Audubon Zoo
The Audubon Zoo is one of New Orleans’ most popular attractions . Named after John James Audubon, French naturalist and New Orleans resident in the early 1800s, the zoo sits on nearly 60 acres of land in the Uptown area of the city. Audubon Zoo is managed by the Audubon Nature Institute which also oversees New Orleans’ famous Aquarium of Americas, the Audubon Insectarium, and a host of other research projects, parks, and nature and environmental-based endeavors.
The zoo is wonderful. No matter the season, visitors can expect to see a large part of the zoo’s 2,000 animals . Winter months will obviously be ideal for those species adapted to colder climates, but sometimes visitors can still catch playful penguins during the summer months as their tanks are temperature-controlled. During warmer months visitors will notice the intense heat and humidity of this city, but viewing playful primates, giant turtles, leaf-munching giraffes, big, lazy cats, and the zoo’s intense swamp and reptile exhibit makes it all worth it.
Tigers, gorillas, and orangutans scatter the Audubon grounds. The zoo even has a rare animal exhibit—including white tigers and albino alligators—that can be found year round. The zoo is truly a spectacle, catering to all ages, groups or single admission, and has therefore become one of the most popular things to do for both New Orleans locals and visitors alike.
