The Academy of Sciences’ most famous resident officially has his own live cam! Claude the albino alligator has been a fixture of the San Francisco museum since he moved in in 2008, but now viewers can see what he’s up to at any given moment. On Friday, April 4th, the Academy of Sciences will launch the “Claude Cam,” a live cam of Claude’s enclosure streaming on YouTube. The launch was part of Academy Day, a celebration of the museum’s 172nd birthday featuring pay-what-you-can admission starting at $5, games, live demos, and more.
The “Claude Cam” shows a live view of Claude’s enclosure, known as “The Swamp,” which he shares with three snapping turtles and a collection of freshwater fish. Life is good for the nearly 30-year-old celebrity alligator, and he’s known to rest for hours on his favorite heated rock. Luckily for his fans, this new live cam will give us a good shot at seeing him swimming, eating, and scratching.
At the virtual live stream launch on Friday, April 4th, Academy hosts read some of Claude’s fanmail (which you can send to claude@calacademy.org), shared some of his story, and hosted a live Q&A. There was also a ribbon-cutting in person accompanied by a special Swamp Talk.
The Academy’s new “Claude Cam” is possible thanks to a gift from SF-based AI research lab Anthropic. In addition to the live cam, Anthropic’s sponsorship also covers maintenance of the enclosure, food, and veterinary costs for Claude.
Claude is one of only a few dozen albino alligators in the world, all of which are in captivity due to their poor eyesight and color making them visible to predators. He was born in Louisiana in 1995 but took up residence in the Academy’s Swamp in 2008 after the museum remodel. Thanks to weekly training sessions, Claude knows his name and can respond to commands. Claude turns 30 this September, but he’s not going anywhere—in fact, he could live to be 80 years old in the comfort of the Academy. Read our article to learn more about Claude’s story.
Many fans of the Academy are well-acquainted with their various live cams, which include views of the African penguin colony, the Reef Lagoon, and the Philippine Coral Reef. Thanks to the new Claude Cam, fans all over the world will now have a chance to experience another piece of the Academy from home.