Audubon Zoo

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The Audubon Zoo is a zoo located in New Orleans and is part of the Audubon Nature Institute. The zoo is 58 acres (235,000 m²) and is home to 2,000 animals. It opened in 1938, as the Merz Memorial Zoo in the Audubon Park, prior to this there had been a flight cage in the park since 1914. In the 1950s the zoo was renamed in honor of artist and naturalist John James Audubon who lived in New Orleans starting in 1821.

Some of the exhibits at the zoo include gorillas, orangutans, and the Louisiana swamp exhibit. The zoo is also home to two rare white tiger cubs and rare leucistic alligators.

The Zoo was expected to have suffered great damage as a result of Hurricane Katrina. On September 1, 2005, the Dallas Morning News reported that zoo director Ron Forman said the vast majority of the animals were fine (only three died) and the only major damage appeared to be downed trees. However, the zoo was short on food and other necessities, and pumps were overheating. During the hurricane, zoo staff found refuge in the zoo's reptile house, which was apparently designed to withstand a major hurricane.

The zoo's minor damage can be attibuted to disaster planning and its location on high ground. Zoo curator Dan Maloney was quoted as saying, "The zoo had planned for years for the catastrophic storm that has long been predicted for New Orleans."

The affiliated Aquarium of the Americas also survived the hurricane, but suffered significant loss of life in the ensuing week due to flooding and power loss.

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