Alligator at Henry Doorly Zoo Discovered to Have Swallowed 70 Coins Thrown Into Enclosure
Incident Date:
02/16/2024
Location:
Omaha, NE - USA
Facility Name:
Henry Doorly Zoo
Facility Type:
Accredited AZA Facility (AZA)
Incident Category:
Injury to animal (IN)
Species:
Reptiles
Animal:
Alligator
Animal disposition:
Other
Summary:
Omaha, Nebraska – The Henry Doorly Zoo has issued a warning to visitors after veterinarians found dozens of “foreign metal objects” in the stomach of a 36-year-old alligator named Thibodaux. Those metal objects turned out to be 70 American coins the alligator had swallowed, according to a Feb. 16 Facebook post made by the zoo. Veterinarians discovered the coins during a routine procedure involving blood collection and radiographs. Thibodaux needed to be anesthetized and intubated to allow veterinarians to safely remove the loose change.
The zoo veterinarian said that Thibodaux likely swallowed the coins when guests tossed them into his mouth.
Action take by Born Free USA:
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