Albino alligators return to Newport Aquarium

Snowball and Snowflake, the Newport Aquarium’s albino alligators, are moving into their permanent home Thursday in Gator Alley.

Snowball and Snowflake are two of fewer than 100 known white alligators in the world, according to the museum. Due to a lack of camouflage and sensitivity to UV rays, white alligators have a low survival rate in the wild.

Each white gator measures roughly six feet in length, with the female Snowflake weighing approximately 65 pounds and the male Snowball approaching 85 pounds.

The new exhibit features one of the most distinct collections of alligators in the country, according to the museum.Their new neighbor, Mighty Mike, is the largest American alligator in the United States outside the state of Florida at 14 feet in length and 800 pounds.

The pair were last seen in February when the museum converted their temporary home in the Rainforest into Turtle Canyon, which opened in March.

For more information on Newport Aquarium, visit NewportAquarium.com or call toll free 800-406-FISH (3474).