Party for the Planet sponsored by Entergy: Pollination Celebration helps guests learn about pollinators, how to attract them to our own yards, and what we all can do to take care of them so they will continue doing their jobs for our environment.

Guests can take part in a special conservation “Passport to Action” game that will take them through the Insectarium as they learn about Monarch butterflies, bees, and songbirds, all very important pollinators! There is even a cool prize for those who complete the passport tour – a coupon for Dippin Dots on the Aquarium plaza.

Pollinator species pollinate over 90% of the planet's flowering plants and one third of the food humans eat. While many people think of bees as the only pollinators, there are many other animals like beetles, butterflies, birds, bats, and other small mammals that also serve as pollinators. Unfortunately, many pollinator populations are declining due to habitat loss from urban development, pollution, chemical misuse, and climate change. With these threats, pollinators are losing the food and nesting sites they need to survive.

Helping pollinators can be as easy as planting native plants at home, buying bird safe coffee, turning off outdoor lights at night to help birds migrate safely, using fewer pesticides, or applying stickers to windows to keep birds from colliding with them.

Support for Pollination Celebration and other events in the Party for the Planet conservation series come from Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund, which directs $1 million annually to environmental improvement projects.

A visit to an Audubon Nature Institute attraction is a great first step to learn about and protect the environment. Audubon joins many other Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoos and aquariums across North America in throwing a Party for the Planet, making it the largest combined Earth Day, Endangered Species Day, and World Ocean Day celebrations. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums spend $230 million on field conservation alone, supporting projects benefiting more than 800 species in 130 countries. To date, the AZA Conservation Grants Fund has provided nearly $8 million in support for 400+ projects worldwide.

Audubon Zoo has been working with Louisiana pine snakes for more than 30 years and has been actively involved with conservation efforts for the species for almost the same length of time. To date, Audubon Zoo has released a total of 58 Louisiana pine snakes to the wild, helping increase their numbers and aid in the recovery of the species.

This collaborative conservation initiative involves professionals from various agencies and institutions including the U.S. Forestry Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Department of Defense at Fort Polk, Memphis Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, Ellen Trout Zoo, and Audubon Zoo.

“Working with our conservation partners, a total of 80 Louisiana pine snakes were released in 2026. The collaboration is key to the success of this project,” said Dr. Steven Whitfield, Director of Terrestrial and Wetlands Conservation at Audubon Nature Institute. “Audubon’s conservation efforts, like this program to return Louisiana pine snakes to the wild, are supported through donations, memberships, and ticket sales at Audubon Zoo. Every time a guest buys a ticket to enjoy a day at the Zoo, they are helping this and other endangered species survive.”

Audubon Zoo’s reptile building is currently closed for renovation, but important work continues behind-the-scenes. The Zoo’s herpetology department cares for a breeding colony of 21 adult Louisiana pine snakes, which produce offspring each year that are released to the wild. The hatchlings are reared at the Zoo for almost a year to grow large enough to be less vulnerable to predators when released. This “head start” increases their chances of survival in nature.

Prior to their release, each snake receives a microchip which can be used to identify individual snakes in the future when they are encountered or recaptured. The microchip can also assist biologists in tracking the movements of snakes. Each snake was also given a health evaluation, weighed, measured, and photographed to help with future identification.

Finding suitable habitat to return the snakes to the wild is vital to their long-term survival. Release sites in the Kisatchie National Forest feature areas where the snakes have access to underground shelter like gopher burrows and tree stump holes.

With very few wild populations remaining, the Louisiana pine snake is currently listed as endangered by the IUCN and threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The species once occurred throughout western Louisiana and eastern Texas, but poor land management practices over the last century, including fire suppression and extensive logging of longleaf pine habitats for timber have decimated the habitat that is crucial to this species’ survival. Today, only a handful of fragmented populations persist, but ongoing efforts by the U.S. Forestry Service and other agencies and organizations are restoring longleaf pine habitats throughout the region, which will be crucial to conserving the Louisiana pine snake as well as many other threatened species of this unique ecosystem.

“Louisiana pine snakes are an essential part of the longleaf pine ecosystem that is also home to pocket gophers, their primary food source,” said Mallory McKinney, senior herpetology keeper at Audubon Zoo. “Supporting Louisiana pine snake conservation and habitat management of these areas helps native species thrive. We are very excited for our continued participation in this program. ”

Rare earth minerals including coltan are used in cell phones and other small electronic devices. These minerals are mined in parts of Africa that are also important habitat for gorillas. Recycling old tech devices can help reduce the demand for these minerals and preserve gorilla habitat.

Audubon Zoo has four critically endangered Western lowland gorillas in its troop – male Okpara, and three females, Alafia, Praline, and Tumani. Their social structure at Audubon mirrors how they would live in the wild. Those who know them best, their animal care team, will host special keeper chats on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to share more information about these amazing animals, their habitat and behaviors, and answer questions about the troop and conservation to help protect their environment.

Each of Audubon’s gorillas as a special collectable trading card that will be given away during keeper chats on “Cell Phone Saturday.” Guests can also learn more about gorillas and gorilla conservation by exploring our biofact table and gorilla-themed activities.

Cell Phone Saturdays at Audubon Zoo are from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on these dates:

May 30th, 2026

June 27th, 2026

July 25th, 2026

August 29th, 2026

The gorillas at Audubon Zoo have been working on their special art projects recently and will have a little piece of gorilla art for guests who bring in old phones and other tech to recycle.

There is a tech recycling box near the gorilla exhibit at Audubon Zoo and at the front gate.  

There are six Kemp’s ridley sea turtles scheduled for release. They were part of a large cold stunning event last fall near Cape Cod, Massachusetts and were flown to Audubon Aquarium Rescue for extended treatment and rehabilitation.

Sea turtles are cold-blooded and cannot regulate their body temperature. As a result, when water temperatures drop, sea turtles can become hypothermic or “cold-stunned.”  Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the smallest and most critically endangered species of sea turtle.

The Audubon Aquarium Rescue team is also releasing three green sea turtles that were receiving care following exposure to oil in Louisiana waters earlier this spring.

Both species of sea turtles are found in the Gulf. The Alabama location was selected to give the turtles a safe return to the Gulf.

“All of these turtles have recovered from dangerous situations. Each was evaluated by our veterinarians and received individualized medical treatment plans. Some of these turtles have been in our care since last fall and it is rewarding to see them healthy and returning to the Gulf,” said Gabriella Harlamert, Audubon Aquarium Rescue’s Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding and Rehab Coordinator.

February through June is peak turtle stranding season in Louisiana. With more than 7,700 square miles of complex coastline for AAR to cover, public reporting is critical to helping find stranded animals. If you spot stranded or out-of-habitat marine mammals and sea turtles (live or dead) call Audubon Aquarium Rescue at 877-942-5343.

Audubon Aquarium Rescue is the only authorized entity for marine mammal and sea turtle stranding response and rehabilitation in Louisiana and is dedicated to the humane care and treatment of injured, ill, or displaced marine animals. AAR is committed to enhancing stranding response and collecting data of live and dead marine mammals and sea turtles in Louisiana. The data collected from all stranded animals provides a snapshot into the health of the marine environment and provides a better understanding of threats to marine mammals and sea turtles in the wild.

The turtles, three green sea turtles and one juvenile Kemp’s ridley, are being cared for at the Audubon Aquatic Center on the West Bank. Upon arrival at the Audubon facility, they received complete physical examinations and veterinarians developed individual treatment plans for their care.

"Due to the circumstances of their stranding, these turtles are being closely observed during their rehabilitation. Each turtle has had external oil removed and we are monitoring for any signs of oil ingestion," said Gabriella Harlamert, Stranding and Rehab Coordinator for Audubon Aquarium Rescue. "Our top priority is to get these animals healthy and released back into the Gulf as soon as possible."

Both green sea turtles and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are residents of Gulf waters off the Louisiana coast. Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the smallest and most critically endangered of all sea turtle species.

February through June is peak turtle stranding season in Louisiana. With more than 7,700 square miles of complex coastline for AAR to cover, public reporting is critical to helping find stranded animals. If you spot stranded or out-of-habitat marine mammals and sea turtles (live or dead) call Audubon Aquarium Rescue at 877-942-5343.

Audubon Aquarium Rescue is authorized to rehabilitate sea turtles by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and marine mammals by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). AAR is the only entity in the state of Louisiana responsible for the rehabilitation of live marine mammals and sea turtles.

Does he look like “Dipper,” “Pluto,” or “Jupiter”? In keeping with the celestial names given to his siblings, his care team came up with these options for him.

The chick is the most recent offspring of Hubig and Ocio, a prolific penguin pair who have several past chicks currently residing in the Aquarium’s colony including Moon, Titan, and Calypso.

He is being hand raised by the animal care team to help him get used to human interaction. This will allow him to participate in his health care throughout his life. He can currently be seen in the Aquarium’s “Care Corner” where he is often spotted snuggling with his plush penguin companion. When he is larger and able to swim, he will join the rest of the Aquarium’s penguin colony.

Here is the link to vote for your favorite name for the chick:

https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/penguin-chick

The winner will be announced April 28, 2026.

African penguins are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List and are found on the coast of South Africa. They are threatened by habitat loss, overfishing of their food sources, and are susceptible to oil spills and other environmental conditions.

On Saturday, guests can Spring into Action with science-based activities, information about conservation efforts, free short shows in Audubon Planetarium and Nature Dome Theatre, and exploring the beautiful 86-acre nature center. Spring into Action does not require an admission ticket, it is free for everyone to enjoy.

The free event is scheduled Saturday, March 28th, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and is designed to connect guests with nature and show them ways they can make positive  impacts on the natural world.

The ALNC Planetarium & Nature Dome Theater will have a free short shows during the event. The shows are every hour on the half hour from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

Party for the Planet presented by Entergy happens in multiple parts during spring and summer and includes all Audubon attractions. Spring Into Action is the first event in the series. The next event is Endangered Species Day at Audubon Zoo on May 16, 2026, followed by World Ocean Day at Audubon Aquarium on June 6, 2026, and Pollination Celebration at Audubon Insectarium on June 28, 2026. All events are free with paid admission or Audubon All-Access Membership, or Membership to specific locations.

“Party for the Planet highlights the many ways we can all enjoy and connect with nature, while sharing important messages about conservation and the role each of us can play in protecting our environment,” said Michael J. Sawaya, President and CEO of Audubon Nature Institute and L. Ronald Forman Chair in Conservation Leadership.

The Party for the Planet series is supported by Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund, which directs $1 million annually to environmental improvement projects.

Audubon joins many other Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited zoos and aquariums across North America in throwing a Party for the Planet. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums spend $230 million on field conservation alone, supporting projects benefiting more than 800 species in 130 countries. To date, The AZA Conservation Grants Fund has provided $7.7 million in support of 400+ projects worldwide.

While the Aquarium’s animal care team waited, the divers swam behind them with the official announcement – it’s a boy!

Determining the sex of young penguins is difficult, and DNA testing of the chick’s shell was conducted to verify the chick’s gender. He hatched on February 11, 2026, and currently resides inside the Aquarium’s “Care Corner”, where he is being fed and monitored by the animal care team. 

The “Care Corner” houses incubators and special holding boxes to give the chick warmth and comfort, along with a large penguin plushie to snuggle as he grows. Aquarium guests can see the youngster and watch his care team tend him throughout the day. 

The chick is the offspring of Hubig and Ocio, a prolific penguin pair who have several past chicks residing in the Aquarium’s colony including Moon, Titan, and Calypso. The chick is being hand raised by the animal care team to help him get used to human interaction. This will allow him to participate in his health care throughout his life.

African penguins are found on the coast of South Africa and are threatened by habitat loss, overfishing of their food sources, and are susceptible to oil spills and other environmental conditions.

A contest will be held to officially name the chick, details will be announced soon.

