Gator at Disney

This but we are in a society that sues for everything. Even if the family has no initial intent to sue Disney, every big law firm in the country is contacting the family telling them that justice will need to be served and Disney is responsible for the child's death (assuming the kid is dead). The family will sue and get $750,000 or less and the law firm will take home 9 million.

If the law firm took home 9 million that would be 30%-40% of what the family got. Substantially more than $750,000 or less.
 
Sad story. we've stayed there and it is a very nice place. Disney does about as much as you can to prevent this type of thing from happening.

Can't imagine what that father felt during and now afterwards. Awful. :sad:
 
What I don't get is how they "tolerate" the alligators everywhere in Florida. Imagine if there were mountain lions in those kinds of numbers in Iowa. We'd declare war and kill them all. Actually, this already happened in the 1800s, and there weren't near as many mountain lions as what FLA has for gators.

Is it just impossible to hunt them down to a low level of population? Humans are good at putting other species on the endangered list. Is there a reason we haven't/can't do that to gators, or is it a pro-wildlife decision kind of choice? Honestly asking, not a biology guy.

Seems like hunting them down to a lower population level would be a rather dramatic overreaction to something like this. This is only the second fatality since 2007, and Florida typically sees less than 10 attacks per year.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...-florida-disney-child-dragged-water/85916280/

I would guess you are more likely to get attacked by the neighbor's dog in Florida than you are to be attacked by an alligator.
 
What I don't get is how they "tolerate" the alligators everywhere in Florida. Imagine if there were mountain lions in those kinds of numbers in Iowa. We'd declare war and kill them all. Actually, this already happened in the 1800s, and there weren't near as many mountain lions as what FLA has for gators.

Is it just impossible to hunt them down to a low level of population? Humans are good at putting other species on the endangered list. Is there a reason we haven't/can't do that to gators, or is it a pro-wildlife decision kind of choice? Honestly asking, not a biology guy.

You just answered your own question.
 
I don't know anything about this hotel - is it billed as you being right there with the animals? If so, I'd gather there's an insane amount of signage warning guests of the gators if they don't allow people to swim here?

If not, Disney is hugely liable here. If so, while I feel TERRIBLE for the parents, why on Earth would you let your toddler swim in gator-infested waters?

I feel horrible for this family as well, just horrible. I can't imagine losing my son (and second on the way) - particularly in a manner like this. They are undoubtedly feeling immense pain.

That said, given this initial report, you have to conclude they were contributorily / comparatively negligent (I don't know what kind of jurisdiction Florida is). Signs were posted about the gators as well as signs posted warning not to swim. It is tragic, but some of the responsibility lies with the parents.

I also don't like that we've become a victim society. We feel when someone dies that there has to be someone else responsible or to blame. Sometimes, tragic accidents just happen.

Also, wildlife is not doing too well across the world due to habitat loss, pollution, etc. We're in a period of mass extinction that is unprecedented caused by humanities' actions. I hope Disney doesn't respond with draconian measures just to sterilize the place and kill all living things as has been suggested. The prospect of liability has led to the demise of a lot of natural habitat and critters across the world and I hope this doesn't become another example. I'm certainly not putting animal life above human life, but hope no overreaction occurs.

Still, what a horrible tragedy. Very sad.
 
If the law firm took home 9 million that would be 30%-40% of what the family got. Substantially more than $750,000 or less.
I was grossly exaggerating. It seems like in these types of cases the lawyers take home way more than they should when all they do is represent the victim.
 
that boy is dead, but he likely would have drowned before being eaten if that helps.

and as was already said, there's no letting the alligator taking him away. Depending on what body part the alligator grabbed, the most you could hope for is playing tug of war until the arm or leg gave away. Someone that small though, the gator probably got more than just a limb so it wouldn't have mattered

Yeah, its called the "death roll" for a reason. Its arguably one of the most lethal moves in the animal kingdom. There is nothing the dad could have done to save his kid once the alligator had him in his jaws, short of having a rifle, and even then it would have already done extensive damage to a 2 year olds body.

And I agree, the boy likely drowned before being eaten. Alligators hold their prey under water until it stops moving, then they eat.

Tragic.
 
What I don't get is how they "tolerate" the alligators everywhere in Florida. Imagine if there were mountain lions in those kinds of numbers in Iowa. We'd declare war and kill them all. Actually, this already happened in the 1800s, and there weren't near as many mountain lions as what FLA has for gators.

Is it just impossible to hunt them down to a low level of population? Humans are good at putting other species on the endangered list. Is there a reason we haven't/can't do that to gators, or is it a pro-wildlife decision kind of choice? Honestly asking, not a biology guy.

Many studies have shown that an overall ecological system functions much better when there are apex predators around (humans are not apex predators). Look up what happened when wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone - it was very good for the ecology of the park to help balance the population of herbivores who were decimating the plant population, which caused all kinds of other problems.
 
Many studies have shown that an overall ecological system functions much better when there are apex predators around (humans are not apex predators). Look up what happened when wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone - it was very good for the ecology of the park to help balance the population of herbivores who were decimating the plant population, which caused all kinds of other problems.

yeah, that's very debatable. The main difference might be if you put humans into their own category because of how unique we are in our ability to kill other apex predators.
 
I feel horrible for this family as well, just horrible. I can't imagine losing my son (and second on the way) - particularly in a manner like this. They are undoubtedly feeling immense pain.

That said, given this initial report, you have to conclude they were contributorily / comparatively negligent (I don't know what kind of jurisdiction Florida is). Signs were posted about the gators as well as signs posted warning not to swim. It is tragic, but some of the responsibility lies with the parents.

I also don't like that we've become a victim society. We feel when someone dies that there has to be someone else responsible or to blame. Sometimes, tragic accidents just happen.

Also, wildlife is not doing too well across the world due to habitat loss, pollution, etc. We're in a period of mass extinction that is unprecedented caused by humanities' actions. I hope Disney doesn't respond with draconian measures just to sterilize the place and kill all living things as has been suggested. The prospect of liability has led to the demise of a lot of natural habitat and critters across the world and I hope this doesn't become another example. I'm certainly not putting animal life above human life, but hope no overreaction occurs.

Still, what a horrible tragedy. Very sad.

I agree with a lot of what you're saying, but aren't you kind of contradicting yourself in the bolded areas?
 
I was grossly exaggerating. It seems like in these types of cases the lawyers take home way more than they should when all they do is represent the victim.

Well the family would not pay a thing to any law firm. The law firm would just contract a portion of the take home. They don't win, it costs them millions.

"All they do is represent the victim" is an awfully simplistic way of stating going to court against Disney as well... That is no easy task.
 
yeah, that's very debatable. The main difference might be if you put humans into their own category because of how unique we are in our ability to kill other apex predators.

[video=youtube;6eCqJG_w7IY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eCqJG_w7IY[/video]
 
I'm a little surprised they found a body. I figured since he was so small that gator wouldn't have left much of him. i'm glad for the family that he was found to give them some closure.
 

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