A much beloved staple of San Francisco school field trips and tourist outings, Claude the albino alligator, died Tuesday. He was 30.
Claude, a 17-year resident of the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, had been moved from his swamp-like enclosure just past the building’s main entrance as his appetite waned in recent weeks.
He was being closely monitored by Steinhart Aquarium veterinary and animal care teams and treated for a possible infection, according to a news release sent out by Academy officials Tuesday afternoon.
He will undergo a full exam and necropsy at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine to determine his cause of death.
“We know that the magnitude of this loss will be felt in proportion to how beloved Claude was by so many across the Bay Area and beyond,” Academy officials said. “Claude was celebrated as the unofficial mascot of the Academy and San Francisco itself, and regularly received fan mail, gifts, and artwork from adoring fans across the world who conveyed just how much he meant to them.”
The museum plans to hold a public memorial and will release additional details about the date and location soon, Academy officials said.
People are encouraged to share their memories of Claude and messages for his care team by email or by post to California Academy of Sciences, Attn: Digital Engagement, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118.
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