Sea turtles are cold-blooded and cannot regulate their body temperature. As a result, when water temperatures drop, sea turtles can become hypothermic or “cold-stunned.” Twenty-seven of the turtles released today in the Gulf came from a large cold-stunning event last fall in Massachusetts and were sent to New Orleans for additional care while they recovered. Two other turtles released today were green sea turtles found suffering cold stunning near Port Fourchon.

Both species of sea turtles are found in the Gulf. The Mississippi location was selected for the turtle’s safety to avoid an oil spill off the Louisiana coast.

February through June is peak turtle stranding season in Louisiana. With more than 7,700 square miles of complex coastline for AAR to cover, public reporting is critical to helping find stranded animals. If you spot stranded or out-of-habitat marine mammals and sea turtles (live or dead) call Audubon Aquarium Rescue at 877-942-5343.

Audubon Aquarium Rescue is the only authorized entity for marine mammal and sea turtle stranding response and rehabilitation in Louisiana and is dedicated to the humane care and treatment of injured, ill, or displaced marine animals. AAR is committed to enhancing stranding response and collecting data of live and dead marine mammals and sea turtles in Louisiana. The data collected from stranded animals provides a snapshot into the health of the marine environment and provides a better understanding of threats to marine mammals and sea turtles in the wild.

The Aquarium’s new “Care Corner” houses incubators and special holding boxes to give the chick warmth and comfort, and the Aquarium’s animal care team will feed the chick round-the-clock as it grows. Daily feeding times are 7:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. giving guests plenty of chances to watch as the hungry little one is fed. A large viewing window allows guests to watch the young penguin throughout the day.

The chick is the offspring of Hubig and Ocio, a prolific pair who have several of their past chicks residing in the Aquarium’s colony including Moon, Titan, and Calypso. The pair are sitting on a second egg, and once it hatches will raise that chick for three weeks before the animal care teams take over its care. Early handling by the animal care team helps the birds become accustomed to human interaction and allows them to participate in their health care throughout their lives.

“Separating the two eggs gives both the best chance at survival,” said Higinio Covarubbias, Audubon Aquarium’s Director of Husbandry. “Hubig and Ocio are experienced parents, but raising two chicks in the nest could be difficult. By allowing them to raise one while the other hatched in an incubator gives both chicks a headstart. These are the most endangered species of penguin in the world, and every chick hatched in human care is a safeguard against extension of this species.”   

The birds are found on the coast of South Africa and are threatened by habitat loss, overfishing of their food sources, and are susceptible to oil spills and other environmental conditions.

The calf was born January 19, 2026, and is the first okapi calf born in the United States this year, and only the second okapi calf ever born at the Audubon center. Her parents are eight-year-old Asili and 16-year-old Kikari. With only a few okapi born every year, each birth is a significant milestone to sustain this critically endangered species.

Okapi, found only in the Ituri Rainforest in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, are one of the most elusive species on the planet. Although they are the closest relatives to the giraffe which are highly social animals, this species prefers to live a solitary life.

“There are only 90 okapi in zoos in the United States and only five calves were born in U.S. zoos last year. We don’t know how many okapi still exist in the wild, making this and every okapi birth extremely important,” said Michelle Hatwood, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center General Curator. “There is a strong connection between okapi in zoos and okapi in the wild; everything we learn about okapi in human care can help support the protection of those animals in the wild.”

The okapi keepers at the West Bank facility will be keeping a close eye on both calf and mom in the next few months to make sure the new calf hits all her growth and developmental milestones. Her primary keeper, Jen Cain, says the youngster is spending her time nesting in her barn while mom is outside foraging. “We are waiting to see what kind of personality the calf has before giving her a name. So far, she is sassy and playful while her mom is being attentive to her. She is also learning to trust the human keepers responsible for her care when mom isn’t nearby.”      

This is the second calf born at Audubon Species Survival Center. In 2022, Asili’s first pregnancy resulted in the birth of a female calf. Unfortunately, due to an untreatable congenital defect, that calf only survived for a few short months. However, the team expects the new calf to continue to thrive.

Audubon has participated in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for okapi, overseen by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), since 2017. Audubon Nature Institute is a committed supporter of the Okapi Conservation Project, a wholistic project that has been supporting okapi conservation since 1987. There are five adult okapi at Audubon Species Survival Center with 26 acres for them to roam and specialized facilities for their care.

In the wild, okapi are threatened due to illegal hunting, mining, and other human encroachment in their habitat, as well as loss of habitat due to deforestation.

Mardi Gras bead collection boxes are set up in front of Audubon Zoo and at Audubon Louisiana Nature Center where anyone can drop off unwanted beads. The donated beads will go to Arc of Greater New Orleans to be recycled and used in future parades to continue the fun of carnival another year.

Last year, revelers dropped off more than two tons of beads at Audubon – that’s almost as much as a full-grown Asian elephant weighs! We hope to recycle even more beads this year. Recycling barely makes a dent in the number of beads thrown and discarded every year during carnival. It’s estimated that about 25 million pounds of beads are thrown during the city’s parades yearly, but only a small portion of those are recycled. Audubon is committed to changing that statistic by making it easy to recycle and keep beads out of landfills and storm drains and away from nature.

Audubon will be accepting beads for recycling now through February 19, 2026. Donation boxes are located outside Audubon Zoo and at Audubon Louisiana Nature Center in Joe Brown Park.

Audubon Aquarium is partnering with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to collect tiny hatchlings found along Pearl River sandbars and give the small turtles a home over the winter months. This headstart program is the largest effort of its kind for this species and gives the hatchlings a safe place to grow larger before they are returned to the Pearl River.

Nine Ringed Map Turtle hatchlings can be seen in Audubon Aquarium’s ‘Down the Bayou’ exhibit, the only place in Louisiana where they can be observed up close.

In the wild, LDWF protects nests with predator-exclusion boxes placed over sandbars where females lay their eggs. Field teams often find hatchlings that have not yet emerged from their sandy nests or made it to the river. Now they have a safe place for the winter and will be returned to the Pearl River when they are larger.

These turtles are considered a threated species because they often fall victim to predators like raccoons and birds. They also face habitat loss, pollution, and river dredging in their native Pearl and Bogue Falaya Rivers.  

This pregnancy is the result of successful breeding between 18-year-old Tumani and Okpara, a 32-year-old silverback gorilla. The infant is due to arrive in mid-February and Audubon’s animal care team is watching the mother-to-be closely as they await the birth.

The infant will be welcomed by the rest of the Zoo’s gorilla troop: females Alafia and Praline, who was born at Audubon Zoo in 1996. This is Tumani’s second pregnancy, unfortunately she had an unexpected medical condition with her first pregnancy and the infant did not survive.

Audubon Zoo’s gorillas are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. The Gorilla Species Survival Plan manages 343 gorillas in 49 North American zoos to ensure a genetically diverse population and the long-term sustainability of the species.

Updates on Tumani’s pregnancy and a virtual baby registry can be found at https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/tumanis-baby-gorilla-registry

By making a baby registry donation, the public can help provide enrichment for the baby and the Zoo’s entire troop. Gorillas require daily enrichment that promotes natural behaviors like nesting, tool use, and climbing.

“Each gorilla birth plays a critical role in the conservation of the species. Our dedicated team is monitoring Tumani around-the-clock, and we are all excited to welcome this new infant. Protecting gorillas and ensuring their future remains at the heart of our mission,” said Michael J. Sawaya, Audubon Nature Institute’s Chief Executive Officer and L. Ronald Forman Chair in Conservation Leadership.

The Zoo will host a gorilla party on Saturday January 31, 2026, to celebrate the upcoming arrival and mother-to-be Tumani’s 19^th birthday. Activities will take place from 10:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and will include special enrichment for the troop, keeper chats, and games to guess the size of a baby gorilla and more.

Many gorilla populations have declined or disappeared over the past few decades. Western lowland gorillas have been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as critically endangered, with a population decline of more than 80%, mainly due to illegal hunting, disease, habitat loss, and an increase in poaching.

Audubon Aquarium is partnering with Nicholls State University and the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program in this first-ever terrapin head-start program in Louisiana. This multi-year project will allow Audubon Aquarium to monitor the growth of terrapins and learn more about their behavior at this early life stage, which scientists say is not easy to document in the wild.

The hatchlings came from eggs collected by biologists at Nicholls State University’s Coastal Ecology Lab. These eggs were rescued from road-killed females, disturbed nests, and nests with a low chance of success because of coastal erosion. Diamondback terrapins, which get their name from their rings that resemble diamond facets, are native to the coastal marshes of Louisiana and are considered a vulnerable species. “This head-start program will help raise terrapin past their most vulnerable age” said Dr. Tim Clay of the Coastal Ecology Lab. Very few terrapin hatchlings survive to adulthood in the wild, when young they are often eaten by birds, raccoons, and other animals.

“This partnership and head-start project are important for the conservation of this unique species,” said John Fallon, Audubon Nature Institute’s Director of Sustainability and Coastal Conservation Initiatives. “The survival rate of terrapin hatchlings is extremely low and as they grow they face many threats here in Louisiana, like habitat loss and derelict fishing gear. Every one we can raise and release will benefit the future of terrapin in the state.”

The project is funded through a grant from the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, whose mission is to preserve the 4.2 million acres included in the Barataria – Terrebonne estuarine system and its cultural, economic, and natural resources. “Learning more about the growth and survival rates of diamondback terrapins that live in the estuary helps us determine ways to protect this species and its natural habitat for future generations,” said Michael Massimi, BTNEP’s Invasive Species and Marine Programs Coordinator. “This unique partnership with Nicholls State University and Audubon Aquarium gives us a chance to monitor these terrapins from very young hatchlings to adulthood, providing us with key information to shape future plans for managing the estuary.”

Eight-year-old Asili is due to give birth to her second calf sometime at the end of the year following a near 14-month pregnancy. The father of Asili’s calf is 10-year-old Miraq, this will be his first calf. Okapi are listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Okapi are shy, solitary animals, native to the dense forests in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Okapi are the only living relative of giraffe and are sometimes called “forest giraffes”. They are considered one of the world's oldest mammals, but because of their solitary nature and ability to avoid detection, scientists did not describe these animals until 1901 and, even a hundred years later, very little is known about them.

Asili’s first pregnancy resulted in the birth of a female calf in 2022. Unfortunately, due to an untreatable congenital defect, that calf only survived for a few months. As with all newer mothers, the animal care team is monitoring this pregnancy closely and will be watching via a camera system, during the birth process to ensure the safety and health of both mother and calf. Now that Asili is an experienced mother, the team expects the new calf to thrive.

Audubon has been participating in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for okapi, overseen by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), since 2017. There are five okapi at Audubon Species Survival Center with 26 acres for them to roam and specialized facilities for their care.

In the wild, okapi are threatened due to illegal hunting, mining and other human encroachment in their habitat, as well as loss of habitat due to deforestation.

Scientists say there is no accurate accounting of okapi in the wild, but the estimates are grim. The number of okapi in the wild is believed to have dropped by 50% in the past twenty years, making this pregnancy at Audubon extremely important for the survival of the species.

Next week, Audubon is hosting the International Okapi Meeting. Conservation leaders from eight countries and 31 zoos will gather to discuss efforts to protect these endangered animals.

The young Kemp’s ridleys, nicknamed Libra and Dorado, were found cold stunned in New England last winter and brought to New Orleans for extended treatment. These two Kemp’s are the final cold stunned turtles Audubon Aquarium Rescue was rehabbing. When turtles are exposed to cold temperatures, they can become weak and unable to swim. After recovering with Audubon, they became the 26^th and 27^th critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles Audubon Aquarium Rescue has released back into the Gulf this year.

