Claude, an albino alligator that served as one of the main attractions of the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, has died at the age of 30.

The academy said Claude had brought joy to millions of visitors from across the world and had become the unofficial mascot of the institution in Golden Gate Park.

What happened to Claude the alligator?

“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.

Why was Claude so special?

Claude was born in 1995 on an alligator farm in Louisiana and had lived at the museum since 2008. His albinism, a rare pigmentation disorder that prevents the production of melanin, meant he likely would not have survived long in the wild due to his visibility and impaired eyesight.

“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. “We know how much Claude meant to so many of you, and that love means so much to us,” the Academy wrote.

With his calm demeanor, Claude helped spark interest in animals and the environment, the institution added. He spent most of his time lying motionless on a heated rock or swimming with turtles in his enclosure.

The California Academy of Sciences — a structure combining aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum and research facilities — was constructed as a glass architectural landmark after the academy’s original building was damaged in a 1989 earthquake.

Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher