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Alligator Undergoes Surgery to Remove 70 Coins at Nebraska Zoo

The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha successfully removes coins from a leucistic alligator's stomach, urging visitors to refrain from tossing change into enclosures.

An alligator at a zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, needed an emergency procedure late last week to remove dozens of coins from its stomach, zoo officials said. A total of 70 metal coins were found inside Thibodaux, a 36-year-old alligator, according to the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. "A plastic pipe was placed to protect his mouth and safely pass the tools used to access the coins, such as a camera that helped us guide the retrieval of these objects,” veterinarian Christina Ploog said in a statement from the zoo. The coins were found during a routine examination on the animal. All were successfully removed. Ploog believes the coins were likely thrown into the animal’s habitat by visitors. “Guests should not throw coins into any bodies of water at the Zoo,” the facility said in a statement.
Veterniarians found $7 worth of coins in the stomach of Thibodaux, a white alligator, at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska.
albino alligator

Overview

  • A 36-year-old leucistic alligator named Thibodaux at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium underwent surgery to remove 70 coins from its stomach.
  • The coins were discovered during a routine health check, and the procedure was necessary to prevent potential health issues.
  • Visitors are urged not to throw coins into any bodies of water at the zoo, highlighting the dangers such actions pose to animals.
  • The zoo has a wishing well where guests can dispose of loose change, offering a safer alternative for those wishing to make a wish.
  • Thibodaux has fully recovered from the procedure and is back in his habitat, with the zoo emphasizing the importance of animal care and safety.