The New Orleans Aquarium reopened today

[TallahasseeGrannie]

and the penguins are home!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12923728/

I found the death of all the specimens in August especially hard to bear because we had just taken my grandson there a few weeks before and have videos of it. It was, ironically, during Hurricane Dennis and we traveled west to get out of the way.

Anyway, this is good news for the children of the Gulf Coast.

[adriennui]

1. CNN had a story about the penguins the other day

let's hope the reopening of the aquarium is symbolic for the rebuilding of the affected areas and the resettlement of anyone who wants to return to the city.


BTW, penguins are almost impossible not to love.

[JackDragna]

2. If any of you love the aquarium, or New Orleans in general..

..consider making a donation to the aquarium, if you can spare it. I and the other Louisiana DU'ers would appreciate it.

[Lisa]

10. and here's their webpage

http://www.auduboninstitute.org/site/PageServer

[Dudley_DUright]

3. Children of all ages!

My wife and I love the New Orleans aquarium, and we don't even have any kids. Good news indeed. I just hope they don't get hit again this year (ditto for FL).

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. Lets all hope NO doesn't become the aquarium again this

year.....

[Rufus T. Firefly]

8. I can take in one penguin.

Just to be on the safe side. I'll buy an icemaker. :-)

[TallahasseeGrannie]

13. Wouldn't that be a hoot?

In the bathtub with lots of ice. He'd get lonely, though.

In NO they are behind glass, so I assume they have major air conditioning on. I actually don't remember any ice, though. But it might have been there. NO is THE hottest, most humid place in the world..at least that I've ever been. Worse than Miami. What I loved the most was the sea otters. They were behind glass in their habitat but hung out right against the window, doing all those endearing tummy scratches, face washes, etc. I think those fellows also survived. But I never read where they were taken.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

15. I'd love a Galapagos penguin.

They live in the tropics, so no ice issues! :-)

I saw the NO penguins a year (to the day) before Katrina. I feel kind of guilty for worrying about them with all the destruction...but they're already out of their habitat and all. I read that they were taken to another aquarium/zoo and were really popular because of March of the Penguins.

And have you seen a "little blue?" I think they're from Australia or NZ. They are TINY little things and are absolutely adorable.

All that being said, I know it would be wrong to have one as a pet...he'd be a roommate. ;-)

[ContraBass Black]

5. Did they ever find those dolphins?

[TallahasseeGrannie]

6. I think those fellows

were from Biloxi. Anyone know for sure?

[HeeBGBz]

9. The Mississippi dolphins were rescued and moved

To some resort in the Caribbean or Central America. They are okay. Don't know about N.O. dolphins.

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. Good news!

:woohoo: I've been watching on the Animal Planet channel, "The Little Zoo That Could" about the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo that was devastated in 2004 by Ivan and then had to evacuate during Dennis and Katrina. It is just now re-opening. Totally funded by private donations, sponsorships and revenue from zoo visitors. Such heart, these zoo employees display. :loveya:

[MercutioATC]

11. I'm shocked at the dearth of "NOLA/aquarium" jokes...

...maybe it's the late hour...

[Alamom]

12. Thanks for the post and info. The Aquarium was always a must

see (and see again) on many trips to NOLA when we lived in Moblie, Al.

Good news about the Mobile Zoo, also.

[leftyladyfrommo]

14. Yea!

We don't have an aquarium here - but I would love to visit one.