Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo
Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo Alligator Undergoes Surgery Remove Coins:
In February 2024, Thibodaux, a 36-year-old leucistic alligator with distinctive white skin and deep blue eyes at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska, underwent an emergency surgical procedure. The operation aimed to extract 70 coins from Thibodaux's stomach, as visitors had thrown them into his enclosure, posing potential health risks.
An Omaha, Nebraska zoo is emphasizing the importance of not throwing money into animal enclosures after veterinarians at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium performed an emergency surgery on Thibodaux, a white alligator, to remove $7 worth of coins from his stomach during a routine examination. The public surgery, conducted in the Desert Dome, involved careful extraction using tools passed through a plastic pipe to protect the alligator's mouth.
Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo Alligator Undergoes Surgery Remove Coins!
Christina Ploog, associate veterinarian at the zoo, explained in a Facebook post that Thibodaux, with the aid of anesthesia and intubation, underwent the procedure safely. She highlighted the use of a camera to guide the retrieval of the coins. Despite Thibodaux's successful recovery, the zoo advised against throwing coins into any water bodies within the premises, suggesting visitors cash in loose change for souvenir coins or use wishing wells.
Ploog shared with local station KETV that coins likely end up in alligators' mouths directly rather than being scooped off the ground due to their thin build. The zoo's veterinarian and director of animal health, Taylor Yaw, praised the incident as an example of the excellent care provided by on-site medical teams.
This event follows a previous incident where a cheetah escaped but was safely returned to its habitat through emergency protocols. The zoo reassured the public that the cheetah posed no threat behind the designated barriers.
Notably, the Henry Doorly Zoo is not the first to discourage visitors from tossing money into exhibits. The Saint Louis Zoo in Missouri had previously addressed a similar concern, urging caution around open habitats and requesting visitors to report any accidental falls of objects into exhibits to ensure the safety of the animals.
Not the first
This event follows a previous incident where a cheetah escaped but was safely returned to its habitat through emergency protocols. The zoo reassured the public that the cheetah posed no threat behind the designated barriers.
Notably, the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo Alligator Undergoes Surgery Remove Coins is not the first to discourage visitors from tossing money into exhibits. The Saint Louis Zoo in Missouri had previously addressed a similar concern, urging caution around open habitats and requesting visitors to report any accidental falls of objects into exhibits to ensure the safety of the animals.
CARE
As part of their regular care, our 10 American alligators underwent health examinations, involving procedures such as blood collection and radiographs. These practices are the result of decades spent building trust with the animals through proactive training, enabling them to willingly participate in their own veterinary care.
Again, all 70 coins were successfully removed, as confirmed by a follow-up X-ray image. Thibodaux recovered well from the procedure and has returned to his habitat.
"While a procedure like Thibodaux's is not an everyday occurrence, it serves as a prime example of the exceptional care our animal care and health teams provide daily across our campus," stated Taylor Yaw, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ABVP (Fish), Zoo veterinarian, and director of animal health.
Visitors are reminded not to toss coins into any water bodies at the Zoo. Instead, any loose change can be exchanged for a souvenir coin using one of the several machines scattered throughout the Zoo or deposited into the coin wishing well located in the atrium of the Desert Dome.