Joining them was Francois, a male loggerhead turtle originally found floating upside down at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in Grand Chenier, Louisiana in 2023. He was underweight and extremely dehydrated when he was found. Fortunately, Audubon Aquarium Rescue stepped in to help. After many months of treatment team members said farewell to the massive turtle on the beach in Galveston. He weighed 227 pounds and had gained 45 pounds while he was in rehabilitation.

Texas was chosen in consultation with federal partners after documenting high vessel activity along the Louisiana coast. Kemp’s and loggerheads also call Texas waters home, making it an ideal secondary location for this release. Audubon partnered with the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research at Texas A&M Galveston to facilitate the release of these turtles.

“Protecting sea turtles and marine mammals takes tremendous cooperation along the coast. Our partners at the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research were instrumental in the release of these turtles helping us find the best time and location to send them back to the Gulf,” said Gabriella Harlamert, Audubon Aquarium Rescue Stranding and Rehabilitation Coordinator. “Watching these turtles swim into the Gulf waters is rewarding for everyone who helped get them to this point. Francois was with us for nearly two years and overcame tremendous health issues. Our entire team shared the excitement of watching him maneuver along the beach and into the Gulf for the first time in years.”

Coordinated by Audubon Nature Institute, Audubon Aquarium Rescue is NOAA Fisheries’ primary stranding network response partner for marine mammals and sea turtles in Louisiana. Committed to the humane care and treatment of injured, ill, or displaced marine animals in Louisiana, Audubon Aquarium Rescue is the only entity in the state responsible for the rehabilitation of live marine mammals and sea turtles. The information collected from stranded animals provides a snapshot into the health of the marine environment and provides a better understanding of threats to marine mammals and sea turtles in the wild.

If you spot stranded or out-of-habitat marine mammals and sea turtles (live or dead) call Audubon Aquarium Rescue at 877-942-5343.

Taking care of an injured or sick sea turtle from the wild is a challenging task. Audubon Aquarium Rescue often spends months providing medical care and rehabilitating sea turtles with the goal of returning them to the Gulf. The smallest turtles currently in the care of Audubon Aquarium Rescue are the most critically endangered sea turtles in the world.

Earlier today, two young Kemps ridley sea turtles had physical exams to determine if they are healthy enough to return to the wild. These small turtles were part of a major “cold stunning” event in New England last fall. When turtles are exposed to frigid air and water temperatures, they become weak and unable to swim. After months of extensive treatment, 26 other turtles were successfully rehabilitated and released by the Audubon Rescue team; these are the last two Kemps ridley sea turtles that remain in Audubon’s care.

All the turtles from the most recent stunning event were named for constellations. These two are: Dorado (who came to New Orleans in December) and Libra (who arrived in January). In addition to their physical exams, each was given a “pit tag,” similar to a microchip in dogs, which will provide information in case they are found in the future.

Audubon Aquarium Rescue team members gave the turtles complete physical exams this morning, including bloodwork and x-rays. They are still young turtles, based on their size they are likely between three and five years old.

Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the smallest and most endangered of all sea turtle species. Audubon Aquarium Rescue is authorized to rehabilitate sea turtles by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and marine mammals by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Audubon Aquarium Rescue is the only entity in the state of Louisiana responsible for the rehabilitation of live marine mammals and sea turtles.

If you see a stranded marine mammal or sea turtle (live or dead), report it to Audubon Aquarium Rescue at 877-942-5343.

These 16 Kemp’s ridley sea turtles were airlifted to warmer climates to recover from a large cold-stunning event off the coast of Massachusetts. When turtles are cold-stunned, their heart and breathing rates slow and they become lethargic, unable to find food, and are at risk of being hit by boats as they float along the ocean surface. Fortunately, these turtles were rescued and received initial treatment at the National Marine Life Center and New England Aquarium before being flown to rehabilitation facilities along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico, including New Orleans’ Audubon Aquarium Rescue.

When they arrived at Audubon’s Aquatic Center at the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center on the Westbank, they underwent complete intake exams, which included radiographs, physical exams, blood test, treatments, and a swim test, in order for the Audubon team to assess their health and determine if they were strong enough to swim successfully on their own. Each turtle has a specialized treatment plan to ensure they are receiving the individualized care they need.

Audubon Aquarium Rescue team members will name the newcomers after constellations in order to tell them apart. Right now, the turtles each have numbers painted on their shells for identification purposes.

“Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the most endangered sea turtle. These were fortunate to have survived the initial cold-stunning event. Cold weather that drops water temperatures and shifting wind patterns can lead to hundreds of turtles facing cold-stunning every year. We are thankful to have a network of groups working together to get them to safety,” said Audubon Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding and Rehab Coordinator Gabriella Harlamert. “Our goal is always to help them recover and returned to the Gulf of Mexico as soon as water temperatures are warmer.”

The Kemp’s ridley turtles arrived in New Orleans from New England as part of a multi-stop transport by Turtles Fly Too, Inc., which recruits “Turtle Fliers,” who donate their expertise, aircraft, fuel, and labor in order to help rescue efforts of endangered species around the country. In spite of the long transport journey, the turtles are in good condition and are already on the road to recovery.

The turtles will be monitored intensively during their recovery at Audubon. Each will have its own specific treatment plan for any remaining health concerns. While the ultimate goal is to release the turtles back into the Gulf of Mexico, there is currently no estimated timeframe for that to happen.

Coordinated by Audubon Nature Institute, Audubon Aquarium Rescue serves as NOAA Fisheries' primary marine mammal and sea turtle stranding network partner in Louisiana. AAR is committed to the humane care and treatment of injured, ill, or displaced marine animals in Louisiana and is the only entity in the state responsible for the rehabilitation of live marine mammals and sea turtles. The information AAR collects from stranded animals provides a snapshot into the health of the marine environment and provides a better understanding of threats to marine mammals and sea turtles in the wild.

If you see a stranded marine mammal or sea turtle (live or dead), report it to Audubon Aquarium Rescue at 877-942-5343.

When reporting strandings, Audubon Aquarium Rescue will need:

• Exact location and/or GPS coordinates
• Photographs of the animal if you have them
• Nature of the report (type of animal/live or dead/size, etc.)

Please keep these things in mind when reporting a live stranded animal:

• Put human safety above animal safety. If conditions are dangerous, do not attempt to approach the animal.
• Keep crowds away and noise levels down to avoid causing stress to the animal.
• Don't push an animal on shore back into the water.
• If the animal returns to the water on its own, don't attempt to interact with it.
• Leave anything the animal is entangled in on the animal.

To donate to Audubon Aquarium Rescue’s efforts to help these endangered animals, follow this link: https://audubontransactions.org/donations/donate-cwn.html

These juvenile whooping cranes called “colts” were released to the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in Vermillion Parish by representatives of Audubon and LDWF. The birds were raised by team members at the Audubon facility from eggs that came from a migratory whooping crane flock in Wisconsin and were transported to Audubon from the International Crane Foundation. One chick was from an egg laid by birds in the wild Louisiana flock. There were six chicks in this year’s hatchings, four were released and two were held back for future breeding purposes.

Whooping cranes are large-bodied, white birds with a red head and black facial markings. They measure a height of five feet and have a wingspan of 7 to 8 feet that makes them very distinctive. In flight, whooping cranes display black wing tips and fully extended neck and legs, which extend well beyond the tail. 

"Seeing these birds released to the wild is an important step in reintroducing whooping cranes in the state," said Richard Dunn, Assistant Curator of Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center. "Since 2017, we have sent 55 birds for release including 31 that were hatched at our facility. Every bird raised and released is one more step toward creating a sustainable population of these amazing birds in Louisiana." 

Whooping cranes disappeared entirely from the state in the 1950s as well as from much of their former range across North America. The new Louisiana flock began in 2011 when 10 whooping cranes from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland were released at White Lake WCA to develop the non-migratory flock. This marked a significant conservation milestone with the first wild whooping cranes back in Louisiana since 1950. 

If you see a whooping crane, observe it from a distance and report the sighting to Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/report-a-whooping-crane-sighting-or-violation

There is more information about these amazing birds and efforts to return them to Louisiana on the LDWF website https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/subhome/whooping-crane

Anyone witnessing suspicious activity involving whooping cranes is advised to call the LDWF’s Enforcement Division at 1-800-442-2511 or use the tip411 program, which may offer a cash reward for information leading to arrests or convictions. To use the tip411 program, citizens can text LADWF and their tip to 847411 or download the "LADWF Tips" iPhone app from the Apple iTunes store free of charge. 

Citizen Observer, the tip411 provider, uses technology that removes all identifying information before LDWF receives the text so that LDWF cannot identify the sender. 


 

From now through January 13, 2025, Audubon Zoo will have a large collection box set up for people to drop off old unwanted string lights for recycling. The box is located just in front of the Zoo entrance. Audubon will recycle the lights and proceeds from the “Lights for Lions” project will be used to help support the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund. Every donated string of lights makes a difference and raises funds for this important project that strives to increase the number of lions in the wild by protecting them, their prey and their habitat.

Audubon Zoo has four lions in its pride: Arnold, Kali, Nia and Zuri. While our lions receive world-class care, the numbers of these beautiful animals in the wild are rapidly declining. In just a quarter century, the population of wild African lions has dropped by half. The main threats to African lions are poaching, conflicts with humans, decline of their natural prey, as well as habitat loss, climate change and the illegal wildlife trade. With just 23,000 African lions left in the wild, they are now officially classified as 'vulnerable'. Their loss signals the critical loss of the wild in Africa.

“Donating old unwanted holiday lights not only keeps these lights out of landfills which protects animals here at home, it also raises money to help lions in the wild,” said Daine Appleberry, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Audubon Zoo & Park. “Donating to this recycling project is as easy as dropping off unwanted lights in our donation box.”

Most string lights are not bio-degradable and are dangerous to animals if they get tangled in the strands, so recycling through the “Lights for Lions” project helps protect other animals from harm.  

The young turtle came to the Audubon in December 2022. It was part of a group of cold stunned turtles found and originally treated in New England. Cold stunning happens when turtles are exposed to cold temperatures. They can become weak, unable to swim, and potentially drown. This little turtle came to Audubon for extended recovery and was nicknamed “Cilantro”.

In addition to being treated for cold stunning, Cilantro had a bone infection in the left shoulder joint that required an extensive treatment plan including cold laser therapy and physical therapy. 

Cilantro is all healed now and was released into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico at Grand Isle by Audubon Aquarium Rescue team members. 

Audubon Aquarium Rescue is committed to the humane care and treatment of injured, ill, or displaced marine animals in Louisiana and is the only entity in the state responsible for the rehabilitation of live marine mammals and sea turtles.

If you spot stranded, injured, or out-of-habitat marine mammals and sea turtles (live or dead), call Audubon Aquarium Rescue at 877-942-5343.

The chicks were reared by keepers at the Westbank facility who wore bird costumes to keep the birds from imprinting on humans. Several of the chicks were hatched from eggs from a migratory whooping crane flock in Wisconsin and transported to Audubon from the International Crane Foundation. One chick was from an egg laid by birds in the wild Louisiana flock. The chicks will be released to the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in Vermillion Parish next month. The remaining birds will be kept in human care for breeding.

All of this year’s chicks are named for types of pasta: Fiori, Capellini, Ziti, Vermicelli, Gemelli, Gigli, and Lasagna.

Audubon Nature Institute is an active part of whooping crane conservation and works closely with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and other partners with the goal of developing a self-sustaining population of whooping cranes in Louisiana. This partnership is an example of the importance of collaboration between state agencies and non-profit organizations, leveraging the strengths of both to achieve measurable conservation results and make a significant, historic impact on the future of this species. With the support of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chevron, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Audubon is committed to the long-term growth and stability of the whooping crane population to save the species from extinction.

