""It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Claude, our beloved albino alligator, has passed away," said a statement from the academy. "Claude's dedicated care team had been monitoring him closely in recent weeks due to a waning appetite, and he was recently moved behind-the-scenes to undergo treatment for a suspected infection." The academy said the alligator received the best possible care from the museum aquarium's veterinarian and animal care teams. "This heartbreaking outcome is not what we hoped for," it added."
""Claude was an iconic Academy resident who many visitors formed deep connections with during his 17-year tenure," the Academy said. "He brought joy to millions of people at the museum and across the world, his quiet charisma captivating the hearts of fans of all ages." The museum celebrated his birthday just in September, and fans often sent him gifts, messages and small artworks."
Claude, a 30-year-old albino American alligator, died after treatment for a suspected infection following a waning appetite. Claude lived at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco from 2008 and served as a main attraction and unofficial mascot, bringing joy to millions of visitors. Born in 1995 on an alligator farm in Louisiana, Claude's albinism prevented normal melanin production and made survival in the wild unlikely because of visibility and impaired eyesight. Care teams monitored Claude closely and provided veterinary treatment. Claude spent much time on a heated rock or swimming with turtles and inspired public interest in animals and the environment.
Read at www.dw.com
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