San Francisco’s beloved albino alligator Claude dies at 30

SAN FRANCISCO– A rare albino alligator named Claude, beloved by fans around the world, died Tuesday, according to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. He was 30 years old.

The Golden Gate Park Science Museum is popular with Bay Area schoolchildren and international tourists, and many children over the years have ended their visit with a mini Claude stuffed animal to take home. As the unofficial mascot of the museum and the city, Claude appeared in a children’s book and in advertisements at bus and tram stations.

The alligator icon had a “quiet charisma” that captivated hearts during his 17 years in San Francisco, the museum said in a statement. He also said there were fewer than 200 albino alligators in the world.

“Claude showed us the power of animal ambassadors to connect people to nature and spark curiosity to learn more about the world around us,” we can read.

Claude was born in 1995 on an alligator farm in Louisiana and came to live at the Academy in 2008. He was born with albinism, a genetic mutation that made him appear white. His eyes were pinkish red from the blood vessels visible through his light irises.

Albino alligators do not survive long in the wild, but American alligators can live up to 70 years in captivity. The museum celebrated Claude’s 30th birthday in September with festivities, speeches and a special alligator birthday cake made of fish and ice cream.

Claude, who was 3 meters tall and 300 pounds (136 kilograms), recently underwent treatment for a suspected infection after showing signs of loss of appetite. The University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine will examine Claude to determine the possible cause of death.

The museum will hold a public memorial for Claude, but for now, people can share memories of Claude and send messages to his human care team at the California Academy of Sciences.