Big Snap Daddy snapping turtle at Schramm Education Center. (Photo by Amber Schiltz, Courtesy Nebraska Game and Parks Commission)
A beloved snapping turtle that was on display at a Nebraska aquarium for three decades passed away this week.
Nicknamed “Big Snap Daddy,” the common snapping turtle was believed to be the oldest in the world at an estimated 96 to 100 years old.
The turtle, which weighed 102 pounds, was displayed at Schramm Education Center’s aquarium west of Louisville. Big Snap was euthanized Monday, according to Nebraska Game and Parks.
“While heartbreaking, this decision was made with Big Snap’s comfort and quality of life in mind. His goodbye was peaceful and painless, and he passed surrounded by the staff who have loved and cared for him,” a Facebook post from Nebraska Game and Parks stated.
Big Snap was originally caught in the Missouri River near Peru by an angler and given to what was then the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium.
When the center was renovated in 2019, a tank was custom-built for Big Snap, reinforcing his role in the educational mission at Schramm Education Center and Schramm Park State Recreation Area.
In the wild, common snapping turtles are known to live between 30 and 50 years.
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