Inside the Alligator Head Foundation Sanctuary | Portland, Jamaica

[00:00:00]So the sea urching is a part of the cleaning system for >> for the alig that is growing on the edge of the pan. The sea urchins they are eating >> quite a few things.

[00:00:17]You have quite a few things in here that are alive. A few corals, you have some crabs, some brick stars, but you know quite a few of them.

[00:00:36]My people come back to another video today with the a Portland with the boat land there called Dolphin Co. and we're going to take a look over a little sanctuary then call the alligator foundation alligator head foundation sorry. So it's over here in front of me and I see we can get a little interview for them explain what the park is about or the sanctuary is about. Yeah man, a lot of times we pass here.

[00:01:12]going back to Mark Bay which is this side and going to Portland which is this side and never stop by and today we decide say yeah we go stop and so I go and it's a nice place just on the sign a while ago said them do water sports and we can see some kayaks and stuff down there and clarity they coming before me and seeing down there. So, man, me want to show a little farm they have right there. So, so it's [music] so you can feel free to pause the video at any time to read what the signs say, but just to give you a synopsis, it's showing some [music] different formation, garden formations, and the signs are telling what the [music] formations are for.

[00:02:14]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> So they have different different types.

[00:03:02][music] >> [music] [music] [music] >> paper. I go up on a floating duck.

[00:03:51]No, but there one place called Alligator Head Foundation in Portland in the Tur Craw soon giving a view up there. So, but right now we go make a walk go up on a floating dock.

[00:04:11]Wow, this look nice.

[00:04:14]You can let me know comment section if we ever come here before. Very nice and important.

[00:04:49]Trident Castle over there.

[00:05:14][music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat.

[00:05:37][music] >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> N feel.

[00:06:49]>> [music] [music] [music] >> glass boat.

[00:07:27]I've never been in a boat before.

[00:08:00]All right. So, now we're going to head back over onto the property of the dock to get a interview with the guy you see in the blue, not the person immediately in front of me because that is Clarity Flex Jamaica.

[00:08:15]The one in the blue is boat captain and also a game warden. So he's going to explain more about himself and what the property is about. So stay tuned.

[00:08:28]>> All right. So good morning viewers. My name is Colin K. First I must say I am a game w at the alligator foundation here.

[00:08:38]Meanings I protect wildlife and endangered species. I work within the protected area of the sanctuary which extends from Salt Creek that is just above Chile Lane all the way to Wifred Point. It's just say six kilometers.

[00:08:58]>> All right.

[00:08:59]>> Of protective area.

[00:09:00]>> All right. You mentioned some names and um you might be wondering where where exactly are we? Which brush are we in?

[00:09:09]>> We are in Portland. East Portland to be exact.

[00:09:14]We are just about 4 kilometers east of Port Antonio.

[00:09:20]We are located, the Allegated Foundation is located in between the communities.

[00:09:26]For those who know Portland, we are in between Dolphin Bay and Clear Spring, just across the road from Bay View.

[00:09:37]A few things that we do at the foundation here. Yeah, we are a marine protected area, but it not just surrounds the marine world as a lot of people would think. We are involved in things way beyond just the marine world. We are involved in also farming and other things like that. So apart from I mean protecting the area, we do things like water sports here. We do kayaking.

[00:10:15]We do paddle boarding. We do what we call a glass bottom boat tour. That is very nice. A lot of people love the glass bottom boat tour because they get to see firsthand what the reef is like from the protection of a boat. Because a lot of people they are scared of the ocean. So they don't mind. Yeah. They're a bit skittish, scared a bit, but they know they are safe because we try to transfer our energy. You know, we have good energy and good vibe. So we try to transfer that to whosoever we are giving the tour so they can feel comfortable and they can view what is happening on the reef. As scuba divers, we get to see this daily. We never get tired of the ocean. To be honest, most of the guys I'm working with, this is fun for us every day. When it's time to go out, we are ready. Every single day, we are ready.

[00:11:20]>> You mentioned that you do boat tours, right? Um, how much do it cost for a boat tour and how far do you actually go with this tour?