Since its inception, the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival team has raised 55 whooping cranes and after this group is released, Audubon will have released 31 chicks to the wild. Whooping cranes are large-bodied, white birds with a red head and black facial markings. They are five feet tall and have a wingspan of seven to eight feet. In flight, whooping cranes display black wing tips, a fully extended neck, and legs which extend well beyond the tail.

As one of only six whooping crane breeding facilities in the U.S., support of project partners is vital to the long-term success of the whooping crane population in Louisiana.

The Louisiana flock was developed in 2011 when 10 whooping cranes from the U. S. Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Facility in Maryland were released to the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in Vermilion Parish to develop the non-migratory flock. This marked a significant conservation milestone with the first wild whooping cranes in Louisiana since 1950.

Anyone encountering a whooping crane is advised to observe the bird from a distance and to report the sighting to LDWF:  https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/report-a-whooping-crane-sighting-or-violation

Anyone witnessing suspicious activity involving whooping cranes is advised to report that information to LDWF’s Enforcement Division by calling 1-800-442-2511 or by using the anonymous tip411 program. Citizens can text LADWF and their tip to 847411 or download the "LADWF Tips" app from iTunes or Google Play free of charge. Citizen Observer, the tip411 provider, uses technology that removes all identifying information before LDWF receives the text so that LDWF cannot identify the sender.

The exhibit was made possible through a grant from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation with funding to restore natural resources injured by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill from the DWH Open Ocean Trustees. The new exhibit showcases corals collected as part of ongoing restoration efforts by the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities (MDBC) projects.

Deep Dive into the Gulf is the first public exhibit to highlight this essential restoration work in the Gulf of Mexico, reflecting Audubon’s commitment to conservation and public education. An interactive educational cart, hands-on learning activities, and daily talks with aquarium keepers and educators are designed to engage visitors of all ages.

“Deep Dive into the Gulf brings the Gulf of Mexico’s hidden treasures to the public,” said Rich Toth, Senior Vice President and Director of Audubon Aquarium. “This exhibit offers a rare glimpse into deep-sea coral ecosystems that are a critical part of the health of the Gulf of Mexico. Our goal is to inspire visitors with the beauty and importance of these habitats and to encourage a commitment to protecting them for future generations.”

The Deep Dive into the Gulf exhibit will provide guests with numerous ways to interact and engage with the underwater world. Features in this new exhibit include:

• A live coral exhibit that will be the first ever to display deep corals from the Gulf of Mexico, showcasing the types of life found on the seafloor.
• Interactive never-before-seen video footage of deep Gulf habitats, which provide guests the opportunity to experience what it's like to be part of the restoration team by identifying fascinating species along the seafloor. 
• Educational panels that provide insight into Gulf marine life at different depths, the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the vital restoration efforts currently underway.
• An art wall that offers a larger-than-life photo op with the corals, sponges, and fish that represent the deep-sea habitat. 
• A 3D map that shows guests the bottom of the Gulf, with its salt domes, canyons and more! The map highlights areas like the Mississippi Canyon, where coral restoration efforts are concentrated.

The Deep Dive into the Gulf exhibit is free with Audubon Aquarium admission. For more information about the Deep Dive into the Gulf exhibit and Audubon’s ongoing conservation efforts, please visit https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/ .

About Audubon Nature Institute:
Audubon Nature Institute operates a family of museums and parks dedicated to nature. Its mission is to celebrate the wonders of nature through innovative programs that instill a sense of stewardship for wildlife and the natural world. Learn more at audubonnatureinstitute.org. 

About the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities (MDBC) portfolio: After the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, federal and state agencies assessed the impacts and implemented actions to restore injured habitats, species, and the services they provide. In 2019, they selected four Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities restoration projects to be implemented through 2028 in the northern Gulf of Mexico. NOAA and the Department of Interior coordinate a multidisciplinary group of partners to plan and implement these projects. Learn more at fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/habitat-conservation/mesophotic-and-deep-benthic-communities-restoration. 

About the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation: The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, established in 2000, is the official non-profit partner of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The Foundation directly supports America’s national marine sanctuaries through our mission to protect species, conserve ecosystems and preserve cultural and maritime heritage. We accomplish our mission through community stewardship and engagement programs, on-the-water conservation projects, public education and outreach programs, and scientific research and exploration. The Foundation fosters innovative projects that are solution-oriented, scalable and transferable, and develop strategic partnerships that promote the conservation and recovery of species and their habitats. Learn more at marinesanctuary.org. 

Several of the chicks were hatched from eggs from a migratory whooping crane flock in Wisconsin, and then transported to Audubon from the International Crane Foundation. One chick was from an egg laid by one of the birds in the wild Louisiana flock. The chicks are being hand-raised by keepers wearing crane costumes to limit their exposure to humans. Five of the birds will be released to the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in Vermillion Parish, the remaining birds will be kept in human care for breeding.

All of this year’s chicks are named for types of pasta: Fiori, Capellini, Ziti, Vermicelli, Gemelli, Gigli, and Lasagna.

Audubon Nature Institute is an active part of whooping crane conservation and works closely with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and other partners with the goal of developing a self-sustaining population of whooping cranes in Louisiana. This partnership is an example of the importance of collaboration between state agencies and non-profit organizations, leveraging the strengths of both to achieve measurable conservation results and make a significant, historic impact on the future of this species. With the support of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chevron, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Audubon is committed to the long-term growth and stability of the whooping crane population to save the species from extinction.

“Every whooping crane chick that is successfully raised for release or breeding is one critical step in the preservation of these species,” said Richard Dunn, Assistant Curator at the Species Survival Center. “We are encouraged to see birds grow to adulthood and released to our Louisiana population.”

Since its inception, the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival team has raised 55 whooping cranes and after this group is released, Audubon will have released 31 chicks to the wild. Whooping cranes are large-bodied, white birds with a red head and black facial markings. They are five feet tall and have a wingspan of seven to eight feet. In flight, whooping cranes display black wing tips, a fully extended neck, and legs which extend well beyond the tail.

As one of only six whooping crane breeding facilities in the U.S., support of project partners is vital to the long-term success of the whooping crane population in Louisiana.

“At Chevron, we recognize the importance of protecting ecological diversity – the rich variety of wildlife, its ecosystems and species, and the ecological processes that support them,” said Leah Brown, Public Affairs Manager for Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico Business Unit. “Chevron looks forward to these whooping cranes being released into the wild. We also thank Audubon Nature Institute for our long-standing partnership – and for helping ensure this endangered species is thriving for generations to come.”

The Louisiana flock was developed in 2011 when 10 whooping cranes from the U. S. Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Facility in Maryland were released to the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in Vermilion Parish to develop the non-migratory flock. This marked a significant conservation milestone with the first wild whooping cranes in Louisiana since 1950.

Anyone encountering a whooping crane is advised to observe the bird from a distance and to report the sighting to LDWF:  https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/report-a-whooping-crane-sighting-or-violation

Anyone witnessing suspicious activity involving whooping cranes is advised to report that information to LDWF’s Enforcement Division by calling 1-800-442-2511 or by using the anonymous tip411 program. Citizens can text LADWF and their tip to 847411 or download the "LADWF Tips" app from iTunes or Google Play free of charge. Citizen Observer, the tip411 provider, uses technology that removes all identifying information before LDWF receives the text so that LDWF cannot identify the sender.

A new project called the “Zoo Museum (ZooMu) Network” lead by principal investigators at Yale Peabody Museum, Memphis Zoo, Florida International University and Audubon Nature Institute will remedy that. These four organizations have already built a network with dozens of natural history museums and zoos and aquariums across the US. The National Science Foundation has awarded a $500,000 five-year grant to expand the network to additional zoos and natural history museums.

The goal of the project, which has been in development since 2019, is to develop long lasting networks between the two fundamentally different but related biological collections, extending participation in science beyond academia. Because museums and zoos play crucial roles in public education and access to nature and biodiversity, it is important to make sure the specimens and data held in each are linked, something that is not the case currently.

By integrating zoo and museum databases, both kinds of institutions will have the opportunities to expand conservation and global change research. “The Peabody has always been a leader in the creation of digital databases,” said Gregory Watkins-Colwell, the Peabody’s Senior Collections Manager, Vertebrate Zoology, Herpetology and Ichthyology.

“Museums can be good at understanding the last instant of an animal’s life, but are less facile at knowing what happens before,” Watkins-Colwell said. This is where the rich data found at zoos can come in. When an animal dies at a zoo, the remains often end up at natural history museums, he explained, but the medical information from its life might not. The data might have been passed between people who knew each other, but not through any formal structure or agreement.

As Sinlan Poo, Curator of Research at the Memphis Zoo, puts it, “In many ways, zoos and natural history museums are perfect partners since they are almost mirror images of each other – with zoos having a wealth of information an animal while it’s alive and museums containing and building on information of the animal after it is preserved.” And while it may seem like a no-brainer for these two institutions to work together, these partnerships are still far from the norm.  

What is particularly timely as we’re faced with rapid rates of biodiversity loss is that “zoos and aquariums are increasingly focused on holding rare and endangered species, and have vast amounts of data on life history, animal health, behavior, and genetics. This same data would be very difficult or impossible to collect on increasingly rare wild animals,” says Steven Whitfield, Director of Terrestrial and Wetlands Conservation at the Audubon Nature Institute. Goals of the ZooMu Network are to facilitate data collection, data sharing, and sample sharing from zoo animals with outside conservation organizations, which can lead to improved field conservation campaigns.

“ZooMu will help formalize partnerships between Zoos and Museums, making information more widely available and creating opportunities for better, more collaborative science," said Alex Shepack, a researcher at Florida International University.

“A natural history museum will be able to look back at all the things that happened during an animal’s lifetime. For people who study things like disease, they will be able to look at the physical specimen and know what happened ten years ago because there are veterinary records to explain what happened,” Watkins-Colwell said. “If you have a specimen, and a collection that has a vet record you might be able to answer if that morphology is from something that happened when it was a hatchling.”

Through a series of topic-focused and regional-based workshops, conference symposia, and webinars, the ZooMu Network aims to create a new culture of collaboration between these institutions, with long-lasting bonds that will truly bridge the gap between living and preserved biodiversity collections.

“Once we connect these dots, we will have the full picture of the life history of an animal,” Watkins-Colwell said.

For more information about the grant, visit www.zoomunetwork.org  

July 15, 2024, Juneau, AK – The Certified Seafood Collaborative (CSC) is pleased to announce that the U.S. Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery (white, brown, and pink shrimp) for all five Gulf states and federal waters has achieved Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Certification. This is the first shrimp fishery certified to the RFM Standard.

RFM Certification requires fisheries meet RFM Standard criteria which evaluate fisheries in four key areas: A) the fisheries management system; B) science and stock assessment activities, and the precautionary approach; C) management measures, implementation, monitoring, and control; and D) serious impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem. Third-party certification body Global Trust awarded the certification after a thorough evaluation of the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp fishery as reported in the Final Assessment Report.

“Congratulations to the American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA) and the entire Gulf of Mexico shrimp industry for meeting RFM’s comprehensive fishery standard. As the largest shrimp fishery in the U.S., it’s a testament to its sound fisheries management and commitment to the sustainability of their fishery,” said Mark Fina, CSC RFM Board Chair.

Trey Pearson, ASPA Board President, said, “We are proud to achieve RFM Certification. It’s a positive reflection of our harvesters’ practices on the water and their work to ensure our shrimp is sustainably harvested. ASPA has long been confident in U.S. fishery management and practices. With RFM Certification we now have independent validation of that fact from a program recognized by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI), enabling us to better meet our customer’s sourcing requirements.”

Pearson continues, “Finally, we are excited about the ability to highlight the USA origin with the RFM eco-label, something that matters not only to us but also to so many of our customers and consumers of Gulf Shrimp. At a time when domestic shrimp is only 6-8% of the total US market share, being able to easily distinguish not only sustainable but also US product through a verified, traceable, front-of-package label is a top priority for the Gulf shrimp industry.”

