Zoo Joke: The Gator Pool

The city zoo received an enormous donation from a local millionaire, which they used to build a huge new alligator exhibit.  The exhibit was a vast, sprawling swampland of murky waters, filled with dozens of the biggest alligators that the zoo could find.  The day before the grand opening, the zoo director, flanked by the various keepers, took the millionaire for a preview tour.

The party walked along the boardwalk overlooking the swamp, and the millionaire surveyed the giant, hungry gators swimming in the water below.  He was obviously very pleased with what his donation built.

"This is a great exhibit, people will love it!" he exclaimed.  "But I'll tell you what, I'm glad I don't work here!  It's terrifying enough just watching from up here."   At that moment, as he leaned over the railing, his wristwatch slipped off and dropped into the swamp.

"That watch is priceless to me!" he cried out,  "It's been in my family for generations.  I'd give anything to have it back!"

Seconds later, the group heard a loud splash, followed by a loud gasp as one of the attendant keepers broke the surface of the water.  Instantly, the alligators swarmed him, jaws snapping.  Quickly and skillfully, the keeper dodged their teeth, soon scrambling onto the back of the largest gator.  Then, leaping from the back of one animal to another, he made his way to a nearby tree, which he shimmied up just in time.  The snapping jaws of the alligators closed inches behind him as he scurried up to safety. 

When he finally returned to the boardwalk, dripping wet and shivering with terror, the millionaire's watch was clasped tightly in his hand.

"I can't believe that you got it back!" the millionaire said.  "You've earned whatever reward you can ask for - money, cars, a house, name it!  What do you want?"

"Just this," the keeper replied through chattering teeth... "Somebody tell me who pushed me?"

NOTE: I heard a version of this joke from years ago, but remembered it recently after an incident at St. Augustine Alligator Farm, where a curator was retrieving an object dropped by a visitor in the main alligator exhibit, only to be seized by a large alligator.  Thankfully, he escaped and is recovering from his injuries (I am only okay with using this joke because he is safe).