Baby boom drawing visitors to New Orleans’ Audubon Zoo

Published 12:00 am Saturday, July 31, 2004

What’s cuter than a 1,000-pound baby white rhinoceros?

Only twin jaguar cubs, a baby giant anteater and the world’s first cloned African wildcat.

The baby boom at the New Orleans Audubon Zoo is keeping mothers and zookeepers busy and attracting tourists from all over the country.

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In addition to the babies, the zoo has about 2,500 animals, 350 species from around the world and takes up about 58 acres.

The Audubon Zoo is ranked a Top 5 zoo in the country, and the title is well deserved, Marketing Director Chimene Connor said.

&uot;We are in such a beautiful setting,&uot; Connor said. &uot;We have some of the most incredible landscaping and flowers and natural beauty. It’s in a really exotic setting and the animals are in their natural habitats.&uot;

Another exhibit at the zoo includes the authentic Louisiana swamp, home of white alligators and Choctaw, a 6-month-old bobcat rescued by hunters after being abandoned by her mother.

The zoo grounds also include a simulator ride that takes participants on a gorilla safari, a swallow’s journey through Africa or the adventures of a raindrop. A ride costs $5.

A new addition to the zoo is the Endangered Species Carousel in the Children’s Zoo area, which also has new landscaping and several new children’s activities. A ride on the carousel is $2.

Water lovers can also visit the Audubon Aquarium of the America’s on Canal Street. An adult ticket is $15 and a child’s ticket is $8. Those who visit both the zoo and the aquarium will get a discount.

The aquarium displays the underwater world of the Caribbean Sea, the Amazon Rainforest and the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico.