To answer some of these questions , research began on Kiawah in the spring of 2015 . The late Professor Louis Guillette , Jr . of the Medical University of South Carolina and the Hollings Marine Laboratory led the team . Since Lou ’ s very untimely death in August 2015 , his colleagues and graduate students have continued his work . Dr . Thomas Rainwater of the Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science is now the team leader and permit holder . Town of Kiawah biologist , Jim Jordan , and the head of the Kiawah Island Community Association Lakes Division , Matt Hill , are also now participating .
The team found that Kiawah is a prime site for alligator research . Not only is the population larger than expected , but they also found Kiawah to be an excellent venue for educating the public about the animals . As many of our ponds are easily accessible to residents and tourists , the team could explain what they were doing and talk about alligator biology and behavior . Further , it has been a very useful site for comparison with others places they have studied gators , such as the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and other sites in South Carolina .
During the 2015 season the team captured 10 females and 22 males , all of reproductive age . They also took eggs from one nest . After incubating the eggs in the laboratory , they returned the hatchlings to the pond where the nest was located . “ Mom ” promptly returned to care for her young .
The alligators are captured with techniques the team has used for alligators and crocodiles in many locations in the United States , South Africa , and Belize . The animal is snagged with a large , blunt hook and then with a noose . After getting the animal ashore they cover its eyes and tape the powerful jaws shut . They then work quickly to take biological samples ( blood , urine , and skin ), and measure the animal . Usually within 20 minutes , the animal is released to its home . One side effect of the capture of alligators is that they then have a healthy respect for humans . The alligators of Kiawah , particularly the older ones , have lived around people for their entire lives . Tourists have even fed some , a very bad and illegal practice . After a gator has been captured , biologists have observed that the animal will move away from people as quickly as possible .
The reason for collecting body fluids from the animals is to assess the effect of possible environmental contaminants on their health , particularly their reproductive health . Of the
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