Achieving RFM certification was a culmination of years of collaboration and fishery improvement work among the shrimp industry, management agencies, and NGOs. For 15 years, multiple industry-led Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs), supported by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership and the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Supply Chain Roundtable, Audubon Nature Institute, and Texas Sea Grant, worked diligently to implement changes needed to the fishery to ready it to pursue and successfully achieve RFM Certification.

The Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery joins the Pacific Whiting fishery and eight Alaska fisheries that are RFM-certified. For a list of all RFM-certified fisheries click here.

Earning RFM Certification shows the fishery’s commitment to the long-term health of the Gulf shrimp ecosystem, the communities that depend on it, and the customers seeking sustainable seafood.

About RFM Certification Program

The Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Certification program is owned by the Certified Seafood Collaborative (CSC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation made up of a diverse board of seafood and sustainability experts. The RFM Certification program is founded on the strongest and most widely acknowledged international standards and practices. It is the most credible sustainable seafood certification program that features origin on its logo and doesn’t charge logo licensing fees. RFM was the first sustainability eco-certification program to be benchmarked and recognized by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI).

Contact: Jeff Regnart, RFM Program Manager, jrregnart@rfmcertification.org

###

 Since 1997, Audubon Zoo has hatched a total of 120 Louisiana Pine Snakes, with 18 of them released to the wild and the others contributing to the conservation breeding program. Along with snakes that will be released by other conservation partners, the release of these six snakes makes 2024 the most successful year of the program to date.

 “Collaborations like this program are vital to the successful preservation of this species. Partnering with other zoos means we can increase the numbers of these endangered snakes released, share information and learn from each other as we expand this conservation effort,” according to Dr. Steven Whitfield, Director of Terrestrial and Wetlands Conservation at Audubon Nature Institute. “This program is especially meaningful as it is fully supported by Audubon Nature Institute. When guests purchase a ticket to enjoy a day at Audubon Zoo, they are contributing to this important conservation effort.”

At Audubon Zoo, the herpetology department cares for a large breeding colony of adult Louisiana Pine Snakes, which produce offspring each year that are released in the wild. For the last 10 months, the team had been carefully raising the six juveniles in a dedicated space at the reptile house in preparation for their release. Since hatchling snakes can be vulnerable to predators, “head-starting” or rearing them for several months at the zoo guarantees that they are larger when released, which increases their chances of survival.

 “It’s truly rewarding to see our herpetology team’s efforts and perseverance come to fruition and see animals hatched at our zoo released to the wild in a bid to save this irreplaceable species” said Audubon Zoo’s Curator of Herpetology, Robert Mendyk, “ “Programs like this are central to the goals and mission of accredited zoos and aquariums and illustrate the many ways in which hey contribute to a unified approach to wildlife conservation.” 

Prior to their release, each snake was given a health screening and weighed, measured, and photographed to document their unique coloration and body markings for identification purposes. Each snake is also equipped with a microchip which U.S. Forestry Service biologists can use to track their movements and survivorship in the wild, and samples of their DNA in the form of shed skins are kept on hand for future genetic testing to determine the parentage of any offspring found at or around the release site.

Mallory McKinney, herpetology keeper at Audubon Zoo said the snake release is an important part of her job. “Being a part of direct conservation is important because it helps protect species and habitats that the people of Louisiana can continue to enjoy.”

 Biologists from the U.S. Forestry Service led the search for appropriate microhabitats to release snakes into – spots that provide underground shelter, usually pocket gopher burrows and stump holes so the Audubon team was prepared to release the snakes in pre-selected areas.

With very few wild populations remaining, the Louisiana Pine Snake is currently listed as endangered by the IUCN and threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The species was once located throughout Louisiana and eastern Texas, but poor land management practices over the last century, including fire suppression and extensive logging of longleaf pine habitats for timber have decimated the habitat that is crucial to this species’ survival. Today, only a handful of fragmented populations persist, but ongoing efforts by the U.S. Forestry Service and other agencies and organizations are restoring longleaf pine habitats throughout the region, which will be crucial to conserving the Louisiana Pine Snake as well as many other threatened species of this unique ecosystem.

Audubon’s work with other partners makes this program rewarding for everyone. “Getting to release a threatened species back to the wild is a testament to how important AZA-accredited facilities are,” said Mitch Wehrle, Audubon’s senior herpetology keeper.

On Saturday, June 8, 2024, special World Oceans Day activities will take place at Audubon Aquarium from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Guests can watch feeding time for the sharks and penguins, chat with keepers located throughout the facility about the animals in their care, and visit with local conservation groups.

World Oceans Day is part of Party for the Planet presented by Entergy and is one of a five-part series of conservation focused events. In addition to Aquarium activities, multiple conservation partners will be on hand to highlight the work they are doing and encourage people to get involved.

Among the groups participating in this year’s World Oceans Day event:

•  Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
•  Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program
•  Louisiana Sea Grant
•  Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
•  Pontchartrain Conservancy
•  STEM NOLA
•  Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries
•  Audubon Aquarium Rescue
•  Audubon Learning and Engagement

Later this month, Pollination Celebration will take place at Audubon Insectarium, highlighting the important role that pollinators like bees play in our lives. Pollination Celebration is set for Saturday, June 22, 2024.

This conservation series is supported by Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund, which directs $1 million annually to environmental improvement projects.

A visit to an Audubon Nature Institute attraction is a first step in taking positive action to learn about and protect the environment. Audubon joins many other Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoos and aquariums across North America in throwing a Party for the Planet, making it the largest combined Earth Day, Endangered Species Day, and World Oceans Day celebration. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums spend $230 million on field conservation alone, supporting projects benefiting more than 800 species in 130 countries. To date, the AZA Conservation Grants Fund has provided $7.7 million in support for 400+ projects worldwide.

 Endangered Species Day will be celebrated May 18, 2024, at Audubon Zoo, as part of the annual Party for the Planet Presented by Entergy series. This event offers families the unique opportunity to visit Audubon Zoo and other AZA-accredited facilities and learn how they can make a difference for all endangered species.

Throughout the Zoo, guests can enjoy activities, hands-on discoveries and interactive experiences that promote environmental awareness and provides information about the endangered species in Audubon’s care. Endangered Species Day Presented by Entergy is free with Zoo admission and runs from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Audubon Nature Institute has many community partners who focus their efforts on making the world a better place. Several of those local partners will be at Audubon Zoo to share information about their efforts. Some of those community partners include:

•      Audubon Aquarium Rescue (AAR)
•      Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries (GULF)
•      STEM NOLA
•      Entergy
•      Audubon Learning & Education
•      International Crane Foundation
•      Louisiana Master Naturalists of GNO
•      Audubon Horticulture Department

 Throughout the Zoo, guests will have the opportunity to talk with animal care team members about what goes in to taking care of the zoo’s animals including the new bobcat kittens, orangutans, black bear, and sea lions. Guests can chat with bird keepers in the new Wings of the World exhibit to learn more about Blue Throated Macaws, Blue Crowned Laughing Thrush and other birds in that colorful exhibit.  A full lineup special enrichment activities can be found at https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/party-for-the-planet

Next month, two Party for the Planet presented by Entergy celebrations will take place. Guests can learn about the aquatic world during World Ocean Day at Audubon Aquarium on Saturday, June 8, 2024. A Pollination Celebration will happen at Audubon Insectarium on Saturday, June 22, 2024.

This series is supported by Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund, which directs $1 million annually to environmental improvement projects.

A visit to an Audubon Nature Institute attraction is a first step in taking positive action to learn about and protect the environment. Audubon joins many other Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoos and aquariums across North America in throwing a Party for the Planet, making it the largest combined Earth Day, Endangered Species Day, and World Oceans Day celebration. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums spend $230 million on field conservation alone, supporting projects benefiting more than 800 species in 130 countries. To date, the AZA Conservation Grants Fund has provided $7.7 million in support for 400+ projects worldwide.

Each chick was named with a nod to his or her parents. “Gouda” is the first ever offspring of Ritz and Saltine, so the crackers and cheese name was selected for him. “Calypso” is the daughter of Ocio and Hubig, and sister to Moon and Titan, who are also in the Aquarium’s colony. Staying with the Greek mythology and Saturn moons themes, the name Calypso was chosen for this youngster.

“Having two new chicks join our colony is an important step for this species in human care,” said Bill Robles, Curator of Birds at Audubon Aquarium. “Not only are African penguins endangered, but their numbers continue to decline. They are in danger of becoming extinct in the wild if these current trends continue.”

Gouda hatched in the nest and was cared for by his parents for several weeks before the penguin team took over his care. Calypso hatched in the Aquarium’s incubator and was hand-raised from birth. Both birds were given special swimming lessons to get them ready for life in the penguin colony and were gradually introduced to the rest of the birds.

Guests can spot the youngsters by their grey feathers. When penguin chicks hatch, they are covered in fluffy grey down, but as they get older, they lose the fluff and develop their grey feathers. They will stay grey for about a year before getting their traditional black and white feathers.

The chicks are not related but are growing up together under the watchful eye of their care team. Young penguins have a soft grey fluffy down and won’t have their traditional black and white feathers until they are much older. To tell the two youngsters apart, they initially placed a small white dot on one. As they grow, they will receive their official names and different colored leg bands.

The slightly older chick was hatched in the nest by parents Ritz and Saltine and is their first chick. They raised it for three weeks before animal care staff took over those duties. The younger chick hatched in the Aquarium’s incubator and is the offspring of Hubig and Ocio, who are also parents of Moon and last year’s chick, Titan.

“These chicks are significant for the penguin population in human care,” said Bill Robles, Audubon Aquarium’s Curator of Birds.  “African penguins are the most endangered penguin species and is it likely they will be extinct in the wild within our lifetimes.”  The birds are found on the coast of South Africa and are threatened by habitat loss, overfishing of their food sources, and are susceptible to oil spills and other environmental conditions.

Audubon Aquarium currently has 21 birds in its colony. These two youngsters will join the adult birds later this spring. Once they move into the colony, guests can spot them by their grey color.

Party for the Planet presented by Entergy starts with Spring into Action at Audubon Louisiana Nature Center on March 30, 2024. Guests can enjoy nature-themed activities, hands-on discovery and interactive experiences that promote environmental awareness, and special programming at the Nature Center Planetarium.

It is free to attend, and the event runs from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

One of the most exciting parts of Spring into Action is the chance to engage with a variety of groups working to make the world a better place. These local “conservation neighbors” will be on site to share what projects they are involved in and how the public can get involved. This year, the list of conservation partners includes:

• Entergy
• Audubon Insectarium
• Audubon Learning and Education
• Louisiana Master Naturalists of GNO
• Friends of Bayou St. John
• NASA
• Pontchartrain Astronomy Society
• WaterWise Gulf South
• Gulf Coast Mycological Society
• Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
• ThriveNOLA
• Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge Complex
• Louisiana Amphibian and Reptile Enthusiasts

Admission to Spring into Action is free to the public. 

Spring into Action and the other Party for the Planet events are fun ways to get people involved in making environmentally friendly decisions every day,” said Ron Forman, Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO. “We are grateful for Entergy’s continued partnership on this important series of conservation-themed events.”

Spring into Action is the first of a five-part Party for the Planet presented by Entergy series. Other special events include:

• Saturday, April 20: Earth Day Family Service Day - location TBD
• Saturday, May 18: Endangered Species Day at Audubon Zoo
• Saturday, June 8: World Oceans Day at Audubon Aquarium
• Saturday, June 22: Pollination Celebration at Audubon Insectarium  

“Our communities are made stronger when we highlight responsible conservation and sustainability,” said Deanna Rodriguez, President and CEO of Entergy New Orleans. “By partnering with the Audubon Nature Institute and supporting initiatives like Party for the Planet, Entergy encourages everyone to learn how to take better care of the world we call home.”

