A rare white alligator, which has a leucistic condition, had to go through an operation after 70 US coins, amounting to roughly $7, were found in its tummy.
Rare White Leucistic Alligator
Thibodaux is one of the 10 alligators in Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. The 36-year-old American alligator is notably special because of his condition of leucism, which gives him his remarkable white look.
Leucism is quite similar to albinism, as it leads to pigmentation abnormalities because of genetic mutations that impact melanin production. However, this condition leads to partial pigmentation loss with normal coloration of the eye, while albinism is marked by full or nearly full pigmentation loss that impacts the whole body (eyes included).
70 Coins Found Inside Stomach
During a routine health checkup for all zoo gators, Thibodaux was found to contain 70 US coins within his stomach. These coins were believed to have been thrown out by zoo attendees into his enclosure.
After the objects were detected, the zoo workers promptly acted and took Thibodaux to undergo a procedure to have the coins removed before any problems surface.
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium shares in a Facebook post that the examinations include radiographs and blood collections, which result from decades of building trust with these animals through proactive efforts to train that enable the animals to voluntarily participate in their own care.
As part of their routine care, our 10 American alligators participated in examinations to ensure they are healthy. These... Posted by Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium on Friday, February 16, 2024
The gator went through an operation on February 15 to have the coins removed. He also underwent a blood examination for specialists to see if there were any toxic chemicals in the coins.
Thibodaux was intubated and anesthetized to enable the specialists to manage the procedure safely, as noted by associate veterinarian Christina Ploog. A plastic pipe was positioned to protect Thibodaux's mouth and to safely pass the tools used for accessing the coins. These tools included a camera that assisted the specialists in retrieving the objects.
At present, Thibodaux has gone back to his home and is not healthy or happy.
Taylor Yaw, a zoo veterinarian and animal health director, explains that though the procedure that Thibodaux went through is not very common, it serves as an example of what animal health and care teams do to offer great care to the animals.
With this case, the zoo has warned visitors not to throw coins into bodies of water, as animals could end up swallowing them. These objects could then lead to internal blockages. Several of the coins were consumed after zoo visitors threw them towards the gators.
Ploog also shares that, though regular cleanings are done in animal habitats, the animals could still ingest the objects between cleanings. This could be when the alligators get the coins.
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