Plush toy saga ends after Sacramento Zoo alligator coughs up unexpected snack
Sacramento Zoo’s resident American alligator is back in his habitat after coughing up a plush toy he swallowed when it fell into his enclosure, zoo officials announced Monday.
Guinness, the zoo’s only resident American alligator, swallowed the plush toy after it fell into his habitat Friday. An endoscopy failed to remove the toy, prompting the zoo’s animal care team to remove Guinness from his habitat and prepare him for a second procedure.
Before that procedure took place, however, Guinness regurgitated the plush toy Sunday night, according to a zoo spokesperson.
The toy was removed from Guinness’ enclosure, and he returned to his habitat Monday, where staff continued to monitor him.
“We would like to reiterate the risk involved when foreign objects end up in our animals’ habitats,” a spokesperson for the zoo wrote in a social media post. “Animals swallowing objects or food outside of their diet can have serious consequences. If an object or food falls into a habitat, or you see it enter a habitat, please let a nearby staff member know immediately.”
American alligators first arrived at the Sacramento Zoo in 2020. Visitors can watch Guinness during alligator training and live feeding sessions at 11 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday.