[00:11:34]>> So, the tour, the cost of the tour is 2,500 per person. Some people would say, "Wow, that is very cheap comparing to Acril Mer."

[00:11:48]They say, "Wow, this is quite cheap."

[00:11:51]And when they go on the tour and they see what we are explaining and what the tour entails, they are like, "Wow, it is worth it." So we tore from here right at Oyster Bay here all the way up to the Blue Lago and back. We tore on the shallows explaining.

[00:12:15]>> So you All right. So you are saying that >> you start from right there.

[00:12:20]>> Yeah. and go right up between those two and go right east all the way up to the blue lago and back.

[00:12:30]We also do what we call snorkeling for the swimmers, those who want to get into the water. We provide the gears or if you have your own personal gears and you would like to take them, that's fine. We find a very nice calm spot within the sanctuary and we go out there and have fun swimming around, taking pictures, taking videos and just enjoying the ocean for an hour. All activities is for an hour >> and all right if you're going to do additional um out of the core with the boat you have to pay extra for those things. I mean, you can decide how long you want the toe to last. Can two hours, three hours because we have had clients that >> No, I'm asking if you want to go into the water while out on the tour.

[00:13:28]>> That's fine.

[00:13:29]>> You have to pay extra to pay.

[00:13:31]>> No, cuz normally we would ask people, it's fine if you want to take a swim.

[00:13:38]You stop in a safe area.

[00:13:41]The area which we mostly stop is the area where the last the James Bond movie was filmed. The area is called the cold armor area. So we have several rivers and springs running out in that area. So it's pretty cool and nice and we would stop there from time to time to allow people in the water, you know, to have a swim and just to enjoy themselves. It's all about enjoying.

[00:14:11]The boat. That's awesome.

[00:14:15]>> Paddle board.

[00:14:16]>> Yeah, >> we do paddle board, >> kaying. We have single kayaks, we have double kayaks.

[00:14:26]So the double kayaks is where if persons come as a couple or a gentleman come with it daughter or a gentleman come with it son or a son comes with it mother. We have the double kayaks and we have the single kayaks for those who want to go alone. And these are the what we call the paddle boards for the skilled people who want to stand up and paddle around.

[00:15:00]>> So with these what call them? Kayak >> kayaks. So you sit this you sit in them.

[00:15:06]>> Yeah. The kayaks [clears throat] you can actually sit in it.

[00:15:12]>> Okay. You sit you're seated here and these are the adjustment for your legs >> and you paddle along.

[00:15:20]>> So where exactly do you go with this >> with the kayaks and the paddle board?

[00:15:25]You are confined to the bay area cuz we are we have to be able to watch it to see where your go. We have placed two areas where you can stop and take a rest just in case you're tired.

[00:15:42]But you're constantly under surveillance by one of the team members here. So just in case anything happens, we can get to you in less than a minute.

[00:15:55]>> All right. No p I know persons are going to ask about life vest. Yeah. So >> definitely life vest is a must.

[00:16:04]>> All right.

[00:16:04]>> Because life vest that thing can keep you afloat for all six up to six months.

[00:16:10]>> All right.

[00:16:11]>> Yeah. So life vest is a must >> because it's life above everything.

[00:16:18]>> Mhm.

[00:16:18]>> It's about being safe, enjoying yourself in a safe and protective place.

[00:16:25]>> All right. So do you have to pay for it or you automatically get it?

[00:16:29]>> Oh, life vest comes free with all activities. Whether you're going on the boat, you're going on a paddle board or on the kayaks, life vest is given to you freely.

[00:16:41]Okay, you mentioned about the cost for the portra. What about the cost for these things over here?

[00:16:48]>> Uh, so it for the kayak is like um $1,200 for per person. And for the double one, it's $1,800 for two person. So, you find it it works.

[00:17:07]>> All right. So balance how balance are these um kayak balance they will turn over.

[00:17:14]>> In order for the kayak to turn over you would have to be the one to turn it over.

[00:17:25]>> Yeah. I think them very hard for turn over for >> it is not hard to just flip. I mean, you will fall off, but it's not going to.

