Just heard a report on the N.O. Zoo Animals and the Aquarium

[Up2Late]

All of the Large animals at the Zoo survived and are doing O.K.

They did lose a few Sea Otters and "...a few Aquatic Birds." The Navy is currently working to filter the Otter tank.

The N.O. Aquarium did not fair as well. They said the Emergency generators for the Big Main display tank failed fairly early, causing the temperature of the tank to fall, killing most of the aquatic creatures housed in it.

That's all that NPR reported (during the 6:00pm EDT Headline update), I don't know what all was living in the Big Main tank, but it sound like a large collection of sea creatures.

Sorry, that's all I know, other than the 2 dolphins in the Hotel Swimming pool after the storm looked in good shape too.

[SmokingJacket]

1. It was a beautiful, amazing aquarium

Brought my kids there a few years ago. Sad to lose those animals, but nothing compared to the human loss...

Glad to hear the zoo made it through all right. It's a wonderful zoo.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Thanks!!!

I appreciate the update. Cross-post (if you haven't already) in the pet forum!! (GD is moving so fast today...I don't this to get lost).

[Up2Late]

8. Done, but they are not going to be happy to read this.

Their is another post from September 1st that said both made it O.K.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. Not at all happy!

I actually posted about the Zoo and Aquarium escaping serious damage...then I saw your post and it broke my heart. :cry:

I am going to post my own personal pictures from there that I took in 2001. I am also posting a link to the map of the Aquarium of the Americas. I am sure the exhibit they are talking about is the "Gulf of Mexico" one, as it is the largest. Once you go to the link, clink on the map, it brings up a bigger and easier to see copy.

Here is a snapshot of a shark I took (you can see some of the multitudes of the fish in the back ground).



I think I read some of the sea otters died. Here is a pic I have of one of them in happier days. :cry: He is quite the little ham! :)



I hope the pics can give you a little idea of the size of the tank. It is not one of my better pictures, but it showed a number of species.

[ForrestGump]

3. I was wondering about the Aquarium...it's one of the very best

Well, it was... :-(

[CottonBear]

4. I am so sad about the Aquarium animals. I love that aquarium

and I love the zoo. My husband was born in New Orleans and grew up down near the zoo and played on Monkey Hill as a kid. Our family loves to visit the zoo and aquarium when we go down to visit his family. I too had family who lived on the Gulf Coast, in Mobile and in NOLA. I am glad they are not alive to see this disaster.

We were supposed to be down there this past weekend but Katrina hit and Bu$h killed tens of thousands of Americans. My in-laws have evacuated their homes in St. Tammany Parish and are now living in Lexington, KY with Mr. CottonBear's niece. They do not know when they can return.

Our next trip to Lacombe, LA will be to help them fix their home and lives. (They were, by some miracle, not flooded like Slidell.) There will be no excursion to New Orleans to visit the French Quarter, eat beignets and drink cafe au lait, enjoy the quiet splendor of St. Louis Cathedral or enjoy the spectacular zoo and aquarium.
:cry:

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. There is no other city quite like New Orleans. The charm of the streets,

the architecture, the friendly people, the FOOD, yum! and the wonderful atmosphere that IS New Orleans. Bourbon Street *sigh* the most fun a body could possible have. Bourbon Street was PACKED with people, 7 nights a week, partying. It's a unique, unique city. I LOVE NOLA! We always stay at a quaint little hotel on Toulouse St., The Maison Dupuy. I'm praying it survived this. It looks like The French Quarter faired this well. I hope our favorite hotel did too. :(

[Up2Late]

9. I'm so sorry to hear about what this has done to your family

I'm sure everyone here will keep them in their prayers, and I hope everything turns out O.K. for them.

I've never been to the N.O. Aquarium (nor to N.O. for that matter), so could you give us an idea of what was in the big Main display tank? (what did they loose if all were lost?)

[Sgent]

5. One of the best

aquariums in the world... this is devastating on its own scale.

It was the national research institute for gulf and Caribbean animals.

very said :(

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. I had the PURE PLEASURE of visiting the NO Aquarium a couple of years ago

It was beautiful and I am so sad and sorry they lost their sea creatures. What a shame. :(