Claude the albino alligator turns 30 — with monthlong birthday bash in California

A California museum is celebrating the hatching 30 years ago of its resident albino alligator, named Claude, officials said.

Claude hatched at a Louisiana alligator farm and came to a swamp exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco in 2008.

Hatched on Sept. 15, 1995, Claude marked his 30th birthday on Monday, Sept. 15, the museum said in a news release. Alligators live up to 70 years in captivity.

The museum scheduled a month’s worth of birthday festivities to celebrate Claude’s birth.

Events include daily meet-and-greets with a Claude mascot, giveaways of exclusive pins, stickers, temporary tattoos, and plushies, and story times with a new book about Claude.

A seated dinner will be held Wednesday, Sept. 17, while Claude enjoyed a special birthday “fish cake” on Sunday, Sept. 14. A plushie treasure hunt was held in San Francisco, and some local restaurants are participating with special meals.

The Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences has had alligators on display for more than 100 years, although Claude is the museum’s first albino alligator, the museum said.

“Claude was born with albinism, which means his body cannot produce melanin,” the museum said. “Claude’s skin is actually translucent, but appears white.”

He is now 10 feet long and weighs 300 pounds.

This story was originally published September 16, 2025 at 1:50 PM with the headline "Claude the albino alligator turns 30 — with monthlong birthday bash in California."