Audubon Zoo in New Orleans was named one of the top 1000 attractions in the entire country for entertainment value. The zoo takes you on an exciting trip to wildlife from different continents worldwide. It is a fun place to learn about wildlife, spend your vacation, or entertain the little ones.
1. New Orleans Audubon Zoo Welcomes Wildlife Wonders
The Audubon Zoo is situated in New Orleans; it covers 58 acres and is home to over 2,000 animals. The zoo is a perfect mixture of a theme park and a zoo, making it a great spot for people of all ages to explore.
Going to the zoo makes a fun day for the whole family. It is not just about seeing the wildlife in their real homes. The zoo has many cool activities for visitors to try, making the Zoo a top place for people who like adventures.
2. Rich History And Evolution Of The Audubon Zoo
The Audubon Zoo has a fascinating history on its own. It was originally called ”Upper City Park” and was owned by the Boré family. Etienne de Boré refined sugar cane techniques and produced granulated sugar.
The city bought the land in 1870 to make a public park. In 1884, it hosted the World’s Fair. After, it was renamed Audubon Park for John James Audubon. In the 1930s, work programs funded the expansion of the zoo. This added attractions like pools and boats.
Today, the zoo is recognized as a top-rated New Orleans attraction. The park, designed and created by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, also has a golf course, baseball fields, and jogging trails. The Audubon Commission now manages the park, which has survived many storms over the years.
3. Indoor And Outdoor Exhibitions Of The Audubon Zoo
An exotic mix of animals from all around the globe, hands-on animal encounters, and some of the most beautiful lush gardens in New Orleans. In addition to all the animal encounters, they also have sea lion and elephant programs, and one of the favorites is the endangered species carousel.
They have various animal encounter stations and some of the best kid play sections built into the exhibits and complete with little islands devoted to each world. They have Asia, the Avery, an African Savanna, a Reptile House, Primates, the Louisiana Swamp, and a Jaguar Jungle. Each exhibition is made to make visitors feel as though they were dropped off in the jungle.
3.1. African Savanna
Experience the wonderful world of the African grassland in the Audubon Zoo, The evening begins at 6 P.M. with a quick Zoo train ride to the African Savanna, where guests will enjoy cocktails in front of the majestic lion habitat.
Animal care staff will share with guests all that is involved with caring for these largest cats and what they can do to help them in the wild. The Savana also lets visitors observe the Painted wild dogs and feed the giraffes.
3.2. Asia
This zoo exhibit will tour some of the most beautiful and exotic animals native to Asia. In this part of the Zoo, you will come across a stunning showcase of Asian elephants. There is a raised pavilion that serves as an immersive Asian-themed center. Visitors can catch an aerial view of Audubon’s beloved elephants from that spot.
Their spacious habitat is designed with slopes, shady trees, and an “enrichment log, ” allowing the elephants to search for food. The exhibit features two elephant pools: a four-foot splash pool on one end and a 12-foot-deep immersion pool on the other, conveniently located near the Cool Zoo splash park.
You will also find an interactive orangutan exhibit in this area. It is situated where the historic elephant exhibit used to be, and the orangutans now have a home filled with various climbing platforms for swinging. To learn more about these endangered animals, check out the vibrant interpretive signs and engaging presentations by the animal staff.
This area is also home to other fascinating residents, including Amur leopards, a tiger, sun bears, and babirusas.
3.3. Audubon Cool Zoo
The ultimate water adventure at Cool Zoo for kids. The Gator Run features a 750-foot lazy river surrounded by shady seating and cool pool water. The park is equipped with four four water cannons, two water curtains, and jumping jets
There is the alligator water slide, where kids can enjoy sliding down, getting soaked by spider monkey soakers, and dodging water-spitting snakes. Cool Zoo has many splash-worthy activities for the whole family to enjoy.
There is also a Cool Shop in the park where patrons can buy toys, towels, swimwear, and summertime essentials.
3.4. Audubon Zoo’s Jaguar Jungle
The Jaguar Jungle area is a recreated ruin of the lush jungle and rainforests of South America where people discover diverse environments, wildlife, people, and cultures.
At Audubon Zoo, visitors get to experience the misty Mayan rainforest of Jaguar Jungle, where the spotted animal, the jaguars of Mayan lore reside, it also houses giant anteaters, spider monkeys, macaws, and Brazilian ocelots.
There is also a cool digging site where kids can uncover Maya treasures, or the “Criaturas de la Noche” Bat House, which showcases a glimpse of the jungle’s bustling nightlife. The exhibition also has over 200 Seba’s short-tailed bats, vampire bats, ringtail cats, red-eyed tree frogs, giant cave roaches, Anthony’s poison arrow frogs, Costa Rican zebra tarantulas, and douroucouli (Nancy Ma’s night owl monkeys).
For families, there is also a children’s play area with a climbing structure and restroom facilities and a spacious Maya Village plaza nearby where you can relax.
3.5. Louisiana Swamp
An award-winning Louisiana Swamp exhibition for its unique portrayal of Louisiana culture, it has become a main attraction of the zoo’s curator show. The exhibition digs into the connections between the Cajun people, the swamp’s flora and fauna, and their impact on daily life, industry, and food.
While swamps can be found in other parts of the United States, south Louisiana stands out for its development of a distinct culture within this environment. Audubon Zoo specifically chose to showcase the Cajun culture in this exhibit, as it exemplifies a harmonious existence within a habitat.
The Cajun people only took what they needed from the swamp, following the teachings of the Native American Indians in Southern Louisiana on how to utilize natural resources responsibly.