[00:17:32]And if it turned face down, it is easy for you to flip it back over and get back on.

[00:17:40]>> So, how how safe is this area for these things?

[00:17:45]>> All right. Most of the questions we ask when some persons come in, um, where is the alligator?

[00:17:53]>> Yes.

[00:17:54]>> You know, that's the question. The first question >> cuz I was about to ask that.

[00:17:57]>> A serious question. No, but my my answer to that >> Yeah.

[00:18:00]>> is that they say that we only have crocodile in Jamaica.

[00:18:03]>> Exactly.

[00:18:05]>> True.

[00:18:06]>> Exactly. And normally we would explain that. So a few years ago crocodiles was living in the area >> because I am naked to the area. So I know came in and they relocated them. They catch all of them. So I can say safely there is no crocodiles living here.

[00:18:31]>> It's quite safe cuz with um the fishes I show you a few minutes ago with crocodiles being here those fishes won't be here.

[00:18:44]>> They would be crocodile food.

[00:18:46]>> And now those fishes are here in abundance and in very big size.

[00:18:50]>> Yeah. So the area is quite safe. Safe to kayak, safe to swim, safe to paddle board, safe to board tour. All right?

[00:19:02]Cuz safety is our top priority.

[00:19:06]>> If somebody should come for a boat tour and we are not comfortable with the conditions of the ocean, we can reschedle. We are not going up cuz what we being a part of our job what we can manage as game w as sanctuary officers sometimes those risk we are not going to put tourist in. We can manage the rough seats for touring um for patrolling and working etc. But we would never put anybody's life in a situation like that.

[00:19:46]from both locals and >> both locals. It doesn't matter where you're from come from out of space.

[00:19:56]>> Uh not location.

[00:19:59]I know about the location.

[00:20:00]>> Location. We are just across the road from Bay View. If you look on the hill, you see Bayiew across the road. We are in between Dolphin Bay or the Trident Castle and the Clear Spring. We're on the waterfront. We're right on the side of the main road. So, you can't miss.

[00:20:19]>> All right.

[00:20:19]>> Once you come around the corner at the Trident Castle, we're right there.

[00:20:25]>> All right. So, the opening hours for >> We are all right. During the week, we are open from 7 >> until >> until 3 or up to 4. We are open for activities on weekends from 9:00 until 3:00.

[00:20:45]>> All right.

[00:20:47]Why don't >> I mean sometimes we would go a little bit later but then you have other times when we have other things to do.

[00:21:01]>> Okay.

[00:21:02]>> What if persons coming in group will they get a discount?

[00:21:08]>> Definitely definitely it is better to come as a group. When you come as a group there's always a discount. Always.

[00:21:16]I saw three boats out there.

[00:21:18]>> So you have three different um pilots for the boats.

[00:21:21]>> All right. So if you notice, you have the bigger boat is marked on Lady G.

[00:21:28]>> Lady G, right?

[00:21:30]>> They are responsible for dive diving certification. They do diving certifications and they do what you call um they do scuba diving but in a more enjoyable way you know recreational diving at the foundation.

[00:21:52]>> All right. Um >> I talking about our swimming certificate or de certificate earlier diving de certificate.

[00:22:01]>> Yeah. What is that all about?

[00:22:03]explain >> um scuba diving.

[00:22:09]I was explaining that Lady G they do scuba diving certificate, but in order to be a scuba diver, you have to be able to swim. I was pointing you to the sign that says no swimming.

[00:22:21]It says no swimming.

[00:22:24]Doesn't mean that you really can't swim, but you can't just come here and just go and say you're going to swim. You have to ask permission so somebody can explain to you. So somebody can be aware that you're out there.

[00:22:41]So you're not just walking the activities happen. Mhm.

[00:23:01]>> You understand?

[00:23:04]It takes a second for something really, really bad to happen in water.

[00:23:12]>> Before you go any further, >> Yeah.

[00:23:15]>> I'm going to ask you to sell this place.

[00:23:18]When I say sell this place, I'm going to ask you to promote this place. Invite people to this place. I want you to put it in your own ways and words how you would promote this music.

[00:23:33]>> Yes. Yes.

