On Dec. 2, 2025, the Bay Area lost a local legend; Claude the albino alligator — the unofficial mascot of San Francisco — died at the age of 30. A veterinary team from University of California, Davis determined his cause of death as liver cancer, a nearly impossible diagnosis to make while he was alive. The only difference his health team noticed was a slight color change of his skin, according to Cal Academy of Sciences.
Although Claude is known for being a Bay Area legend, he actually hatched in an alligator farm in Louisiana on Sept. 15, 1995. He was born one of only 200 albino alligators in the world. His albinism also caused lighter skin as well as worsened eyesight and extreme sensitivity to the sun. Due to his vulnerability, he was sent to a zoo in Florida to be cared for where he lived for 13 years. He was then transferred to the Cal Academy of Sciences along with his fellow alligator Bonnie; however, Bonnie was sent back to Florida in 2009 after biting off one of Claude’s toes — aggravated that he constantly bumped into her. Since then Claude has lived in the Cal Academy of Sciences peacefully.
This news of Claude’s death shocked people and revealed how much people valued him across the Bay Area. Maddy Owens, a junior at Berkeley High School, said, “I think we saw that when Claude died, a lot of people had strong reactions to it, and we saw how people were definitely moved by this animal that they grew up seeing. And I think that demonstrated the intense connection there is between humans and animals in a way that we haven’t really seen before, because I think these things really only come out when something like a death happens.”
Natalia Zarate, BHS junior said, “I was devastated. Honestly. I was really shocked, because I grew up going to the Academy of Sciences a lot when I was younger, and so it was just kind of crazy to see that Claude the alligator was dead.” Zarate continued, “I think it made me form an attachment to Claude, and I think that’s why I’m very sad, because I think it helped me have an appreciation for animals.” Claude bridged a gap between humans and animals, engaging many people to learn about animals and be invested in their wellbeing. This investment in animal’s wellbeing is a trait that not all humans have, according to BHS Spanish teacher Samantha Borg. “There’s a big connection (between animals and humans), because there are a lot of people responsible for (Claude) living so long and keeping him as healthy as he could be for as long as they did,” Borg said, “So there are people out there like that who are really helping animals, but there are also, unfortunately, a lot of people that are ruining their habitat. So it’s a double edged sword. We could be part of the solution, but we could also be the sole reason for the destruction, and it’s a choice we can make.”
Mackoy Sandford, a sophomore at BHS also talked about his experience with Claude. “Personally, I used to go to see him once every other weekend as a kid when I lived in SF. So honestly, I hadn’t seen him in a while, so it’s kind of like hearing that an old friend died,” Sandford said.
Borg elaborated on why people felt so connected to this alligator, “He was around for 30 years. So a lot of people out there that saw him as a little kid grew up had families of their own, and then brought their kids to see him. So I think that that is definitely impactful, and it brought awareness about those particular animals and the Academy of Sciences. The whole purpose is for us to learn about our environment and nature and educate people,” Borg stated.
Claude’s death was unexpected by individuals across the Bay Area and it felt to many like they lost someone they knew, or an influential childhood figure. Owens summarized this loss, saying, “I think it shows the fragility of animal and human life ... something that you saw in such a natural state can just disappear.”