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New Orleans Zoo escape Hurricane Katrina; Aquarium suffers heavy losses Rhett Butler, mongabay.com September 9, 2005 The Aquarium loses almost all fish According to the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), the aquarium lost virtually all of its 10,000 fish. Electricity has since been restored at the facility. Friday, the aquarium staff worked to transport animals to the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans and facilities in Monterey, California, and Dallas, Texas. The animals were expected to arrive at their new homes late Friday evening. The aquarium's colony of 19 penguins and a couple of California sea otters will be taken to Monterey Bay Aquarium, while the rare leafy and weedy seadragons from Australia will be taken to Dallas World Aquarium. The aquarium's large white alligator, macaws, raptors, electric eel, and eight large tarpons -- the only fish survivors -- will stay at the Audubon Zoo, which survived the storm with little loss of animal life. Five of the aquarium's rehab sea turtles were released into the Gulf of Mexico earlier in the week with the assistance of the Louisiana National Guard. Before Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, officials closed the aquarium early. When the storm hit the aquarium lost power but relied on generator for keeping critical equipment operational. The aquarium also had plenty of food and freshwater, but within days of Katrina's passing the back up power supply failed, killing the facility's life support systems. Thousands of fish died due to lack of oxygen and irregular temperatures (higher temperature, less oxygen is dissolved in water and more aeration is required). The staff did its best to save as many animals as possible but the conditions of New Orleans made the final result inevitable. According to CNN, the aquarium staff had help from local police officers.
"Even when our staff had to be evacuated out for our own safety, the police officers were able to stay back and get food to those animals and keep a good number of them alive." The aquarium will not reopen for at least a year, according to a person familiar with the situation. Although both facilities held up well during the hurricane, they will be impacted by the severe population loss and damage to the infrastructure in New Orleans. The near total loss of its collection is a major set back to the aquarium. New Orleans Zoo fares much better Duing the storm, staff took refuge in the reptile house at the zoo, which suffered little physical damage besides a number of fallen trees. The zoo suffered no flood damage since it is built on the highest ground in the city; "Monkey Hill" in the New Orleans zoo is the highest point in the entire city. Dan Maloney, general curator at the Audubon Zoo, reports that the zoo's staff is doing well and the biggest current concern is the psychological impact of the low flying helicopters on zoo animals. The zoo was quite well prepared for the hurricane. Local police and emergency services workers actually used the zoo as a fueling station in the days following the disaster. In comments made to CNN, zoo spokeswoman Sarah Burnette said,
In anticipation of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans zoo stockpiled fuel, food and other supplies, Burnette said. When it hit last Monday, the staff fled to the sturdy reptile building and raided the cafeteria for food. Some staff remained at the zoo, she said. "We did plan well, but I think we also were really fortunate to be on the natural bank of the Mississippi River," Burnette told CNN. OTHER ANIMAL FACILITIES The Global Wildlife Center in Folsom, Louisiana, home to over 3,000 exotic, endangered, and threatened animals from all over the world, posted the following on their web site on Saturday September 3, 2005: "Global Wildlife will remain closed to the public until further notice. All of our animals are doing great and we only had minor damage from falling trees. However due to the lack of electricity and fuel in the area; we are unable to open back up to the public at this time. If you wish to make a donation, please click here Outside Louisiana, the AZA reports that
Baton Rouge Zoo Lots of downed trees, but no staff or animal losses. The zoo has power and is assisting the zoo and aquarium facilities in New Orleans. HOW TO HELP If you want to help in any way, please visit http://www.lpzoo.org Other resources:
Other ways to help
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