Audubon Zoo Celebrates Endangered Species Day

Audubon Zoo is taking part in a nationwide event this weekend to celebrate efforts to protect species from extinction. Saturday, May 16, 2026, is Endangered Species Day at Audubon Zoo, part of Party for the Planet presented by Entergy that takes place annually.

Thousands of species are considered endangered or threatened with extinction and even more are added to that list every year. Approximately 25 percent of animals at Audubon Zoo are on in the endangered species list including critically endangered Sumatran orangutans, Amur leopards, Western lowland gorilla, whooping cranes, Asian elephants, Speke’s gazelle, African painted dogs, Louisiana pine snakes, and many other species considered vulnerable to extinction.

Endangered Species Day activities include visits with Audubon Zoo’s animal experts about the animals in their care, local and national conservation partners, and members of Audubon Nature Institute’s own conservation teams including Audubon Aquarium Rescue and Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries. Both work locally to protect animals that live in and around Louisiana’s coast.

Endangered Species Day is part of the Party for the Planet presented by Entergy, an environmental education series that includes events across Audubon attractions. Two more special days to celebrate the environment and its biodiversity will be held this summer:

·        World Ocean Day is Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Audubon Aquarium, highlighting work underway to protect the world oceans and aquatic species.

·        Audubon Insectarium will host Pollination Celebration on Saturday, June 27, 2026 to teach guests about the importance of pollinators like bees, butterflies, wasps, birds, and bats. Without pollinators, we wouldn’t have plants or food!

All Party for the Planet presented by Entergy: Endangered Species Day activities are free with attraction admission.