Audubon Zoo and Audubon Aquarium of the Americas Nominated for USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards

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Arnold
Penguin
Alligator Training

Alligator training photographed Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. Trainers work with “Tchompatoulas”, an adult white alligator, on target training. If the alligator correctly executes the movements they have been trained to do, they receive a reward of food. The white coloring of the gator is a result of leucism, a genetic abnormality similar to albinism.
Orangutan Infant
Clownfish
Macaw
Flamingo
Jellyfish

Jellyfish photographed at Audubon Aquarium of the Americas on November 2, 2017.

Audubon Nature Institute has been nominated in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Award contest for the sixth year in row! Their expert panel selected Audubon Aquarium of the Americas as a contender for Best Aquarium and Audubon Zoo for Best Zoo in the competition. The contest, which USA TODAY launched today, April 25, gives voters four weeks to vote for the candidate of their choice at http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/. A person can vote once a day in each category for the duration of the contest.

VOTE HERE FOR AUDUBON AQUARIUM OF THE AMERICAS

VOTE HERE FOR AUDUBON ZOO

Voting ends Monday, May 23, 2022, at 10:59 a.m. Central Standard Time, and the winners will be announced on the 10Best website on Friday, June 3, 2022, then later on the USA TODAY website. For official rules, click HERE.

“We are extremely grateful to be nominated the sixth year in a row, for USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for best zoo and aquarium,” said Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO Ron Forman. “We are committed to engaging and educating guests about the wonders of nature, and we believe that each person has the power to impact the natural world for the better. We would not be where we are today without the continuous support of our community.”

Last year, Audubon Zoo ranked seventh and Audubon Aquarium ranked sixth among 20 nominees "hand-picked by a panel of zoo and family travel experts" and accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Note from USA TODAY 10Best:

"Aquariums let us explore hard-to-reach aquatic life from the world's oceans, lakes and waterways in a fun and educational setting. The best aquariums also play a vital role in animal conservation by taking part in rescue efforts and marine advocacy."

"North America is home to hundreds of zoological parks, including more than 200 facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Besides traveling around the world to see animals in their natural habitats, nothing beats a visit to the zoo to inspire an appreciation for the diversity of animals we have on our planet. We asked a panel of travel experts to nominate their favorite North American AZA-accredited zoos – facilities that excel in the fields of animal care and enrichment, while also facilitating meaningful interactions between animals and human visitors."

Audubon Nature Institute

Audubon Nature Institute is a family of facilities, events, experiences, sustainability initiatives and conservation programs united in the belief that each of us has the power to impact nature and wildlife for the better. This includes Audubon Park, Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Woldenberg Riverfront Park and Audubon Wilderness Park. We inspire visitors, members and our community to support nature and wildlife — and leave the world better than we found it.