This series is supported by Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund, which directs $1 million annually to environmental improvement projects.

A visit to an Audubon Nature Institute facility is a first step in taking positive action to learn about and protect the environment. Audubon joins many other Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoos and aquariums across North America in throwing a Party for the Planet, making it the largest combined Earth Day, Endangered Species Day, and World Oceans Day celebration. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums spend $230 million on field conservation alone, supporting projects benefiting more than 800 species in 130 countries. To date, the AZA Conservation Grants Fund has provided $7.7 million in support for 400+ projects worldwide.

Audubon Aquarium Rescue is NOAA Fisheries’ primary stranding network response partner for marine mammals and sea turtles in Louisiana and they depend on the public to share information if they see an animal in distress.

“Marine mammals and sea turtles can be injured by many things including accidental boat strikes, becoming entangled in debris, and even sudden changes in water temperature or storms,” said John Fallon, Director of Sustainability and Coastal Conservation for Audubon Nature Institute. “We want to rescue and rehabilitate as many of these animals as possible and release them back into Louisiana waters.”

Fallon says no year is the same, but March through June is typically when most strandings occur in Louisiana. There are 7,721 miles of coastline in Louisiana, so Audubon has team members located throughout the state during the next few months to help ensure a rapid response time to reports of injured or dead sea turtles and dolphins.

“In the past five years, Audubon Aquarium Rescue has fielded an average of 78 reports of stranded or injured animals,” said Gabriella Harlamert, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding and Rehabilitation Coordinator for Audubon Aquarium Rescue. “While notifying us of injured animals is important, we also need to know about animals found deceased. Those animals can provide a snapshot into the health of the overall marine environment and give us a better understanding of threats these animals face.”

If you spot stranded, injured, or out-of-habitat marine mammals and sea turtles (live or dead), call Audubon Aquarium Rescue at 

877-942-5343

When reporting strandings, be prepared to give:

·           Exact location and/or GPS coordinates

·           Photographs of the animal

·           Nature of the report (type of animal/live or dead/size, etc.)

Recommendations when reporting a live stranded animal include:

·           Put human safety above animal safety. If conditions are dangerous, do not attempt to approach the animal.

·           Do not push an animal on shore back into the water.

·           Keep crowds away and noise levels down to avoid causing stress to the animal.

·           If the animal returns to the water on its own, do not attempt to interact with it.

·           Leave all entanglements that may be present on the animal.

Audubon Aquarium Rescue is committed to the humane care and treatment of injured, ill, or displaced marine animals in Louisiana and is the only entity in the state responsible for the rehabilitation of live marine mammals and sea turtles.

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Marine mammal rescue activities permitted under MMPA Permit No. 24359

Marine mammal activities conducted under a stranding agreement between Audubon Nature Institute and NMFS under the MMPA

 Audubon’s “Lights for Lions” conservation campaign encourages people to donate their old holiday lights rather than tossing them into the trash. 

From now through January 13, 2024, Audubon Zoo is collecting string lights for recycling. There is a large donation box at the Zoo’s front entrance to contribute your unwanted lights for Audubon to recycle. 
All proceeds from Audubon’s "Lights for Lions” recycling program help support the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund. Every donated string of lights makes a difference and raises funds for this important project that strives to increase the number of lions in the wild by protecting them, their prey and their habitat. 

Audubon Zoo’s lions Arnold, Kali, Nia and Zuri are always favorites of Zoo visitors. Sadly, the number of lions in the wild is declining at an alarming rate. In just a quarter century, the population of wild African lions dropped by half. The main threats to African lions are poaching, conflicts with humans, the decline of their natural prey, as well as habitat loss, climate change and the illegal wildlife trade. With just 23,000 African lions left in the wild, they are now officially classified as 'vulnerable'. Their loss signals the critical loss of the wild in Africa. 

“Helping lions through the ‘Lights for Lions’ conservation project is easy to do and really makes a difference. Not only does it keep old strings of lights out of the landfill which protects animals here at home, but also raises money to help these beautiful but disappearing animals in the wild,” said Daine Appleberry, Senior Vice President and Director of Operations at Audubon Zoo & Park. 

Most string lights are not bio-degradable and are dangerous to animals if they get tangled in the strands, so recycling through the “Lights for Lions” project helps protect other animals from harm too. 

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The juvenile cranes are currently at the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center near New Orleans, which operates a breeding program that has helped release 43 of the birds. Each of the young birds was weighed, measured, and given a complete physical including examinations of eyes, nose and ears, veterinarians listened to their hearts, lungs and air sacs, and checked their overall condition. Each bird was also given a microchip and temporary bands were attached to their legs for future identification. 

After each colt was checked by Audubon Nature Institute veterinarians, they were released into a large holding area for introduction to the others. Soon this group of colts will travel to southwest Louisiana where they will be taken to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in Vermilion Parish. They will be taken to a temporary release pen where they will stay for a short time before being released into the wild. 

Whooping cranes have historically lived in Louisiana, either as permanent residents or temporary overwintering. Loss of habitat and unregulated hunting led to them disappearing from the state for more than 60 years until conservation partners including Audubon Nature Institute, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries teamed up to introduce new birds to the state. 

“Each bird is extremely valuable to the wild population and the survival of this endangered species,” said Richard Dunn, Assistant Curator at the Audubon Nature Institute Species Survival Center. “Returning birds to the wild is critical and the collaborative effort of our partners help make it a reality.” 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), and Audubon Nature Institute have been longtime leaders in whooping crane conservation and are continuing to expand their partnership with the goal of developing a self-sustaining Louisiana whooping crane population. This partnership is an example of the importance of collaboration between federal and state agencies and non-profit organizations, leveraging the strengths of all to achieve measurable conservation results and make a significant, historic impact on the future of this species. Through this partnership and with the support of USFWS, Chevron, and other generous supporters, Audubon Nature Institute is committed to the long-term growth and stability of the whooping crane population to save the species from extinction. 

As part of the Whooping Crane Recovery Team, Audubon Nature Institute works collaboratively with the USFWS, International Recovery Team, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Whooping Crane Species Survival Plan, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, International Crane Foundation, White Oak Conservation Foundation, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Dallas Zoo, San Antonio Zoo, Calgary Zoo, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to reintroduce whooping cranes to achieve a self-sustaining population of wild whooping cranes through reintroduction programs. 
Anyone encountering a whooping crane in Louisiana is advised to observe the bird from a distance and to report the sighting to LDWF https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/report-a-whooping-crane-sighting-or-violation.

 

PHILADELPHIA and NEW ORLEANS (November 1, 2023) – Audubon Nature Institute’s Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries (G.U.L.F.) sustainable seafood program is proud to announce a new culinary partnership with Aramark Collegiate Hospitality. 

In early 2023, members of Aramark’s Collegiate Hospitality South Region and New Orleans-based Audubon Nature Institute began a culinary partnership pilot program with a goal of understanding sustainable sourcing practices from the Gulf of Mexico. The partnership aims to educate chefs on sustainable seafood and promote the use of sustainably caught species from the Gulf in their culinary creations.

The program targets these important areas for participating chefs:  

1. Understanding Sustainability: Chefs will understand what it means for seafood to be labeled “sustainable” and what efforts the seafood industry makes to maintain healthy fisheries.
2. Identifying Sustainable Species: Chefs will understand what species to look for and how to identify sustainably caught Gulf species and how to source more sustainably in their procurement practices.
3. Flavor Profiles and Preparation: Chefs will learn flavor profiles and how to breakdown, prepare, plate, and menu different sustainable Gulf species including underutilized species.
4. Recipe Development: Chefs will be able to develop regionally and culturally appropriate recipes, incorporating Gulf seafood and unique flavors from their communities.

Aramark chefs visited the docks in South Louisiana where fishing vessels arrive with their catch, as part of their training with Audubon G.U.L.F., who works directly with the fishing industry. Chefs visited Jensen Tuna’s dock in Dulac, Louisiana, and Anna Marie Shrimp in Montegut, Louisiana. Audubon G.U.L.F. will host another session with the Aramark chefs where they will use Gulf fish in a variety of ways for recipe development for catering menus.

“Seafood is a huge part of the culinary landscape and when you look around you begin to realize, as a Chef, just how much of an impact we have on that landscape, on our carbon footprint. Once you dive in, you quickly see the ripple effect of the impact we can make,” said Regional Culinary Director Chef Ben Hernandez. “This partnership with Audubon Nature Institute has opened up doors of education, knowledge, and empowerment to do what’s right for the ecosystem directly around us. Working in a Collegiate Hospitality environment, we have the opportunity to bring this full circle and share this knowledge directly with our students who will soon be the next generation of consumers”.

Additionally, Collegiate Hospitality launched a pilot Limited Time Offer (LTO) event on October 26, 2023, at select colleges and universities in the southeast United States. The dining programs will be sourcing directly from local vendors utilizing white shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico to educate clients and students about the sustainability partnership with Audubon Nature Institute.

Through this partnership, Aramark can support sustainable seafood initiatives in the Gulf of Mexico.  Audubon Nature Institute’s G.U.L.F. program assists the seafood industry with third-party certification and leads Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) in the region to ensure Gulf of Mexico seafood meets the highest market standards of sustainability. Taught by chefs for chefs, Aramark’s culinary team will leave the program with a comprehensive knowledge of how to sustainably source and deliciously prepare wild-caught Gulf of Mexico seafood.

“This partnership is key for chefs to see first-hand the importance of sustainable seafood practices from the dock to the table,” said John Fallon, Director of Sustainability and Coastal Conservation for the Audubon Nature Institute. “The seafood industry generates millions of dollars for Gulf Coast states and is a vital part of our economy and culture. Teaching chefs how to source sustainable seafood helps them deliver the best product to guests and protects the seafood industry for future generations.”

Chefs who complete the program will receive an Audubon G.U.L.F. certificate, which will be a valuable credential for their professional development. Additionally, this program will support research and initiatives related to the seafood industry and educate chefs using science-based facts as the foundation for sound sustainable culinary practices.

Audubon Nature Institute is a New Orleans-based non-profit that operates a family of conservation programs, parks, and attractions including Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Insectarium. Audubon Nature Institute’s Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries (G.U.L.F.) program was founded in 2012 from the need for a homegrown champion who understands and can advocate on behalf of Gulf fisheries and industry. For more information, please visit https://Audubonnatureinstitute.org/gulf-sustainable-seafood.

For more information about this partnership or to learn more about Aramark’s responsible sourcing program, please visit https://www.aramark.com/environmental-social-governance/climate-impact/source-sustainably.

Three of the birds were hatched at the Westbank facility, which has 17 other whooping cranes in its breeding program. The fourth colt came to New Orleans from Dallas Zoo. This is the first whooping crane chick from that facility that will be released to the wild.  The young bird was transported to New Orleans via a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) plane  last month, given a thorough physical and a name, and gradually introduced to the other colts that will be released at the White Lake Wetlands Conservation area in southwestern Louisiana. The Dallas colt is now known as Leviathan. The New Orleans-hatched colts are named Sasquatch, Yeti, and Jackalope. 

Since the whooping crane breeding program began, Audubon Nature Institute, the New-Orleans based non-profit that operates a family of ten living museums, attractions, and parks, including Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Insectarium, has released 43 birds to the wild in hopes the birds will repopulate the Louisiana coast. Whooping cranes have historically lived in Louisiana, either as permanent residents or temporary overwintering. Loss of habitat and unregulated hunting led to them disappearing from the state for more than 60 years until conservation partners including Audubon Nature Institute, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries teamed up to reintroduce new birds to the state. 

