Flyers traveling through Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport this winter are being invited to pet a baby alligator as part of an animal therapy program aimed at de-stressing travelers.
In recent years, airports around the world have recognized the power of cute, cuddly animals for soothing harried, stressed-out flyers.
At first, dogs were the most popular therapy animal of choice. But then came pigs. Miniature horses. And now, in Louisiana, home to the highest number of alligators in the United States, alligators in baby form.
Every Friday afternoon, the Audubon Nature Institute will be on-site at the baggage claim area where arriving passengers can decompress from their flight by petting baby alligators and posing for selfies, reports USA Today.
No gators at #MSY today, but they’ll be back next Friday, 1:30-3:00 pm. Be sure to stop by Baggage Claim near Bag Belt 6 to learn more about @AudubonNature and our alligator friends with a chance take your #MSYGatorSelfie! pic.twitter.com/AzBRDWulCs
— New Orleans Airport (@flyneworleans) November 23, 2018
The baby alligators are between one and three years old and will be given regular breaks, airport officials say.
Denver International Airport has the biggest airport animal therapy program in the U.S. with about 100 dogs and a cat that make up its Canine Airport Therapy Squad.
And the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport uses miniature horses.
The baby gators will be on-site between 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. JB
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