SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – Pour one out for San Francisco’s favorite reptile.
Claude, the beloved albino alligator at the California Academy of Sciences, has tragically passed away at the age of 30.
Claude spent 17 happy years at the Cal Academy–sunning himself on a big rock, making friends with a snapping turtle who shared his enclosure, and prompting millions of visitors to wonder aloud: “Is that real?”
Yes, he was real. Claude was an extremely rare, pure white alligator. With that coloration, he couldn’t have survived long in the wild.
Born in Louisiana, Claude became a San Francisco icon. He was the subject of a children’s book, and was even honored on his 30th birthday with a special beer from Oakland United Beerworks.
Now, he’s sadly faded into that great swamp of time.
It’s hard to say whether Claude died too young. American alligators can live 50 or more years.
Still, there’s little precedent for the lifespan of an albino alligator, since Claude was so extremely rare.
One thing we can say for sure is that he had a great life, with lots of fame and love surrounding him. We’ll be thinking of Claude today, and if you’ve ever visited him at Cal Academy, we’re sure you will be too.
The Cal Academy plans to hold a public memorial. More details soon.