“Every bird we can return to the wild is one step closer to a self-sustaining population in Louisiana,” said Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center Assistant Curator Richard Dunn. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), and Audubon Nature Institute have been longtime leaders in whooping crane conservation and are continuing to expand their partnership with the goal of developing a self-sustaining Louisiana whooping crane population. This partnership is an example of the importance of collaboration between federal and state agencies and non-profit organizations, leveraging the strengths of all to achieve measurable conservation results and make a significant, historic impact on the future of this species. Through this partnership and with the support of USFWS, Chevron, and other generous supporters, Audubon Nature Institute is committed to the long-term growth and stability of the whooping crane population to save the species from extinction. 

As part of the Whooping Crane Recovery Team, Audubon Nature Institute works collaboratively with the USFWS, International Recovery Team, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Whooping Crane Species Survival Plan, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, International Crane Foundation, White Oak Conservation Foundation, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Dallas Zoo, San Antonio Zoo, Calgary Zoo, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to reintroduce whooping cranes to to achieve a self-sustaining population of wild whooping cranes through reintroduction programs. 

Anyone encountering a whooping crane in Louisiana is advised to observe the bird from a distance and to report the sighting to LDWF https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/report-a-whooping-crane-sighting-or-violation. Whooping cranes are large-bodied, long legged, white birds with a red head and black facial markings on the side of their faces. Adult birds measure a height of five feet and a wingspan of seven to eight feet, which makes them very distinctive. In flight, whooping cranes display black wing tips, a fully extended neck, and legs that extend well beyond the tail. 

 

Now named Francois, the turtle was severely dehydrated and underweight when Audubon’s team brought him back to their rehab facility on the West Bank. Francois is getting antibiotics and other treatment as he recovers. When he was initially placed into water by the Audubon team, they realized he is “positively buoyant” which means he cannot successfully dive down into the water. Additional medical tests are needed to get more information about his health and determine the best course of treatment. 

Francois weighs about 200 pounds and is slowly gaining weight. His care team says he especially enjoys shrimp, squid, and smelt. Adult loggerhead sea turtles can weigh up to 350 pounds and live more than 70 years. Francois will remain at the Audubon Aquatic Center receiving treatment as long as needed for his recovery. 

Sea turtles like Francois will benefit from Audubon Aquarium’s annual Scales & Ales event, set for October 6. Partygoers will help support sea turtles and celebrate Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network’s sea turtle conservation efforts with their ticket purchases. 

Coordinated by Audubon Nature Institute, Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network is NOAA Fisheries’ primary stranding network response partner for marine mammals and sea turtles in Louisiana. Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network is committed to the humane care and treatment of injured, ill, or displaced marine animals in Louisiana and is the only entity in the state responsible for the rehabilitation of live marine mammals and sea turtles. The information collected from stranded animals provides a snapshot into the health of the marine environment and provides a better understanding of threats to marine mammals and sea turtles in the wild. 

If you see stranded or out-of-habitat marine mammals and sea turtles (live or dead) call Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network at 877-942-5343. 

To help endangered animals like Francois, please visit: https://audubontransactions.org/donations/donate-cwn.html 

 

Audubon’s Coastal Wildlife Network (CWN) has been monitoring the pair for more than a year, waiting for the calf to be old enough to move to an area with access to open water. The pond where the mother and calf were found had ample food supplies, salinity and tidal flow but did not have pathways to the Gulf of Mexico.

The rescue team was coordinated by NOAA Fisheries in partnership with Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network (CWN), National Marine Mammal Foundation, SeaWorld Orlando, Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, and South Carolina Aquarium.

“Rescuing this mother dolphin and her calf involved the collaboration of multiple groups and we are grateful for our partners who actively support and help in rescues like this,” said Audubon Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding and Rehab Coordinator Gabriella Harlamert.

Before release, the mother was satellite-tagged to monitor her movements post-rescue. The Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, funded by the NOAA John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program, provided the satellite tag and will track the mom remotely for the next several months, providing valuable data on the success of the rescue and where these individual dolphins range. This information will contribute to a better understanding of overall dolphin movements in Louisiana waters.

It is common for storm surge and increased coastal flooding associated with hurricanes to cause marine mammals and sea turtles to strand on land or be washed into inland waterways where they are not typically observed, such as lakes, ponds, and canals. Animals may be found in these areas for weeks to months following the hurricane, requiring rescue by trained and authorized responders to return them to their natural habitat.

The public is advised to report all stranded or out-of-habitat marine mammals and sea turtles (live or dead) to CWN at 877-942-5343.

When reporting strandings, the public should be prepared to give:

·       Exact location and/or GPS coordinates

·       Photographs of the animal

·       Nature of the report (type of animal/live or dead/size, etc.)

Recommendations when reporting a live stranded animal include:

·       Put human safety above animal safety. If conditions are dangerous, do not attempt to approach the animal.

·       Don't push an animal on shore back into the water.

·       Keep crowds away and noise levels down to avoid causing stress to the animal.

·       If the animal returns to the water on its own, don't attempt to interact with it.

·       Leave all entanglements that may be present on the animal.

Coordinated by Audubon Nature Institute, the Coastal Wildlife Network (CWN) is NOAA Fisheries’ primary stranding network response partner for marine mammals and sea turtles in Louisiana. CWN is committed to the humane care and treatment of injured, ill, or displaced marine animals in Louisiana and is the only entity in the state responsible for the rehabilitation of live marine mammals and sea turtles. The information CWN collects from stranded animals provides a snapshot into the health of the marine environment and provides a better understanding of threats to marine mammals and sea turtles in the wild.

Audubon Nature Institute’s animal health care team was working closely with orthopedic specialists at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and national okapi experts to diagnose and improve her condition. Unfortunately, during the calf’s most recent exam, veterinarians determined that her condition would not improve, and the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize her.

“We always strive to give the best quality of life to all the animals under our care,” said Michelle Hatwood, General Curator of the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center.  “Kaya’s situation was especially heart-breaking for the staff that cared for her. Very few okapi births occur each year, so we are saddened for her loss and the loss to the national population.”

Staff that worked with Kaya described her as curious and tenacious, even while her body was failing her. “She was strong-willed and wanted to be independent, even at a young age,” said Jennifer Cain, her primary caregiver.  Staff that cared for Kaya had become very close to the young animal through her treatments, health challenges, and are mourning her loss.

Kaya was the first calf born to 6-year-old mom Asili, and 13-year-old dad, Kikari. While okapi calves have a high mortality rate, especially for first-time moms, animal keepers were excited to see Asili take on her motherly role quickly.

Kaya’s health problems took a couple months to become apparent. “At this time, we don’t know why Kaya was suffering these developmental limb deformities. We know her joints were impacted and it was painful for her to walk,” said Audubon Nature Institute Senior Veterinarian Dr. Bob MacLean.  “While we were able to make her more comfortable, she was not growing properly, and her condition was progressively worsening. It was a particularly difficult decision to euthanize her given how rare okapi are.”

A post-mortem necropsy (animal autopsy) was performed, and results are pending; any information gained from Kaya’s case may help experts better understand okapi anatomy and physiology and offer new options to treat other animals that may develop similar conditions.

Okapi are listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Okapi are shy, solitary animals found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Due to their dense habitat and elusive existence, very little is known about their natural history.

Kaya was born September 28, 2022, following a nearly 15-month pregnancy—standard for this beautiful ungulate. Her birth was part of Audubon’s participation in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for okapi overseen by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Audubon has been a leader and participant in the Okapi SSP since 2017.

Kaya, the first okapi born at the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, is being treated for a congenital developmental abnormality. The condition is causing various medical issues, including problems with her legs and failure to grow as she should. Experts are searching for ways to best treat the calf born last September.

Audubon veterinarians have been working with okapi veterinary specialists around the country and bovid orthopedic specialists at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine to determine an exact diagnosis and treatment plan. According to radiographs and physical symptoms, the disease affects Kaya’s growth plates in all four legs, causing inflammation, conformation issues, and stunted growth.

Audubon’s animal care team is watching Kaya around the clock and keeping her comfortable as they consult with other experts who have experience working with this extremely rare animal. Kaya is being treated with a variety of therapeutics. The disease’s origin and how it affects her joints are still unclear, but veterinarians are using every diagnostic tool available to find a cure.

The extremely endangered okapi calf was born September 28, 2022, to a first-time mom, five-year-old Asili, and 13-year-old dad, Kikari, two resident okapi at the west bank breeding and conservation center. The birth followed a nearly 15-month pregnancy—standard for this beautiful ungulate.

The birth of this unique species of hoofed mammal is part of Audubon’s participation in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for okapi overseen by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Audubon has been a leader and participant in the Okapi SSP since 2017.

Okapi are listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Okapi are shy, solitary animals found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Although considered one of the world’s oldest mammals, little is known about them.

“Besides being the first okapi born at the Audubon Center, Kaya is the first calf born to her mother, Asili. While first-time moms often have difficulty adjusting to parenthood, Asili picked up on it quickly and has been an extremely attentive mother, even through Kaya’s treatments” said Michelle Hatwood, General Curator at Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center. “Very few people have experience working with this rare species, and we are in continuous communication with other experts to develop the best plan for treating her.”

“Every birth is important when dealing with endangered species, even more so with okapi due to their unique biology” said Hatwood. “Kaya is teaching a global cohort of specialists more about how to care for okapi. We remain hopeful that we will find a treatment plan to facilitate her recovery.”

About Okapi

In the wild, okapi are only found in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are considered one of the world’s oldest mammals. Because of the animal’s solitary nature and keen ability to avoid contact or detection, scientists didn’t describe these beautiful creatures until 1901, and there are still unknown aspects of the species’ physiology.   

 Their numbers in the wild are extremely threatened due to illegal hunting, mining, human encroachment, and loss of their habitat due to deforestation. Okapi are shy, elusive, and typically solitary animals. 

 Despite looking like a cross between a deer and a zebra, okapi are the giraffe’s only living relative, often referred to as a “forest giraffe.” The okapi is native to the Ituri Rainforest in the Democratic Republic of Congo—the only place it can be found in the wild—and has thick, oily fur to stay dry in the rain. It has scent glands on the bottom of its hooves that help mark its territory. Except for the tips, the okapi’s short horns, called ossicones, are covered in skin. While all males have ossicones, most females have knobby bumps instead.

 The okapi lives among dense flora in the rainforest. It can blend into its surroundings thanks to the brown and white stripes on its rump, which mimic the appearance of streaks of sunlight coming through the trees.

 Its plant-based diet includes fruits, buds, leaves, twigs, and other vegetation. Like the giraffe and cow, okapi have a four-chambered stomach that aids digesting tough plants. Also, like its giraffe cousin, okapi have a long, dark blue tongue that can strip leaves from branches. An okapi consumes between 45 and 60 pounds of food daily, including riverbed clay for minerals and salt. It will occasionally eat bat excrement for nutrients.

Scientists say there is no accurate accounting of okapi in the wild, but the estimates are grim. The number of okapi in the wild is believed to have dropped by 50% in the past twenty years, making this birth at Audubon extremely important. 

The twins are the first for five-year-old Mom, Masiaka. Dad Gascar is 17-years-old and has fathered other offspring at the Zoo.  After a nearly three-month pregnancy, the twins – a boy and a girl - were born April 19, 2023.  Multiples are not unusual for black and white ruffed lemurs. 

These two are important additions to the Zoo’s population. Black and white ruffed lemurs are critically endangered in the wild, and like all lemurs are only found on the island of Madagascar. They live in the canopies of the rainforest, are active during the day, and are exceptional pollinators. They help move seeds and pollen through the rainforest, often by carrying  pollen on their fur from flower to flower. They are threatened by hunting, deforestation and habitat loss.

Masi and Gascar are part of the Species Survival Plan which is designed to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse and stable population of animals in human care for the long-term survival of a species.  

These active youngsters are still small so they are behind-the-scenes with their parents, and will be out on exhibit at Audubon zoo in the next few weeks. The young male has a tuft of white on his head, while his sister does not. You can see them soon exploring their home in the World of Primates.

