US officials at a Nebraska zoo are warning visitors not to throw coins into animal enclosures, after an alligator underwent surgery to remove some 70 units of the metal coins from its stomach.
“Visitors should not throw coins into zoo bodies of water,” urged officials at the Henry-Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on its Facebook page, noting that the 10 alligators suffered examinations after this incident.
Thibodaux, a 36-year-old specimen, would have ingested coins thrown by visitors into the pool of his enclosure, according to what the “New York Post” reported on Tuesday, specifying that the alligator was anesthetized and intubated. to undergo surgery.
“A plastic pipe was placed to protect his mouth and safely pass the tools used to access the parts, such as a camera,” said Christina Ploog, the veterinarian who led the intervention.
The parts were removed from the animal’s den and an X-ray was carried out to ensure that there were no more traces of metal in the body of the alligator which had already returned to its enclosure. , indicated zoo officials, very happy with the outcome of the affair.