[00:23:35]>> Yes.

[00:23:35]>> And put a spot on the butt. Yeah. No, you can't do it.

[00:23:39]>> Yeah. We can't do it, man. So, you want to have fun.

[00:23:46]You want to meet some people with good vibe, people are down to hurt. Check us out at Limited Foundation. We offer kayaks, paddle board, glass bottom board, snorkeling.

[00:24:04]You you are going to be snorkeling with some of the best swimmers around people who are quite comfortable in water. So if you're not comfortable, our energy, we will channel that to you and get you comfortable.

[00:24:20]You can be around us for 2 hours and you barely can help yourself swimming. And trust me, when you left around within an hour, you can't help yourself. You can't swim. We have had the privilege of meeting people who barely can do anything in a water and just spending a few hours with us feel like I'm at the best. them left feeling good, you know, they leave with a real experience.

[00:24:52]We don't just do this for the money.

[00:24:54]It's not about the money. It's about the experience, you know, helping people to come out of them comfort zone and come have fun because Portland nice enough Jamaica nice and we need to enjoy.

[00:25:09]Yeah.

[00:25:16]So pertaining to the foundation, I must say we are just 10 years old.

[00:25:23]Where we are standing now, this is the Alligator Head Foundation office.

[00:25:29]Normally when we are doing a boat tour, you will see the Alligator Head Limited that is just over a mile up the road.

[00:25:41]And by seeing the alligator head limited property that is where you will understand where the name the alligator head foundation comes from.

[00:25:55]So hopefully you will come and tour with us and you will see where the name alligator head comes from.

[00:26:06]>> Yeah man, most definitely. So let me explain to you now. It is formation of the rock. The rock formation from a side view it looks like a higate ahead and that's the highlight of a boat tour. So that's where the name comes from and hopefully you will come on tour with us and you will see.

[00:26:30]>> All right. Important question. I don't know if it's important question but I know a lot of person would like to know this.

[00:26:37]>> Yeah. What if person want to come in group and have a just take a boat ride and chill out and have a little picnic like just to enjoy themselves. They're welcome. You're welcome to use the area.

[00:26:51]The area is open for picnic.

[00:26:55]Area can be rented for parties get together just like the style party last week Saturday.

[00:27:04]the area is open for that.

[00:27:07]>> You know, we've had groups from as far as Canada and they are here sitting right here in the grass, lying down in the sun and having fun playing games and eating and chilling right there on the grass in the sun.

[00:27:28]What I want you to do now is to give the people them your name again and also a contact number and if you have any IG, Tik Tok or anything say so people can reach out to you but you need to put a number so they can reach out to you and make arrangement or the organization and make arrangements.

[00:27:48]>> So we're going to get a brief tour of inside the building. So stay tuned for that. is [music] caloric kettles.

[00:27:56]I am a game at the alligator foundation alligator head foundation. You can find us on all social media platform or our number is 99336.

[00:28:14]That's the number for the office.

[00:28:17]you call during the day, you will get someone. You definitely will get somebody.

[00:28:38]So this is an outline of the santory.

[00:28:44]We have here wine point and we have sun.

[00:28:48]This is just above and we are right here.

[00:28:56]We are standing right here right now.

[00:29:00]>> This is turkey craw.

[00:29:02]>> Turkey turkey craw. What do you call it?

[00:29:04]Turkey craw. The Bay Area the name is Turtle but the address for the area is ice.

[00:29:14]>> Turtles usually >> turtles live within the day area. A lot of turtles.

[00:29:20]>> They're still there now.

[00:29:21]>> Still there but they are pretty wide.

[00:29:24]>> Okay.

[00:29:24]>> If you're out there chilling, you will see them keep popping up for years >> and going back down.

[00:29:30]>> I need to I need to come and work just to watch one day. Definitely you will once you do a boat tour seeing turtles is a must.

[00:29:40]>> It's not a >> but it's a must.

[00:29:43]>> That sound good.

[00:29:44]>> You guarantee if we say something look at the wet >> only one like that.

[00:29:54]>> So here the solar panel system.

[00:29:57]>> Okay.

