New Orleans,
28
April
2026
|
12:39 PM
America/Chicago

Celebrate Mother’s Day with Irma Thomas at Audubon Zoo

  • 5.12.19Mother's Day Zoo
    It was all about family and fun during the 36th annual Mother’s Day Celebration presented by Children’s Hospital and Touro Infirmary at Audubon Zoo Sunday, May 12, 2019. The families who braved the rain were rewarded with a variety of activities and music by Irma Thomas and Cha Wa.
  • 5.12.19Mother's Day Zoo
    It was all about family and fun during the 36th annual Mother’s Day Celebration presented by Children’s Hospital and Touro Infirmary at Audubon Zoo Sunday, May 12, 2019. The families who braved the rain were rewarded with a variety of activities and music by Irma Thomas and Cha Wa.
  • Lion Cubs 2.3.26-1 (2)
    Lion Cubs - Week #14 Audubon Zoo February 3, 2026 Lioness mother, Kali, with one of her cubs.
  • Capybara Pups 1.28.26-1
  • Menari and Roux 12.29.22-3
    Menari and Roux December 29, 2022 Audubon Zoo
Download

A cherished New Orleans tradition returns to Audubon Zoo this Mother’s Day, May 10, 2026. Guests will enjoy a special concert under the oak trees from the legendary Irma Thomas, the ‘Soul Queen of New Orleans’.  She will perform from 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.  Moms will get half price admission to the Zoo for Mother’s Day to celebrate their special day. Ticket discount is only available for tickets purchased at the Zoo, not online.

Festivities on Sunday, May 10, 2026, include lots of family-friendly activities celebrating moms – both human and animal!  Some of the special Mother’s Day activities include making seed balls for pollinators that guests can take home or leave for the Zoo to plant.

Guests can also create and sign Mother’s Day cards for some of our animal moms. The Zoo has lots of moms with new babies right now. Here are just a few:

·        Capybara

Mom Turkey the capybara in Jaguar Jungle  River’s Edge has eight babies! The newest arrivals are named for the “Powerpuff Girls” cartoon characters: Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, Mojo, and Jojo. Older siblings Charlotte, Tiana, and Louis were named for characters in Disney’s “Princess and the Frog,” the Louisiana-based animated movie.  

·        Lions

Lion mom Kali has three active cubs keeping her on her toes. Tatu, Nandi, and Zawadi were born in October 2025, and love to play together, exploring their habitat, and jumping on their older family members.

·        Golden Lion Tamarins

Golden Lion Tamarin mom Ipa has a new set of twins. You’ll have to look closely to spot the infants, as they are small and cling tightly to their parents, blending into their golden fur. It is still too early to determine the sex of these tiny and adorable babies.

·        White Faced Saki Monkey

Little Magnolia the White Faced Sake Monkey is just one year old, and still considered a juvenile. She was born in March of 2025 and can be seen in the World of Primates with mom Selva and dad, Smith.

·        Orangutan

 The three young orangutans in our troop are growing fast and now are more independent of their moms, but Bulan (born in 2019), Madu (born in 2021), and Roux (born in 2021) are still considered youngsters. Roux’s mom Menari was also born at Audubon Zoo in 2009. 

 

Celebrating Mother’s Day at Audubon Zoo is a beloved tradition in New Orleans. Audubon All-Access and Zoo-only members always get in free and will also enjoy an exclusive concert viewing area on Mother’s Day and special gift for moms while supplies last