the biggest we have had out back.”

In a later comment, Rowan said there are two to three alligators in her pond regularly.

“They are incredible to watch and never approach us. As long as humans do not feed them, they keep to themselves and are very skittish,” she told Newsweek.

Rowan, who is originally from Georgia, said she had seen only deer and squirrels in her backyard there, “so these alligators fascinate me.”

TikTok users were both startled and amused by the alligator sighting in the clip.

Michael C wrote, “Slapping his head to tell you he ain’t playing,” and @cateye5.tree3 wrote: “That’s his backyard now.”

“He says this is my pond!” said emilyjohnson3801.

Sara wrote: “Imagine just having a backyard alligator… I’d never leave my house!”

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