Audubon Zoo, Zoological park in Uptown New Orleans, United States
Audubon Zoo is a zoological park in the Uptown district of New Orleans that presents animals from around the world beneath large oak trees across roughly 58 acres. The grounds are organized around landscaped gardens with shaded paths and diverse habitats for the residents.
The park opened in 1884 during the World Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition with a small animal collection. Over the following decades, the site expanded gradually into a full zoological garden.
The Louisiana Swamp area displays native animals in a setting that recalls traditional ways of life in the Mississippi Delta. Visitors encounter plants and wooden walkways modeled after the region's natural wetlands.
The grounds include several dining areas, among them the Cypress Knee Cafe serving local dishes, as well as rest zones and educational programs at various points. Most paths are wide and level, making them accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.
In 1987 a nest was found at the zoo holding 18 newly hatched alligators with white hides, a natural mutation called leucism rather than albinism. The hatchlings drew crowds when put on display, and the white alligator became the zoo's symbol. Some were later moved to the Audubon Aquarium, which opened in 1990.
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