Audubon Aquarium of the Americas to Rescue Animal Survivors; Penguins, Sea Otters, Sea Turtle & More Heading From New Orleans to California, Texas on Friday
Thursday September 8, 2:02 pm ET


WHAT: The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, one of the top aquariums
in the United States, will be relocating the surviving animals
from its marine life collection to four colleague institutions
in Monterey, California; and Dallas, Galveston, and Houston,
Texas. While the acclaimed New Orleans aquarium survived
Hurricane Katrina relatively unscathed, its life support system
did not; most of the animals in its aquatic exhibits were lost.
The sea otters, penguins, macaws and raptors, leafy and weedy
sea dragons, some fishes, and Midas, a 250 lb. green sea turtle
all survived thanks to the care of staff who remained at the
aquarium through the hurricane, flooding and civil unrest.

Media will be able to speak with key staff of the aquarium and
its sister institution, the Audubon Zoo; and to film/photograph
animals as they are brought out of the aquarium for transport
to Baton Rouge so they can be transferred to the Monterey Bay
Aquarium, Dallas World Aquarium and the Rainforest at Moody
Gardens. Macaws and raptors, along with two sea lions from the
Audubon Zoo, were brought to the Houston Zoo and arrive safely
today (Thursday, Sept. 8). All of the participating facilities
are accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.

WHEN: Friday, September 9 - Noon

WHERE: Audubon Aquarium of the Americas' riverfront plaza, 1 Canal
St., New Orleans

DETAILS: Hurricane Katrina has inflicted a tragedy of monumental
proportions on the people of New Orleans and the southeast. It
has also dealt a significant blow to the Audubon Aquarium of
the Americas -- Louisiana's most visited attraction and an
institution numbered among the elite aquariums in the United
States. Hurricane damage disabled much of its life support
system, costing the aquarium most of the 6,000 animals in its
aquatic collection.

Thanks to the care of dedicated staff members, there are
survivors to rescue, notably sea otters, penguins, macaws,
raptors, a green sea turtle, and rare leafy and weedy sea
dragons. (Audubon Institute President Ron Forman personally
fed the otters and refilled the tank fueling the generator that
powered the life support system; and a New Orleans police
officer was given a crash course to feed the aquarium's
penguins.)

On Friday, September 9 aquarium staff will relocate most of the
surviving animals to colleague institutions for care while it
plans its recovery and reopening. Two sea otters and
19 penguins will be moved to the Monterey Bay Aquarium; leafy
and weedy sea dragons to the Dallas World Aquarium; and Midas
the sea turtle to the Rainforest at Moody Gardens. Eight large
tarpon will remain in the aquarium's Gulf of Mexico exhibit.

Several animals were relocated to the Houston Zoo earlier this
week including macaws and raptors from the aquarium, and sea
lions from the Audubon Zoo. An endangered cat, which is
pregnant and close to delivery, was removed from ACRES (Audubon
Center for Research of Endangered Species) and is now being
housed at the Saint Louis Zoo. All other animals at ACRES are
being cared for in the facility and are faring well.

This is an opportunity for media to talk with key staff,
including John Hewitt, aquarium vice president and director of
husbandry; to get updates on the condition of the Audubon Zoo
from general curator Dan Maloney; and to film/photograph
rescued animals being taken from the aquarium building.

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is the most-visited
attraction in Louisiana and has drawn more than 18 million
visitors since it opened in 1990. It marked its 15th
anniversary on Monday, September 5.

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums
in the areas of conservation, education, science,