[00:30:03]The cool room.

[00:30:06]>> Yeah. This is where this is where a lot of the magic happen.

[00:30:09]>> Oh, >> wow.

[00:30:13]>> So, we actually grow coral in here.

[00:30:19]As you can see, many different species of coral.

[00:30:24]>> So, so it says here.

[00:30:26]>> Yeah. So when you go here, >> all of this is sea water, >> not fresh water, right? That mean you you you see.

[00:30:37]>> Yes.

[00:30:39]>> To help revive the reef.

[00:30:42]>> Yeah. Trying to bring back the ring somewhat for life, you know.

[00:30:49]>> Mhm. On these you would call tablets there's a lot of baby for sitting on them. Not too visible to the naked eye but there are a lot of babies right now sitting on them.

[00:31:13]>> All right. So I see you have sea urchin right here. So let them know.

[00:31:17]>> So the sea urching is a part of the cleaning system for >> for the aligy that is growing on the edge of the pan. The sea urchins they are eating >> away.

[00:31:36]Yes. So they are here to keep the algae in check because you know running sea water the algae will grow.

[00:31:45]>> Yeah. There's a lot of things living water that you can't see.

[00:31:52]>> Mhm.

[00:31:53]>> What is this here?

[00:31:57]>> Irish moss.

[00:31:58]>> So, this is a little piece of sea moss.

[00:32:01]>> Irish sea moss.

[00:32:02]>> We are planning to run an experiment with it. So for now we're keeping it alive so we can run the experiment as we go along different areas with corals with the cookies corals going on.

[00:32:27]You know >> only one like this in Jamaica. Wow.

[00:32:38]>> A lot of scientific magic happens here.

[00:32:43]>> Definitely. Definitely. When they are ready, we're going to take them back.

[00:32:47]>> So, they're alive >> in the ocean. Oh, everything is alive.

[00:32:51]>> So, these are rocks.

[00:32:54]>> Yeah.

[00:32:55]>> So, they're alive. They look they look like mere rocks but living on the rocks are live cor but they are in their baby. So when you say coral ree >> so coral is not the rock >> coral is a living but it's like a rock >> but it's a living >> you know there are lot of things >> there's so much to learn and I always encourage people don't be afraid to learn >> don't be afraid to ask questions because that is how you learn >> the question may seem stupid or you may be in the question and feel stupid but there's no such thing as a stupid question >> cuz you ask a question because there is something that you don't know right so you asking to get clarity >> so once you get the information you won't really ask the question again >> are doing what the sun normally does inside >> because they Yeah, because they inside you have to have them alive.

[00:34:23]>> So, normal persons can be a part of that process.

[00:34:28]>> Normal persons can be a part of that process when you guys are carrying them out. when we're carrying them out. I mean, once you're a scuba diver, you're a certified scuba diver.

[00:34:37]>> Definitely volunteer.

[00:34:40]>> We have to get the license first before we can do it.

[00:34:44]>> Exactly.

[00:34:47]>> Lady G.

[00:34:57]I said before you can find them on Instagram and yes she is I remember Lady V.

[00:35:22]>> No information.

[00:35:26]>> Lady Zoom in that all our information.

[00:35:29]The number to call.

[00:35:30]>> Yes.

[00:35:30]>> And all of that.

[00:35:33]>> Yeah.

[00:35:33]>> And say within 3 days I can get certified.

[00:35:35]>> You can be certified within 3 days.

[00:35:38]>> Okay. By calling the number, you will get all the information that you need.

[00:35:48]>> Oh, you can tell a little bit more about the lion fish.

[00:35:52]>> The lion fish >> cuz I know it's a invasive species.

[00:35:55]>> Yeah.

[00:35:57]So, here we have the lion fish.

[00:36:01]A lot of people fear this fish and say, "Oh, it is poisonous."

[00:36:06]But it is more venuous. When it feel threatened, >> you lift up it, clear it.

[00:36:13]>> The venue normally comes up in the tip of these spines. So once it sticks you, it burns like crazy.

[00:36:23]>> So it's >> one way to neutralize it is by putting your hand or wherever it stick you in some warm water or as hot as you can bear and it neutralizes the tail.

