At a glance, alligators and crocodiles look nearly identical. Both are massive reptiles with armored skin, powerful jaws and a prehistoric lineage that stretches back more than 200 million years.

German public broadcasters Arte and ZDF have recast Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” as more than a migration story. Their coverage highlights detention in the Everglades, the impact on the Miccosukee ...