Serbian zoo claims world’s oldest captive alligator

The Belgrade Zoo claims to have the oldest American alligator in captivity – a survivor of a world war, three bombings of the city and the Balkan crisis in the 1990s.

Muja the American alligator is believed to be at least 80 years old, and arrived fully grown from Germany a year after the zoo opened in 1937, according to Fox News.

Muja is the only animal to have survived the bombings during 1941 and 1944, when the zoo was almost completely destroyed. The zoo has claimed the title after liaising with other zoos and animal welfare groups.

Zookeeper Aleksandar Rakocevic said Muja’s health was “excellent”, and had only a small hiccup in 2012 when he required surgery for gangrene on his right front leg.

Mr Rakocevic said the gator had become a symbol of the country’s stamina.

"Muja is a legend, and not only of our zoo, he's a Belgrade legend!" Mr Rakocevic said.

"Everybody knows Muja."