About Us
Where tradition meets responsibility
LAFRA is dedicated to promoting the sustainable use, responsible management, and conservation of the American alligator through science-based practices, government and industry collaboration, and community engagement.
Our members advocate for fair regulations, preserving wetland habitats, fostering economic opportunity across rural Louisiana, and advancing education and awareness. Our commitment ensures that the alligator industry remains the global model for conservation through sustainable trade.
History of LAFRA
The Louisiana Alligator Farmers & Ranchers Association (LAFRA) was established in 1989 to work alongside the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (LDWF) in restoring and protecting the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis).
By the 1950s, alligator populations had plummeted due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss. Their decline led to federal protection under the Endangered Species Preservation Act in 1967, and again under the modern Endangered Species Act signed in 1973.
Louisiana began its alligator conservation program in 1972, managed by LDWF. This program combines wild alligator management, alligator farming and ranching, and nuisance control. The goal has always been simple:
protect the species, preserve its wetland habitat, and support the communities who depend on both.
A key component of this effort is Louisiana’s farm-and-release model. Farmers collect eggs from privately owned marshlands, hatch and raise the young in ideal conditions, and return a required 5% of their juveniles—now strong 3–5 foot alligators—back into the wild. In nature, as few as 1–3% of hatchlings survive to adulthood. Returning larger juveniles dramatically boosts survival rates and strengthens the wild population year after year.
This innovative model helped bring the American alligator back from the brink, leading to its removal from the Endangered Species List in 1987. Today, Louisiana’s alligator population is thriving, and the state is recognized globally for one of the most successful conservation programs in the world.
At LAFRA, our success depends on the continued health of both the species and the wetlands they call home. Conservation isn’t just part of our work—it is the foundation of our industry and our future.
Our Story in Motion
See the heart of Louisiana alligator farming through the eyes of the people who live it every day. This short film, created in partnership with LDWF, captures the traditions, responsibility, and conservation efforts that define our industry.
