Update on The Audubon Zoo/Aquarium

[H5N1]

Here is the latest news on New Orleans (special thanks to Lorien Shaw)

Dan Maloney, general curator at the Audubon Zoo, reports that although "attendance is really down," the staff that have stayed at the zoo are doing fine. Animal food stocks are holding up well except for some of the specialty items such as waxworms and crickets, while humans have found their own food supplies on zoo grounds. They have enough fuel to keep their generators running for quite some time -- actually the zoo was so well prepared for this disaster that emergency workers and police are coming to the zoo to get their vehicles fueled.

Security at the zoo has not been an issue though they have heard shots outside the zoo. With increased police and military presence in the city the aquarium staff should be able to get back in the building soon.

The zoo, aquarium, and ACRES (the off-exhibit research facility) all have docks. So, the Baton Rouge Zoo will be boating supplies down to New Orleans soon

http://news.mongabay.com/2005/0830-new_orleans_aquarium.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. thanks for this report!

I've been wondering what had happened, and feared the worst. Glad there is good news from NO.

[H5N1]

6. These folks would sacrifice their lives to save these animals

They were ready in spades.
May peace be unto them.

[rocktivity]

2. I know the cuisine of New Orleans is quite unique

But waxworms and crickets? I don't remember seeing that on the Emeril Lagasse show!

x(
rocknation

[hlthe2b]

3. Thank you so much for this very good news....

Kudos to the zoo and aquarium directors for planning so well. Sadly, their competence is a rarity right now.


(an aside: H5N1, must surely share my concern regarding pandemic flu, given this clusterfuck of a response....)

[H5N1]

4. The coming pandemic (whenever it comes) will really be a show

Think we'll be ready? :)

[NWHarkness]

5. '"attendance is really down"

Thank you, that gave me a much needed laugh

[H5N1]

7. That was good, wasn't it!

[Dudley_DUright]

9. I hope attendance picks up in the future

It is really a world class aquarium. I have been to it several times in the past and really hope that I will get a chance to again.

[Roxy66]

8. What about the New Orleans Zoo and Aquarium?

I think the aquarium was destryed. Remember those dolphins put in that hotel pool (It was all over the media), I wonder what happened to them. They said they were fine right after the hurricane, but things have changed since then

[H5N1]

10. They were saved: Moved to Walton Beach, Florida

The animals were last seen in a hotel swimming pool, but the storm left the town of 70,000 people under 10 feet (3m) of water (update: six bottlenose dolphins moved to a hotel swimming pool survived the storm and were taken this week to Walton Beach, Florida while nine sea lions from the Mississippi park were sent to Sea World in Orlando, Florida). The Gulport Marine Life Oceanarium aquarium was totally destroyed.

[Dudley_DUright]

11. The Audubons are the New Orleans zoo and aquarium

You are thinking of the aquarium in Gulfport, which was destroyed.

[Catchawave]

12. Great news....

glad someone had a hurricane plan!

[shireen]

13. thanks for the update!

Isn't it interesting ... the most well-prepared organizations were the ones that care for animals. The LA Spca rented climate controlled trucks to move their animals to the Houston SPCA before the hurricane even made landfall. And now, we here the zoo is doing fine. Maybe they need to train FEMA on disaster preparedness.

[Blue_Roses]

14. oh, such good new

:bounce: