Audubon Zoo — Attraction in New Orleans

Audubon Zoo: A Disturbing Display of Neglect and Suffering

Zoos should be places of care, conservation, and respect for wildlife. Yet, Audubon Zoo fails miserably at even the most basic standards of animal welfare. What I witnessed during my visit was nothing short of heartbreaking—a tiger pacing back and forth for 45 agonizing minutes, searching for fresh water that did not exist. Instead, it was left with a stagnant, filthy pool, completely unfit for drinking.

The Suffering of a Captive Tiger

Tigers are meant to roam, hunt, and drink from clean rivers—not be trapped in artificial enclosures, deprived of their most fundamental needs. Watching this tiger was gut-wrenching. It was desperate, anxious, and hopeless. Pacing is a well-known sign of zoochosis, a severe psychological disorder caused by captivity. This was not a well-cared-for animal—it was a prisoner suffering from neglect.

Where were the caretakers? Why was this animal left in such deplorable conditions? A zoo that claims to care about wildlife should never allow this level of mistreatment.

A Pattern of Neglect Across the Zoo

The tiger was not the only victim of Audubon Zoo’s disgraceful lack of care. Across the park, I saw: • Primates sitting in boredom, with no stimulation or enrichment. • Big cats in barren enclosures, devoid of proper shelter or hiding spots. • Multiple animals with only filthy, algae-covered water to drink. • An overall atmosphere of neglect, as if the animals were an afterthought.

This is unacceptable. Audubon Zoo is not a sanctuary—it is a facility profiting off the suffering of confined animals.

Audubon Zoo Must Be Held Accountable

This institution has no excuse for such inhumane conditions. Immediate action must be taken, including: Providing clean, fresh water for every animal, at all times. Implementing enrichment activities to prevent mental deterioration. Regular welfare inspections by independent organizations. Expanding enclosures to better mimic natural habitats.

If Audubon Zoo cannot meet these basic standards, it has no right to keep animals in captivity.

Final Verdict: A Shameful Example of Animal Exploitation

Audubon Zoo is failing its animals. The suffering tiger I witnessed is just one example of a larger, systemic issue. Until major improvements are made, this facility should not be supported.

If you care about animals, do not give Audubon Zoo your money. Demand better. Speak out. And most importantly, hold this institution accountable for its cruelty...

My teenage son and I just returned from our first trip to New Orleans. One thing I truly wanted to do was visit the zoo! So, our second day there, we hopped on the bus and headed to the zoo. Note - we took the streetcar back and did a little mini food tour through the Garden District. Overall, I am quite impressed with public transportation in NOLA, and the mobile app is awesome!

I love this zoo!!!! Yay, so several attractions were closed. And some of the animals were totally MIA. But we still really enjoyed our day here. It's very walkable, and we saw some great animals! And, you know, it's kind of cool to me that I felt like I could have just jumped into several of the animal enclosures. I know, I'm probably a weirdo. Like the sea lions. There was just something cool about thinking I could jump in at any moment and swim with them - not that I would! But it made me feel like I was closer to the experience than being so far removed. That intimacy that you don't get with some zoos.

And oh yes, some people WERE actually getting too close to the animals. There was an emu exhibit (I think it was the emus), and this stupid mom let her kids walk right up to the fence and stick their hands in. There was a barrier they just ignored. Her kids were announcing to us that they were sticking their arms in! I wanted to tell them emus like to eat little boys, but that didn't seem right. That is dumb parenting, and that is why most zoos have to make it so you can't even get close - to protect the stupid. Show some respect, people, so you idiots don't ruin it for the rest of us.

Anyway, my son and I really enjoyed our time here and all the animals we saw. I would go back in a heartbeat and recommend. Yes, zoos kind of make me sad, but I would also like to think these animals are treated better than those in the wild. Nobody is going to chase them down and eat them, so I guess that's a plus. Maybe it's a little country club for them, even though the one gorilla with his blanket seemed bored out of his mind. But overall, I really do like this zoo, regardless of how you feel about...

My spouse and I haven't visited the zoo since they announced the renovation of the elephant section, unsure of how long ago that was. We took our 19-month-old son, grateful he entered for free due to the high ticket prices, closed exhibits, and expensive food and drinks. Despite bringing our own drinks, staying for hours made us hungry and thirsty, leading us to spend $30 on a sandwich we split, chips, and French fries for our son, leaving us still hungry. My husband was going to splurge on a beer but it was $11 when he said he can get that exact beer at the gas station for $2. Overhearing other families complain about the prices and exhibits we knew it wasn't just us being over dramatic. We noticed the animals appeared sad and lonely compared to previous visits. I am sure they are well taken care of, but they didn't seem to have many companions like they used to. Many exhibits seemed stretched thin, possibly relocating animals. Also, there is a sand area for kids to play with benches for parents to sit at. I almost slipped twice, and my son did, too. Understandable it's sand, but it's slick underneath and realized on the edges there's broken concrete that easily a kid can bust their head open. Please fix that area or be careful if you visit and are reading this. Maybe it was just this one trip there, but we felt it was just ok, and we are glad we visited since it's been a few years. We just have great memories of that zoo and it used to be so lively. This trip there didn't seem the same, and I'm not sure why. The energy was just off and we were so excited to be there and see the new renovations, but some exhibits were still closed like the giraffes. Overall, it's a nice clean zoo. Everyone was nice during our visit. I would reccommend to visit and experience it for yourself because, like i said, it could have just been that particular day for us that we only had an ok time. I do miss the paper maps too because it was like a souvenir, and kids loved to look at the bright, colorful map and figure out where they are going. I think they should...