Memorial Event
On Sunday, hundreds of people gathered in San Francisco to celebrate the life of Claude, an albino alligator. The memorial featured a New Orleans-style brass band, an eight-foot-long gator-shaped white sourdough bread, a drag queen story time, and the official naming of a street as "Claude the Alligator Way."
Claude's History and Characteristics
Claude was a 10-foot-long, 300-pound albino alligator with pink eyes and impaired eyesight. He resided at the California Academy of Sciences for 17 years before his death in December at age 30 due to liver cancer. Claude hatched in 1995 at an alligator farm in Louisiana and moved to the academy's swamp exhibit in 2008.
Notable Incident
Bart Shepherd of the California Academy of Sciences recalled an incident where Claude consumed a 12-year-old girl's ballet shoe. The shoe was successfully extracted by veterinarians and staff using anesthesia and specialized tools.
Public Reception and Legacy
Jeanette Peach, communications director at the academy, stated that Claude's albinism provided visibility for individuals who feel marginalized, aligning with a San Francisco ideal of welcoming differences. The academy noted that Claude connected over 22 million visitors with nature and science. Following his passing, the academy received thousands of letters from the alligator's admirers. Senior veterinarian Lana Krol described Claude as the most laidback alligator she had worked with.