Zoo Extracts 70 Coins From Alligator's Stomach During Surgery

A zoo in Omaha urged visitors to stop throwing coins into exhibits after an alligator was operated on to remove 70 coins from its stomach on Thursday, February 15.

According to a Facebook post by Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, veterinarians identified metal foreign objects in the stomach of Thibodaux, a 36-year-old leucistic American alligator, during a routine examination.

Seventy US coins were extracted from Thibodaux during his surgery on Thursday. According to a news report, the coins totaled around $7.

Footage sent to Storyful on Tuesday, February 20, shows Thibodaux, who the zoo said recovered well from the surgery, swimming around in his habitat.

The zoo urged visitors to not throw coins into any bodies of water at the zoo.

“Any loose change can instead be turned in for a souvenir coin in one of the several machines around the zoo or in our coin wishing well, located in the atrium of the Desert Dome.” Credit: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium via Storyful

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