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A zoo in the park
Animals were first shown on this part of Audubon Park during the World Cotton Centennial exposition of 1884, and the zoo itself dates from 1914. A flight cage for birds followed in 1916 and a sea lion pool in 1928. Park and zoo are named after the naturalist and artist John James Audubon, who lived in New Orleans from 1821.
Monkey Hill and a new zoo
During the Great Depression the Works Progress Administration expanded the zoo, adding new animal houses and an artificial hill, Monkey Hill. By the early 1970s the zoo had declined; in 1975 voters approved funding to rebuild it, and its grounds grew from 14 to 50 acres.
Swamp, savanna and storm
Today’s habitats include the Louisiana Swamp, home to white alligators, Jaguar Jungle and the African Savanna. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005 staff sheltered in the reptile house, and the zoo reopened that November. Today it covers 58 acres and is home to about 2,000 animals.
