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Alligator in the garden pool: The Kaulis family and their unusual pet!
In Elmenhorst, northwest Mecklenburg, Klaus Kaulis has kept a Mississippi alligator as an unusual pet for 43 years.
Alligator in the garden pool: The Kaulis family and their unusual pet!
In Elmenhorst, northwest Mecklenburg, an unusual shared apartment is causing a stir: the Kaulis family shares their home with a real Mississippi alligator named Ms. Meyer. This 2.50 meter long and 100 kilogram animal has been kept by Klaus Kaulis, a 77-year-old former circus performer, for an impressive 43 years. It may come as a surprise to many, but for the Kaulis, Ms. Meyer is part of the family and is naturally treated like a pet, while at the same time being treated with respect.
Ms. Meyer is kept in a special area of the garden that is carefully secured and monitored by cameras. After inspection by the relevant authorities, there were no complaints about the alligator's keeping, which reassured the family. Klaus emphasizes that they are not afraid of their special roommate, but that they can interpret Ms. Meyer's body language well. Her everyday life is very regulated: At night she sleeps in a pool of water that was set up in the heated refrigerated container that she previously used. During the day, Ms. Meyer has fun in her own outdoor pool, which was created especially for her. This shows how high the demands are on keeping such wild animals.
A life in the circus and in the family circle
Originally, Ms. Meyer traveled on a semi-trailer in her refrigerated container, making her rounds at various circuses. But since the birth of Klaus' son Krystian and later his grandson, she has changed into a quiet member of the family. Krystian learned how to handle alligators as a small child, which is a natural pastime for him. The three-year-old grandson is also allowed to play with Ms. Meyer and pet her under supervision.
Klaus Kaulis has also kept snakes in the past, but his preference for crocodiles is notable. “Mrs. Meyer is a pretty lazy alligator,” is how he describes his charges and explains that he has to offer her incentives to exercise. This is an important insight when thinking about keeping such animals. The experienced breeder therefore warns against purchasing exotic wild animals carelessly. The requirements are high and the responsibility is great.
Ms. Meyer's attitude shows that with the necessary respect and understanding, living together with wild animals is possible. But the call to only do this under strict conditions and after careful consideration is also clear. Because animals like Ms. Meyer not only need space, but also a lot of attention and a safe environment in order to enable peaceful coexistence.
It is to be hoped that the story of Klaus Kaulis and Ms. Meyer will continue for many more years and provide an example of how a harmonious community can emerge from exceptional animal husbandry. If you would like to find out more about the exciting history of the Kaulis family, you can find further information at weather.com and inFranken.de.