Alligator snaps at Robert Irwin as he tries to give huge reptile a hug in wild video

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Robert Irwin surprised his followers by posting a video of himself gently interacting with a very large alligator.

I was so touched watching this Instagram video! It shows this incredible 22-year-old conservationist gently stroking and hugging a reptile – it’s just beautiful to see such a connection.

The alligator briefly lunged at Robert, snapping its jaws, but he didn’t seem bothered at all.

As a lifestyle expert who often encounters wildlife, I can tell you that Robert described this alligator as a sizable young male. He estimated it could grow to be a really impressive 12 to 14 feet long – that’s around 3.6 to 4.2 metres – when it reaches full maturity. It’s amazing to think about the potential size of these incredible creatures!

Robert captured video of the event while the animals were being fed at Australia Zoo, his family’s wildlife park in Queensland.

During the video, Robert was shown feeding a large alligator chunks of red meat while other alligators gathered nearby.

In another part of the clip, he could be seen lying on top of the alligator’s huge tail.

‘Absolutely armour-plated these guys are, ‘ he said admiringly as he stroked the reptile.

Robert shared on Instagram, ‘I always enjoy swimming with our alligators!’

One fan wrote, ‘We love you, please stay safe!’ Another commented that they’d only feel comfortable doing something similar with him, adding, ‘He’s adorable though.’

A third person joked: Can I pet the dawg?’ 

This follows a heartwarming reunion for Robert with his Dancing With The Stars US partner, the woman he won with last year.

This week, The Wildlife Warrior welcomed Witney Carson and her family to Australia Zoo.

A heartwarming video on Instagram shows Robert, age 22, dancing with Witney, her husband Carson McAllister, and their sons, Kevin Leo and Jet Carson. He walked into the shot holding both Witney and Carson’s hands.

‘We are BACK. Team IrWINit reunited,’ Robert wrote in his caption alongside the clip.

Witney and Robert won the American version of Dancing With The Stars in November and were awarded the Mirrorball trophy.

Last year, Robert was quickly linked to Witney in romantic rumors, but fans soon discovered she was already in a relationship.

People watching at home noticed a strong connection between the couple during their first dance, and that spark was still visible this week with their passionate tango.

Fans of the Australian celebrity, who is a decade younger than Witney, were surprised and upset to learn that the choreographer is already married.

Despite rumors, the American dancer and the Australian celebrity are not romantically involved. Witney has been happily married to her high school sweetheart, Carson, since 2016.

Despite any challenges, Robert and Witney clearly worked well together, and the host of I’m A Celebrity praised Witney as his best dance partner.

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2026-01-15 08:35