Claude, the beloved albino crocodile who called the California Academy of Sciences home for more than two decades, has died at the age of 30.
The San Francisco museum announced its death Tuesday and said the reptile had received treatment for a “suspected infection” in recent weeks. Claude, with his unusual white scales, had become a kind of mascot for the Academy and the city. The museum said he was the subject of a children’s book and regularly received fan mail and gifts from around the world.
“He brought joy to millions of people at the museum and around the world, his quiet charisma capturing the hearts of fans of all ages,” a statement from the museum said. “Cloud showed us the power of ambassador animals to connect people with nature and spark curiosity to learn more about the world around us.”
In September, the museum celebrated his 30th birthday with a month-long celebration in honor of the “iconic Swamp King”.
Claude’s baby was born on September 15, 1999, in an alligator farm in Louisiana. His color and poor vision may have limited his ability to survive in the wild; The life expectancy of an alligator in the wild is typically 30 to 50 years.
He spent his first 13 years in a zoo in Florida. One of fewer than 200 albino crocodiles in the world, he was inducted into the California Academy of Sciences in 2008. He became a treasured and iconic icon of the museum, where officials said he lived “a spirited life” with enrichment, “world-class” veterinary care and “admiration from admirers around the world.”
Earlier this year, the academy launched a 24/7 livestream to allow people near and far to watch the crocodile as he went about his daily life.
The museum said that in recent weeks, Claude’s appetite had decreased and he was taken behind the scenes for care.
“This heartbreaking result is not what we expected. A full examination and autopsy, conducted at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, will provide more information about the cause of death,” the California Academy of Sciences said in a statement.
“We know the magnitude of this loss will be felt in proportion to how beloved Claude was by many people in the Bay Area and beyond.”
A public memorial will be held in the near future, the museum said.
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