Claude wasn't much of a talker, he barely moved, and never wore a costume to entice his audience - but on Sunday, hundreds gathered in San Francisco to celebrate the life and legacy of the city's beloved albino alligator.
A New Orleans-style brass band, a gator-shaped eight-foot-long white sourdough bread, drag queen story time and even a street officially bearing his name, Claude the Alligator Way, punctuated the memorial, making it a one-of-a-kind event.
The 10-foot-long, 300-pound white alligator with pink eyes and poor eyesight once created quite the buzz when he stole a ballet shoe from a 12-year-old girl, prompting a heroic recovery operation led by the California Academy of Sciences' staff. Bart Shepherd of the academy humorously recounted that it took anesthetics and specialised tools to retrieve the shoe, all while a fire alarm went off in the background.
Jeanette Peach, the communications director at the academy, expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of affection from the community: It was really heartening to see San Francisco come out to celebrate this beloved icon. Claude's albinism resonated with many, as Peach noted, highlighting how the alligator offered visibility for those who feel like outcasts.
Tributes poured in from across the country, demonstrating Claude’s impact, with many fans writing to the academy about how he inspired them to embrace their differences.
Claude delighted and captivated over 22 million visitors at the academy, being described by veterinarian Lana Krol as extraordinarily laidback. The academy mourned his passing due to liver cancer last December, marking the end of an era for a creature that had become a symbol of acceptance and uniqueness in the community.
