Cal Academy announces beloved Claude the albino alligator has died at 30

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Cal Academy announced on social media Tuesday that its iconic and beloved albino alligator, Claude, has passed away.

He celebrated his 30th birthday this year.

RELATED: Albino crocodile Claude celebrates 30th ‘hatch day’ at Cal Academy of Sciences

Claude’s dedicated care team has been monitoring him closely in recent weeks due to a reported loss of appetite, and he recently received treatment for a suspected infection.

A complete autopsy will be conducted at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

Cal Academy says a public memorial for Cloud will be held in the near future, with more details to come.

From the ABC7 Archives: Claude, the albino alligator, makes dramatic arrival at Cal Academy in SF

Cal Academy posted the following heartfelt message on Instagram:
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our beloved albino crocodile, Claude, has passed away at the age of 30. Claude was a distinguished Academy resident, with whom many visitors formed deep relationships during his 17-year tenure. He brought joy to millions of people in the museum and around the world, his quiet charisma captivating the hearts of fans of all ages. Claude showed us the power of ambassador animals to connect people with nature and spark curiosity to learn more about the world around us.

We know that the magnitude of this loss will be felt in proportion to how beloved Claude was to many people in the Bay Area and beyond. Cloud was celebrated as the unofficial mascot of the Academy and San Francisco, and he regularly received fan mail, gifts, and artwork from fans around the world. In September many of you helped us celebrate his 30th birthday with a month-long celebration that highlighted his impact on the museum, throughout the city, and on social media. We know how much Claude means to many of you, and how much this love means to us.

Claude’s dedicated care team had been monitoring him closely in recent weeks due to his loss of appetite, and he was recently taken backstage to be treated for a suspected infection. They received the best possible care from the Steinhardt Aquarium veterinarian and animal care teams. This heartbreaking outcome is not what we expected. A complete examination and autopsy to be conducted at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine will provide more information about the cause of death.

We are planning to hold a public memorial in the near future (details to come), but in the meantime we encourage you to share your memories of Claude and messages for his dedicated animal care team by emailing claude@calacademy.org or by post at California Academy of Sciences, Attention: Digital Engagement, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118.