Audubon Zoo utilizes animal exhibits and engaging educational programs, presentations, and graphics to educate visitors about the importance of conservation in the Louisiana Swamp. The exhibit showcases the diverse wildlife in the swamp, from black bears to blue crabs, water snakes, and red foxes to mysterious white alligators.
The Louisiana Swamp Exhibit allows visitors to connect with their heritage and introduces out-of-town visitors to the captivating world of the Louisiana Swamp.
It also serves as an outdoor classroom for school children, offering alligator feedings, daily animal presentations, engaging activities, and up-close encounters. Both children and adults can fully immerse themselves in this extraordinary and breathtaking environment.
3.6. Monkey Hill
Monkey Hill was designed and constructed in the 1930s by the Work Progress Administration to give the children of New Orleans a taste of what a hill looked like.
Today, Monkey Hill also has a five-level treehouse that gives visitors a unique perspective from the highest point in New Orleans. You will also find a brand-new slide, some cool bronze lion sculptures, wading pools, and plenty of space to roll around. It’s been a must-see attraction at the zoo for generations.
3.7. Reptile Encounter
The reptile encounter has an incredible variety of reptiles and amphibians that inhabit tropical and temperate environments. This Audubon Zoo exhibition has a fun Wildlife Wonders exhibit with over 50 kinds of scaly and slimy critters worldwide.
You can get up close and personal with amazing creatures like the Komodo Dragon, Sunda Gharial, Green Anaconda, Shingleback Skink, Texas Blind Salamander, Mangshan Pit Viper, Central Fijian Banded Iguana, Rattlesnake, Turtle, Poison Dart Frogs, and many more.
Not only can you marvel at these fascinating reptiles and amphibians, but you can also support Audubon Zoo’s Louisiana Pine Snake Conservation and Recovery Program, which is actively working to release offspring hatched at the zoo into restored habitats in western Louisiana to save this threatened species.
3.8. Wings Of The World
Wings of the World is an exhibit at Audubon Zoo that offers the biggest and most immersive experience in the area.
The exhibition takes a stroll through the amazing free-flight enclosure and gets visitors up close with over 60 different bird species from all over the globe. The best part is that the exhibit is completely free with your zoo admission!
Inside the free-flight aviary, a diverse collection of birds represents the incredible variety found in different parts of the world, making it truly a unique and memorable experience for visitors.
And here is something really special about Audubon Zoo, it is actively involved in bird conservation efforts. The zoo breeds threatened species, hoping to release them back into the wild.
By visiting Wings of the World, you will enjoy a fantastic exhibit and support these important conservation programs.
4. Audubon Zoo Conservation And Initiatives
The Audubon Zoo protects threatening species, rescues wildlife, and enhances ecosystems. They aim to have educational programs that inspire visitors to value the beauty of the natural world and take action to protect the precious wildlife around the world.
4.1. Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network(CWN)
The Audubon Nature Institute runs the Coastal Wildlife Network (CWN), which is the top organization in Louisiana dedicated to assisting stranded marine animals such as dolphins, whales, manatees, and sea turtles.
CWN has the authority to take care of sea turtles with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) approval. Officials announced that CWN is the only group in Louisiana that is responsible for rehabilitating live marine mammals and sea turtles.
CWN is a rescue effort dedicated to providing compassionate care and treatment to injured, sick, or displaced marine animals. Their rescue program focuses on saving animals and reaching out to the community to raise awareness about ocean and coastal conservation. CWN is also crucial in educating people about sea turtles and marine mammals.
4.2. Louisiana Wetlands
In just under 40 minutes, a football field-sized portion of Louisiana’s wetlands disappears. These wetlands, mainly marshes and swamps, are not only visually stunning but also serve a crucial purpose. They play a vital role in reducing storm damage and coastal erosion while also providing a highly productive ecosystem.
To combat this alarming wetland and habitat loss rate here, the New Orleans Pelicans and Audubon Nature Institute have devised a game plan. To educate both locals and visitors of all ages about the importance of preserving coastal wetlands.
4.3. Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center
Since 1993, the Survival Center has endeavored to secure species of animals and plants against dying out by eliminating their habitats and livestock while increasing those of endangered animal species.
They have created large, undeveloped enclosures where animals like highly endangered whooping cranes, Mississippi sandhill cranes, endangered storks, clouded leopards, Mexican grey wolves, red wolves, bongo antelope, and eland can live and breed in peace.
Their efforts to save North America’s most endangered bird from extinction have earned them many awards and they are now working towards developing a self-sustaining wild population of whooping cranes in Louisiana. This partnership is an amazing example of state government agencies and non-profits working together to protect threatened species.
4.4. Conservation Partnership Between Audubon Nature Institute and San Diego Zoo Global Launches in New Orleans
This program focuses on ensuring sustainable populations of zoo animals. It is home to over two dozen declining-population mammal and bird species.
The Alliance for Sustainable Wildlife is located on 400 acres of the Survival Center campus and includes large, natural habitat-holding areas for herding animals and large-bodied birds. Some of the animals that have arrived in the center are sables, bongos, okapis, and yellow-backed duikers.
The collaborative effort is supported by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), an international union of zoos that aims to manage and preserve species through the joint efforts of accredited zoos.
5. Conclusion
The zoo is at the historic Uptown and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 in the morning to 4 p.m., and free parking is available. Locals often tell visitors to New Orleans to check out the Audubon Zoo, and for good reason. The zoo also has an aquarium and an insect gallery, and it hosts live shows.
Visiting the Audubon Zoo is an amazing experience for lesiure and edicational, It has everything from animals, fantastic cafes, live music, and even a water park, there is something for everyone. It’s worth checking out.
