A local man wants to reintroduce UF students to the swamp — the Everglades, not the stadium.
Ed Woods, park director at Billie Swamp Safari in Clewiston, Fla., will be the star of a new show on National Geographic Wild, “Swamp Men,” which premieres May 3 at 10 p.m.
Woods was born and raised in Green Swamp and is passionate about preserving wildlife.
“People could learn a lot from watching the show,” she said.
Woods lives near the Ichetuknee River about 40 minutes north of Gainesville. He spends most of his time working in the Everglades, managing the park while informing guests about natural Florida.
The show documents everyday life of the staff at the swamp, said Cindi Malin, the director of marketing at Billie Swamp Safari.
“We have alligators that can show up anywhere,” she said. “We have panthers and bears that roam wild, and you never know when they have to go out and rescue one.”
The park is home to the majority of the 80 to 90 endangered Florida panthers in the wild, Woods said, and there are about 15,000 creatures in the park.
Woods said students and Gators fans should watch the show or visit the park if they want to know more about what their mascot represents.
“You all have a stadium you call the Swamp,” he said. “If you really want to know what a swamp is about, come out here, and we’ll show you.”
