RIP, Claude: Beloved albino alligator at Cal Academy of Sciences in SF dies at 30

By Janie Har Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO A rare albino alligator named Claude who was beloved by fans around the world died Tuesday according to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco He was Related Articles Laura Dern s poignant tribute to late mom Diane Ladd on th birthday Tom Stoppard dies wrote brain-teasing plays and movies including Brazil Coast of Utopia The Real Thing Golfer Fuzzy Zoeller dies two-time major champion haunted by Tiger Woods joke Toy inventor Burt Meyer who dreamed up Lite-Brite and Rock Em Sock Em Robots dies age H Rap Brown dies at former Black Panther leader was imprisoned for killing sheriff s deputy The science museum in Golden Gate Park is popular with Bay Area schoolchildren and international tourists and numerous kids over the years have ended their visits clutching a mini Claude stuffed animal to take home As an unofficial mascot of the museum and the city Claude appeared in a children s book and in ads at bus and light-rail stations The alligator icon had a quiet charisma that captivated hearts in his years in San Francisco the museum mentioned in a declaration It has also stated there are fewer than albino alligators in the world Claude indicated us the power of ambassador animals to connect people to nature and stoke curiosity to learn more about the world around us it stated Claude hatched in at an alligator farm in Louisiana and came to live at the Academy in He was born with albinism a genetic mutation that made him appear white His eyes looked pinkish-red because of blood vessels that were visible through his clear irises The albino alligator Claude catches the attention of visitors to the Steinhart Aquarium Tuesday Nov inside the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco Calif Karl Mondon Bay Area News Group Albino alligator Claude in the swamp of the Steinhart Aquarium open during the Mozilla All Hands gathering being hosted for the employees of Web browser developer Firefox at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco Calif on Wednesday December Josie Lepe Mercury News Claude an albino alligator is shown at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco Thursday April AP Photo Jeff Chiu FILE Claude an albino alligator is shown at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco Monday Jan AP Photo Jeff Chiu File Albino alligator Claude in the swamp of the Steinhart Aquarium at the Mozilla All Hands gathering being hosted for the employees of Web browser developer Firefox at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco Calif on Wednesday December Josie Lepe Mercury News Show Caption of The albino alligator Claude catches the attention of visitors to the Steinhart Aquarium Tuesday Nov inside the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco Calif Karl Mondon Bay Area News Group Expand Albino alligators do not survive for long in the wild but American alligators can live up to in captivity The museum rang in Claude s th birthday in September with festivities speeches and a special alligator birthday cake made of fish and ice Claude who was feet and pounds in recent days underwent rehabilitation for a suspected infection after showing signs of a reduced appetite The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine will exam Claude to learn of a feasible cause of death The museum will hold a constituents memorial for Claude but for now people can share memories of Claude and send messages to his human care group at the California Academy of Sciences