[00:36:34]>> So does it kill you? No, it won't kill you, but the pain is >> I've been hit by this thing more than six times and I can tell you the pain is not nice. Sometime it feels like the heart is going to explode.

[00:36:53]>> And that see an >> Yeah.

[00:36:57]>> Yeah.

[00:36:58]>> You have quite a few things. See anemmon. You have quite a few things in here that are alive. a few corals. You have some crabs, some brick stars, but you know, quite a few of them >> is hiding. Okay, here's the crab.

[00:37:13]>> This is Mr. Crab's favorite spot.

[00:37:16]>> So, most of the time you can find him >> right there.

[00:37:20]>> What kind of crab that stone crab?

[00:37:22]Something >> stone.

[00:37:23]>> It was one of the stone crabs. For the lion fish and get some fresh air to water.

[00:37:36]>> No water are built for water. No fresh air.

[00:37:40]>> Fresh air dead.

[00:37:44]>> Have to stay cool.

[00:37:48]>> Exactly.

[00:37:50]>> Yeah. Is a crab that lives under water.

[00:37:52]You take you want to kill it. Take it out of the water.

[00:37:56]>> Do that though.

[00:37:59]>> Yeah. You have seen >> a is a mini part of the the reef, you know.

[00:38:08]>> Simulation.

[00:38:09]>> A little bit of what is happening out there in the ocean.

[00:38:12]>> Mhm.

[00:38:13]>> So people can understand. I mean, you know, we keep lion fishes as pets.

[00:38:18]>> Well, you can't keep others fish with them. give them small fish to eat or you can cut off fillets of fish and they will eat it as well. But you can't raise any other fish with every other fish as dinner.

[00:38:33]>> As long as big enough >> once big enough go down the belly, it's dinner.

[00:38:39]>> Think so. You have many different types of sea urchin.

[00:38:44]>> You have an idea like how much type? I am not sure you know but from from memory what I have seen diving I can remember seeing about five to six different types of >> oh only used to two the >> circular one >> and then the normal >> long black one here >> you see that's another type >> Mhm.

[00:39:12]>> the black one that you're used to that's a different type from that black one. So now you see another type.

[00:39:18]>> That type is another one. So now you see four up to four different types where you know now.

[00:39:23]>> Mhm.

[00:39:24]>> That's a different one.

[00:39:26]>> Yeah. We have one, three different types.

[00:39:30]>> Four different types.

[00:39:32]>> That's the urgent.

[00:39:35]So one, two. Yes, sir. Three.

[00:39:43]Yes, sir.

[00:39:46]Oh, see starfish there.

[00:39:48]>> Starfish.

[00:39:50]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:39:53]>> Two of them. My next one on the ground.

[00:39:57]Look right here.

[00:40:01]>> Three and four. Find four yet. But >> fish we are involved what we do at the foundation we involve schools and colleges and when I say schools and colleges I mean from the primary right up to high school right up to college and when I say schools and colleges I still mean locally and internationally from time to time they have schools over here in Canada, you know, they come in and they volunteer and they help us with things and they learn from us. So, you know, the education part of it keeps going around and around. We keep sharing, keep involving ourselves, you know, as I said, it's not just about farms as well. It's on the rivers, you know. It's it's it's the foundation being important people's life personally.

[00:41:06]understand helping people on a personal basis. I mean, it's a foundation >> and that's what a foundation does, >> you know, help make people's life easier, >> man.

[00:41:21]>> So, I do hope that you guys learned something new today. I must say, I feel like I'm coming back to do a boat tour.

[00:41:30]Yeah, man. to see what it is like underneath the sea because I haven't been on a boat before. So, that's going to be a new experience for me. And if I have time, I might sign up for the diving course cuz I really would like to be a part of like these initiatives.

[00:41:50]Even if I'm not a certified biologist, but I can volunteer some of the time man to do some of these stuff. But that's it for today. With that being said, please remember to like, comment, share, and subscribe for more. And click the notification bell to get notified when I upload a new video. As always, thanks for watching and see you in the next one.