The turtles were released off the coast of Port Fourchon this week by Audubon Nature Institute’s Coastal Wildlife Network. The turtles were brought to Audubon after they were found cold-stunned last year off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. After initially treated and stabilized there, they were part of a large group of sea turtles brought to New Orleans for continued treatment and rehabilitation.

Cold stunning happens when turtles are exposed to cold temperatures causing hypothermia, it often prohibits turtles' ability to swim making them susceptible to boat strikes, drowning or additional cold temperatures.

These two young turtles were dubbed Lavender and Habanero by their Audubon care team. Due to their size, they are estimated to be between two and five years old.  They are the second group of turtles CWN has released so far this year, several other turtles remain in Audubon’s care as they continue to recover.

Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the smallest and most endangered of all sea turtle species. Once plentiful in the Gulf of the Mexico, they are now critically endangered due to habitat loss, pollution, boat strikes and bycatch from commercial fishing.

Coordinated by Audubon Nature Institute, the Coastal Wildlife Network (CWN) is NOAA Fisheries’ primary stranding network response partner for marine mammals (dolphins and whales) and sea turtles in Louisiana. CWN is committed to the humane care and treatment of injured, ill, or displaced marine animals in Louisiana and is the only entity in the state responsible for the rehabilitation of live marine mammals and sea turtles. The information CWN collects from stranded animals provides a snapshot into the health of the marine environment and provides a better understanding of threats to marine mammals and sea turtles in the wild.

The public is advised to report all stranded marine mammals and sea turtles (live or dead) to CWN at 877-942-5343.

When reporting strandings, be prepared to give:

•           Exact location and/or GPS coordinates,

•           Photographs of the animal, and

•           Nature of the report (type of animal/live or dead/size, etc.).

Recommendations when reporting a live stranded animal include:

•           Put human safety above animal safety. If conditions are dangerous, do not attempt to approach the animal.

•           Keep crowds away and noise levels down to avoid causing stress to the animal.

•           Don't push an animal on shore back into the water.

•           If the animal returns to the water on its own, don't attempt to interact with it.

•           Leave all entanglements that may be present on the animal.

To donate to CWN and help their efforts to help these endangered animals, visit https://audubontransactions.org/donations/donate-cwn.html.

Last week, the American Shrimp Processors Association entered the U.S. Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery into sustainability assessments under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Certified Seafood Collaborative (CSC) Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) certification programs, two of the world’s leading wild fishery sustainability standards. 

Gulf of Mexico shrimp is the largest warm-water shrimp fishery to enter MSC or CSC RFM certification, and includes white, brown, and pink shrimp from all five Gulf of Mexico states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas). 

Shrimp fisheries, and warm-water trawl fisheries more broadly, are known for sustainability problems, including high rates of bycatch and interaction with seafloor habitat. The entry into these certifications demonstrates concrete progress in resolving these challenges, beginning 15 years ago with fishery improvement projects (FIPs) initiated by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), and subsequent FIP launches, coordination, and shrimp fishery research supported by the Audubon Nature Institute and Texas Sea Grant. Beginning in 2014, SFP initiated transition of the individual state-specific FIPs to industry leadership, to enable focus on local issues. 

"This is a major step forward for the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery in receiving recognition for their continued efforts to improve the sustainability of this industry" said Laura Picariello, Texas Sea Grant Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Program Director. "Texas Sea Grant has a long history of collaboration with the shrimp industry, particularly on bycatch reduction, and we look forward to providing continued support as they move through the assessment process."

“Working in tandem with the shrimp industry, management agencies, and other organizations committed to the sustainability of the fishery, it is rewarding to declare these FIPs completed,” said John Fallon, Director of Sustainability and Coastal Conservation, Audubon Nature Institute. “Audubon’s involvement began in 2012 and we were entrusted in 2016 to help lead and support shrimp FIPs in the Gulf of Mexico. It has truly been a collective effort and we are proud to have played a role in helping this iconic fishery reach such an important milestone.”

SFP now facilitates the U.S. Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Supply Chain Roundtable (SR), which brings together participants - leading shrimp processors and distributors - in a pre-competitive environment to address overarching issues across the Gulf of Mexico, such as improving bycatch data collection. Since 2021 SFP’s work on Gulf shrimp has been funded by these processors.

“The Gulf of Mexico shrimp industry has been a leader in sustainability improvements for decades, but 15 years ago a handful of proactive industry representatives came together in some of the earliest Fishery Improvement Projects,” said Megan Westmeyer, director of the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Supply Chain Roundtable at SFP. “These Fishery Improvement Projects, along with the Supply Chain Roundtable, worked diligently to resolve the remaining sustainability issues and have reached the point where it is possible for the fishery to take this sort of major step towards third-party verification of sustainability. This is a testament to the collective work of broad and diverse organizations and people throughout the Gulf of Mexico region.”

“This has been a long but fulfilling journey,” said Nancy Mathews of Cox’s Wholesale Seafood. “From the early days of working with SFP to build the Texas and Florida shrimp FIPs, to undertaking solo industry leadership of the Florida shrimp FIP, and on to the cooperative work with many of our competitors through the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Supply Chain Roundtable, we recognize that none of us could have done this alone.”  

“In 2009 we were notified by major retailers that in order to sell wild-caught Gulf of Mexico shrimp to them we would have to be MSC certified,” said Derrick Nagle of Big Easy Foods. “Over the following years Big Easy Foods worked with many other companies to ensure continued progress in the Louisiana and Texas shrimp FIPs. In 2022, we invited other processors in the Supply Chain Roundtable to join us in entering the fishery into certification, and were thrilled to see ASPA step up as the Client Group to spearhead the process that has become a critical need for many Gulf shrimp processors.” 

Certification site visits throughout the Gulf region will occur in July. Public certification reports should be available by the end of 2023, with final determinations on the sustainability certifications expected in early 2024. Follow the CSC RFM certification here, and the MSC certification here. 

# # # 

About Sustainable Fisheries Partnership 

Founded in 2006, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is a marine conservation organization working toward a world where the oceans are healthy, all seafood is produced sustainably, and everyone has access to sustainable seafood. We leverage the power of seafood buyers and retailers in every part of the seafood supply chain to rebuild depleted fish stocks, reduce the environmental impacts of fishing and fish farming, address social issues in fishing, and advance economic opportunities for fishers and their communities. Our Supply Chain Roundtables (SRs) allow seafood suppliers to work together in a pre-competitive environment to promote and support improvements in fishery and aquaculture practices, management, and policy. Visit us at www.sustainablefish.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

 About 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.

About Texas Sea Grant

Texas Sea Grant is a unique partnership that unites the resources of the federal government, the State of Texas and universities across the state to create knowledge, tools, products and services that benefit the economy, the environment and the citizens of Texas. It is administered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is one of 34 university-based Sea Grant Programs around the country. Texas Sea Grant is a non-academic research center at Texas A&M University. The program’s mission is to improve the understanding, wise use and stewardship of Texas coastal and marine resources.

Titan is the newest penguin at Audubon Aquarium. He hatched February 10^th, and has been hatched and hand raised by Audubon team members. Raising a penguin chick is hard work and requires almost around-the-clock feedings. He is adjusting well and is now eating whole fish like the rest of penguin colony. His keepers say he prefers herring but will also dine on capelin when offered. He is growing fast and is already as big as Ocio, his father.

Titan is the third chick from penguin parents Ocio and Hubig. Their other chicks are Zion, who recently relocated to another colony the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, and Moon who remains in the Audubon colony. Keepers suggested Titan’s name because of the over 154 celestial bodies in our solar system, Titan, a moon of Saturn, is the only place besides Earth known to have liquids in the form of rivers, lakes and seas on its surface.

“African penguins like Titan are endangered and part of the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s Species Survival Plan,” said Bill Robles, Audubon Aquarium curator of birds. “As part of the plan to help save this species from extinction, we work with other accredited zoos and aquariums to follow strict breeding guidelines to ensure valuable genetics are passed on to our penguin chicks and protect the birds in our care.”

Next step for Titan is a rite of passage for all youngsters, learning to swim. After he masters his swimming lessons, he will join the rest of the birds in the colony. When the Aquarium opens on June 8, guests can spot Titan among the other penguins because he has charcoal gray feathers. He will get his signature black and white feathers early next year.  

Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the smallest and most endangered species of sea turtle. These turtles were part of a large cold-stunning event along the New England coast and were taken to Audubon’s Aquatic Center at the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center for treatment and rehabilitation. Based on their size, all were estimated to be between two and four years old. After months of recovery, each turtle was carefully released back to their native habitat by Coastal Wildlife Network staff.

These sea turtles suffered from chronic cold stunning after staying in coastal waters off Massachusetts too late into the season. Symptoms of cold-stunning can include decreased heart and respiration rates, decreased circulation, and lethargy. It can cause the turtles to float on the surface where they can suffer further cold conditions and develop shock and pneumonia.

“These nine are the first of a large group of  Kemp’s ridley sea turtles we have treated this year. It is tremendously rewarding to see them swim back into the Gulf of Mexico,” said Audubon Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding, Rescue, and Rehab Coordinator Gabriella Harlamert.  The remaining turtles need additional time to recover before they can be released.

Coordinated by Audubon Nature Institute, the Coastal Wildlife Network (CWN) is NOAA Fisheries’ primary stranding network response partner for marine mammals (dolphins and whales) and sea turtles in the State of Louisiana. CWN is committed to the humane care and treatment of injured, ill, or displaced marine animals in Louisiana and is the only entity in the state responsible for the rehabilitation of live marine mammals and sea turtles. The information CWN collects from stranded animals provides a snapshot into the health of the marine environment and provides a better understanding of threats to marine mammals and sea turtles in the wild.

The public is advised to report all stranded marine mammals and sea turtles (live or dead) to CWN at 877-942-5343.

When reporting strandings, the public should be prepared to give:

·       Exact location and/or GPS coordinates,

·       Photographs of the animal, and

·       Nature of the report (type of animal/live or dead/size, etc.).

Recommendations when reporting a live stranded animal include:

·       Put human safety above animal safety. If conditions are dangerous, do not attempt to approach the animal.

·       Keep crowds away and noise levels down to avoid causing stress to the animal.

·       Don't push an animal on shore back into the water.

·       If the animal returns to the water on its own, don't attempt to interact with it.

·       Leave all entanglements that may be present on the animal.

For more information, visit https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/cwn. To donate to CWN and help their efforts to help these endangered animals, visit https://audubontransactions.org/donations/donate-cwn.html.

The male chick hatched in an incubator February 10^th, and is being hand raised by penguin staffers. There were originally two eggs, one remained with the parents in the nest but sadly was infertile. Taking care of a penguin chick means preparing special food and almost round-the-clock feedings.  Initially the chick is fed a diet of liquids before being introduced to the fish he will eat as an adult.

Penguin chicks are covered in fluffy gray down. He won’t get his signature black and white feathers for a few more months.

The next step for this little guy is learning to swim. Penguins can practically fly underwater, but he will need to get some help from his human care givers to get used to the aquatic life before joining the rest of the birds in the Aquarium’s colony.

“African black-footed penguins are extremely endangered in the wild, so each new chick is important for the species survival,” said Bill Robles, Curator of Birds at Audubon Aquarium.  

Ocio and Hubig are also parents of Moon who is still in the Audubon colony, and of Zion, who recently left Audubon Aquarium to join a new colony at Maryland Zoo. 

“Everyone loves watching the penguins when they visit the Aquarium, many guests have their favorite penguin that they always look for. This chick is another example of the conservation work we do to help increase the numbers of these birds,” said Ron Forman, Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO.

The chick doesn’t yet have a name, but he will soon. He will be with the rest of the penguin colony when Audubon Aquarium completes its major renovation and reopens this summer.