Audubon Zoo

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

4/5 Expert Rating

Founded: 1914
Website: audubonnatureinstitute.org/zoo
Featured Species: American Alligator, African Elephant, Jaguar, Orangutan, California Sea Lion
Species: African Elephant American Alligator California Sea Lion Jaguar Orangutan
Accreditation: AZA Accredited

Audubon Zoo is a 58-acre zoological garden in historic Audubon Park in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Part of the Audubon Nature Institute since its 1914 founding, the zoo is acclaimed for its Louisiana Swamp exhibit — considered one of the finest representations of a local ecosystem at any American zoo — and its diverse collection of over 2,000 animals.

The zoo underwent a transformative renovation in the 1980s that established it as one of the top zoos in the country. The African Savanna, Jaguar Jungle, and Sea Lion Exhibit showcase animals from around the world, while the Louisiana Swamp and Monkey Hill (the highest point in New Orleans) celebrate the city’s unique character and natural heritage.

Audubon Zoo holds AZA accreditation and is a leader in Gulf Coast wildlife conservation, with particular expertise in species affected by hurricanes, oil spills, and coastal erosion.