An estimated two thousand Bay Area residents flocked to San Francisco on Sunday, Jan. 18 to celebrate the life of Claude, the California Academy of Sciences' iconic albino alligator. Claude died last month at 30 years old after he was diagnosed with liver cancer. "[Claude] was a steady presence, teaching my children without words about curiosity, about respect for living things and about the joy of simply observing the world as it is," California State Assemblymember Catherine Stefani noted from the stage. "In a city full of icons, Claude became one of the most beloved without ever seeking the spotlight."
The mannequin representing Claude 3 Sonnet lay on a stage in the center of the room, draped in lightweight mesh fabric and adorned with a black thigh-high sock marked with the word "fuck". Attendees laid offerings of flowers, colorful feathers, a bottle of ranch, and a 3D-printed sign at its feet.
