Claude, a beloved albino alligator, has been winning hearts for years at the California Academy of Sciences. The rare albino alligator was an iconic resident of the science academy, drawing thousands of loyal fans throughout the years.
Unfortunately, the California Academy of Sciences has announced that Claude has passed away at the age of 30. His care team first noticed he had a smaller appetite several weeks ago, and he was eventually moved from his public enclosure for treatment. On December 3, the academy released that Claude’s cause of death had been determined to be ” extensive liver cancer with evidence of liver failure, as well as signs of systemic infection.” The conclusion came from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine following a necropsy by Steinhart Aquarium Senior Veterinarian Dr. Lana Krol and other experts. The museum shared that it can be difficult to diagnose apex predators like Claude with illnesses, and that his behavior was normal until just a few weeks ago.
Claude recently turned 30 in September, and thousands of San Franciscans showed up to his birthday party at the academy. He was a resident of the academy for 17 years, after initially being raised at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in Florida. Due to his albinism, he would have struggled to survive in the wild. Over the years, Claude became an iconic part of the California Academy of Sciences, with a dedicated live cam and numerous fans of all ages. Albino alligators like Claude are very rare; estimates put the worldwide population at about 200.
The museum plans to host a public memorial for Claude, although details have not yet been released. In the meantime, you can share some of your favorite memories of Claude with his care team by emailing Claude at claude@calacademy.org. You can also leave tributes outside the museum under Claude’s photo, or inside on the table by the swamp area.
The California Academy of Sciences is an educational and scientific institution that offers family-friendly events and exhibitions year-round. They have a beautiful aquarium, complete with a coral reef, a rainforest dome, and even penguins. If you can’t make it to the museum, we recommend checking out one of their live cams.
You can learn more about Claude here.