Zoo discovers 70 US coins in 36-year-old alligator's stomach

OMAHA, Nebraska (WJW) – After extracting 70 coins from a resident alligator's stomach, zoo officials in Nebraska are reminding guests not to toss their change into bodies of water at the facility.

Veterinarians at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium noticed foreign metal objects in the alligator's stomach during a routine examination of the animal, zoo officials said in a Facebook post on Friday.

The 36-year-old American alligator, named Thibodaux, underwent surgery on Feb. 15 to remove the coins before they could cause any damage.

"Thibodaux was anesthetized and intubated to allow us to safely manage him during the procedure," said associate veterinarian Christina Ploog, DVM, in the Facebook post.

Zoo officials say a plastic pipe was placed in the alligator's mouth so veterinarians could safely extract the coins.

Veterinarians found 70 U.S. coins during the procedure. An X-ray confirmed that all the coins had been removed.

“Though a procedure like the one done on Thibodaux is not always common, it’s a great example of what our animal care and animal health teams do every day across our campus to provide excellent care to our animals,” said Taylor Yaw, zoo veterinarian and director of animal health.

Zoo officials say Thibodaux is back in his habitat and recovering well.

"Guests should not throw coins into any bodies of water at the zoo," their Facebook post warned. "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."

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium has 10 American alligators in its care.