Muja (alligator)

Muja /ˈmuːjə/, an American alligator at Belgrade Zoo in Serbia, has been described as the oldest living alligator in the world.[1] He potentially became the world's oldest American alligator in captivity when another of his species, Saturn, died in the Moscow Zoo in 2020.[2][3]

Muja
Muja, the world's oldest known alligator
SpeciesAmerican alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
SexMale
Hatched1930s or older
unknown
Known forOldest alligator in captivity in the world
www.beozoovrt.rs/heroji-vrta/aligator-muja/

History

Muјa arrived in Belgrade with another alligator, his mate, on September 12, 1936, from Germany. At the time he arrived he was already an adult, so it is assumed that he hatched before 1936. He survived World War II, during which the Zoo was almost completely destroyed, and the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999. This bombing consisted of two carpet bombings, both of which Muja survived.

In 2012, he underwent a successful surgery to amputate some of his leg after he was diagnosed with gangrene. Otherwise, Muja is healthy. He is fed 5–6 kg of meat once a week which consists of skinned rats, rabbits, bird, horse meat, and beef.[4] He eats this together with bones, which are good for his teeth and calcium levels.[5][6] Due to his old age, it is difficult for him to hunt for his food. Instead, the zookeepers place it right in front of his jaw.[4]

References
  1. Lazarević, Z. (22 August 2011). "Najstariji aligator na svetu živi u Beogradu" [The world's oldest alligator lives in Belgrade]. Blic (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 18 August 2018.
  2. "Berlin WW2 bombing survivor Saturn the alligator dies in Moscow Zoo". BBC News. 23 May 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  3. Strege, David (5 August 2016). "World's oldest American alligator in captivity survived World War II bombings". GrindTV. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  4. "World's oldest captive alligator marks 83 years in Belgrade zoo". Bangkok Post. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  5. "World's Oldest Alligator has surgery". MSN UK. UZoo. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  6. "Elderly alligator recovers after life-saving surgery". 3 News. Reuters. Archived from the original on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
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