Woman wrestles alligators at 7 months pregnant

Updated
Woman wrestles alligator while 7 months pregnant
Woman wrestles alligator while 7 months pregnant



Despite being more than seven months pregnant one woman refused to give up her volunteer work wrestling alligators.

While most mothers-to-be stop the likes of smoking and drinking, Martha Rivera could not give up her 'addiction' - helping out at the Everglades Outpost, in Homestead, Florida.

Martha, who has volunteered at the centre for two years, began by just feeding the alligators - but now feels confident enough to wrestle them, despite being heavily pregnant.

On average, Martha deals with alligators around three times a week.


Florida Mom Wrestles Alligators While 7 Months Pregnant
Florida Mom Wrestles Alligators While 7 Months Pregnant



She admits that she can no longer perform some of the same tricks that she usually would and, now being eight months pregnant, has stopped the wrestling aspect of her performance.

Over the coming weeks, Martha plans to deal with gators no larger than four-feet, eventually stopping altogether before the birth.

Martha, who has one other child, eiht-year-old Izaiah, is due to give birth on 11 November.

Though alligators do not see humans as prey, they have been known to attack, should they feel threatened.

Woman wrestles alligator while 7 months pregnant
Woman wrestles alligator while 7 months pregnant



Alligators also have one of the strongest recorded bites in the world.

Martha, who works at a hospital as her day job, told Caters News: "I started off working with alligators, feeding them and observing the behaviour they displayed.

"Of course, I have slowed down a lot during my pregnancy.

"I only wrestled up to a point in which I felt confident in my handling skills; once I no longer felt that I was fast enough, I stopped wrestling.

"What fascinates me most about alligators is how smart they are.

"People underestimate alligators, not realising that they catch on very quickly."



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