Rainy Day Traveler

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

story and photos by Kayte Deioma

The Audubon Institute's Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans has been known as one of the top aquariums in the country since it first opened in 1990. The cylindrical glass building with its sharply angled roof managed to escape major harm from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and avoided being flooded due to its position on the high banks of the Mississippi. But the power outage that followed the disaster and the failure of the backup generators caused heavy losses to the Aquarium's sea life. After millions of dollars in repairs and restocking, the Aquarium reopened to the public at the end of May, 2006.

They were able to evacuate a few of the animals to other aquariums, so some familiar faces are back. The colony of African black-footed penguins and Rockhopper penguins survived, as well as the playful sea otters, Emma and Buck, and Mydas the giant green sea turtle.

Some of the new animals, including large sharks, giant rays and a school of blue runner, were donated by aquariums and zoos around the country. They now make their home in the Gulf of Mexico exhibit.

Other new additions were collected by the staff off the Florida Keys for the Caribbean Reef exhibit. The Caribbean Reef Tunnel puts you under the sea amid intricate coral reefs teaming with life. Schools of fish and kite-shaped stingrays swim over and around you.

The ever-popular jelly fish exhibit includes varieties from the miniature comb jellies that look like little light bulbs to the larger crown jellies. Other favorites are the sea horses and the fantastical leafy seadragons.

Spots, the famous white alligator, still reigns over the Mississippi River Gallery. He may lie so still that he looks stuffed, but the staff assures me that he starts getting active when he's hungry. If you're lucky, you might witness feeding time, but it only happens once or twice a week. The Mississippi River exhibit is also home to catfish, turtles, a red-tailed hawk, and an owl.

Another river environment represented is the Amazon and its surrounding rainforest. A boa constrictor, piranhas, spotted rays and a group of turquoise and red macaws are a few of the exotic species found here.

Brand new to the Aquarium in March 2007 is Adventure Island, with a touch pond of cownose rays and a children's play area where kids can stick their head up in the middle of a fish tank, or climb inside a clam shell with a giant pearl.

Up above it all you'll find the food court featuring Burger King, Papa Jon's Pizza and Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream. Next door is the repaired and updated Entergy IMAX Theatre, which requires a separate ticket. Several IMAX movies alternate throughout the day.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
Canal Street at the River
#1 Canal Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
1-800-774-7394
www.auduboninstitute.org

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