#animal-care

#animal-care

Claude isn't your average alligator. He's bright white, nearly blind and has regrown thousands of teeth. Claude is believed to be one of the oldest albino alligators in human care. In the wild, he likely wouldn't have survived past infancy - his bright white skin makes camouflage impossible and leaves him vulnerable to predators. At the Academy, though, Claude may live another three decades.

Nicky, a 28-year-old Masai giraffe, and Kalluk, a 24-year-old polar bear were euthanized, marking a tragic day for the San Diego Zoo.

The beloved panda Tenzing received medical care for neurological episodes but ultimately passed peacefully, helped by a dedicated animal health team in the San Francisco Zoo.

"The Fourth of July is one of the scariest days for pets," San Jose Animal Care and Services field operations supervisor Jaysen Jenkins said. "They just want to get away from the noise - which means they'll jump fences, we've even had reports of dogs breaking through plane glass windows."