No lion, New Orleans has missed its zoo. But on June 3, the Audubon Nature Institute re-opened the Audubon Zoo with safety measures in place. The facility is limited to 25% capacity and visitors must book an entry time on-line ahead of time. Once inside, the zoo now has a set path for visitors to follow through the exhibits to prevent bunching. In addition, hay bales and green painted paw prints on the ground around exhibits encourage social distancing. Indoor and interactive exhibits like the reptile house, the carousel and Cool Zoo remain closed as does Monkey Hill. The animals, however, appeared genuinely excited to see people for the first time in weeks.
A lioness and cub watch visitors watching them as the Audubon Zoo re-opened on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
Akai Bartholomew, 6, and his mother Nicole (L) watch the flamingos as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
An orangutan watches visitors at the Asia exhibit as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
An orangutan shelters a baby against the rain as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
The zoo set up a new guided path through the exhibits to encourage spacing as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
An alpaca appears to need a haircut like the rest of us as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
The Loup Garou is masked and offering sanitizer in the Louisiana Swamp exhibit as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
American alligators gather under the walkway in the Louisiana Swamp exhibit as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
A black bear chills at home in the Louisiana Swamp exhibit as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
Hay bales and green pawprints encourage social distancing around the exhibits as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
A flamingo looks back at visitors as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
Audubon Nature Institute Executive Vice President Laurie Conkerton answers questions and encourages social distancing as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
An Asian Elephant walks about its habitat as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
Lindsay Marks of Children’s Hospital hands out monkey and elephant bags as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Children’s Hospital sponsored Wednesday’s re-opening. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
An alpaca watches a visitor in the Jaguar Jungle section as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
A sign encourages visitors to stay “one lion’s length” apart from other visitors as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
Valero the jaguar eyes visitors in the Jaguar Jungle section as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
Visitors look at an American alligator in the Louisiana Swamp exhibit as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
Visitors watch a giraffe as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
The two male lion cubs Haji and Asani, born in January, were on display to visitors for the first time as the Audubon Zoo re-opened on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
The two male lion cubs Haji and Asani, born in January, were on display to visitors for the first time as the Audubon Zoo re-opened on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
Hay bales and green pawprints encourage social distancing around the exhibits as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
Hand-sanitizing stations, a mapped route of the exhibits, as well as hay bales and green paw prints to encourage social distancing are part of the safety precautions as the Audubon Zoo re-opens on a limited basis on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)
Wednesday was also the first time for visitors to see the two male lions cubs in their habitat. Haji and Asani were born in January but had yet to be introduced to the exhibit when COVID-19 shut down the zoo. The zoo’s staff welcomed visitors individually as they made their way amongst the habitats. The nature institute’s Executive Vice President Laurie Conkerton took a shift on one of the Cool Zoo’s lifeguard chairs deployed on a pathway to help answer questions and encourage social distancing. “We look forward to reconnecting the community with the animals in our care,” said Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO Ron Forman. “While our doors were closed to help stop the spread of COVID-19, Audubon’s dedicated staff continued to provide outstanding care for our animals and parks. Our guests have been dearly missed by the Audubon family and we look forward to welcoming you back.”
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Michael DeMocker has been a photojournalist in New Orleans for over twenty years. He’s been the National Press Photographer Association’s Regional Photographer of the Year three times and loves photographing all things New Orleans. He lives Uptown with his wife, son, and two dogs of varying intelligence.
