American Zoos and Aquariums Announce 'Audubon October'

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New Orleans Audubon Nature Institute today announced "Audubon October," a month-long nationwide effort to save New Orleans' most cherished family institutions.

NEW YORK — New Orleans Audubon Nature Institute today announced "Audubon October," a month-long nationwide effort to save New Orleans' most cherished family institutions. Audubon Nature Institute operates both the New Orleans Zoo and Aquarium. Hurricane Katrina tore at Audubon's facilities, disrupted the lives of hundreds of dedicated staff members and dealt a severe blow to the Aquarium collection.


Zoos and Aquariums across the country are joining in the Audubon relief effort as they stabilize and rebuild by raising funds to help during recovery efforts. The Zoo and Aquarium community is reaching out to local facility members and supporters to request support for the Aquarium, Zoo and Species Survival Center in New Orleans.


"The American Zoo and Aquarium Association and its member institutions immediately came to the aid of Audubon. They have supported Audubon by offering help to save our wildlife collection, secure our facilities and support our staff during the devastating crisis in New Orleans," said Audubon President and CEO Ron Forman. "During the next few months we will be working to stabilize our facilities and reopen to the public. We are extremely grateful to our colleagues for the support they continue to provide to New Orleans."


Donation boxes will be set up at Zoos and Aquariums across the country throughout the month of October. Online donations may be made by visiting http://www.auduboninstitute.org/. During "Audubon October," Forman and other representatives of Audubon Nature Institute will visit local zoos and aquariums throughout the country.


Audubon Nature Institute is a private, not-for-profit member organization with a collection of world-class family institutions dedicated to "Celebrating the Wonders of Nature." More than three million people each year visit Audubon facilities in New Orleans. Audubon Nature Institute's success has been attributed to innovative public/private partnerships involving local and regional businesses, and city, state and federal government participation. Audubon Nature Institute contributes significantly to the local and regional tourism economy with an estimated $340 million annual economic impact.


Audubon operates the following facilities: Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Entergy IMAX Theatre, Audubon Park, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Audubon Center for the Research of Endangered Species, Freeport McMoran Audubon Species Survival Center, Audubon Wilderness Park and Audubon Insectarium (scheduled to open in 2006).


Source: PR Newswire, Audubon Nature Institute