New Orleans Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and the Audubon Insectarium, part of the city’s Audubon Nature Institute, are now under the same roof. The insectarium moved from its home at the U.S. Custom House to the former IMAX theater at the aquarium site, located at the foot of Canal Street.
Combining the two attractions in one location allows guests to view both and gives the insectarium — which includes a massive indoor butterfly garden with river views — more space, according to Melissa Lee, director of public affairs. In addition, the aquarium has undergone extensive renovations, expanding exhibits for a more personal guest experience, she said.
The Gulf of Mexico exhibit, for instance, continues to be the aquarium’s largest, at 17 feet deep, with 400,000 gallons of saltwater for sharks, stingrays and sea turtles, among other native Gulf species. The centerpiece remains the fabricated oil rig that explains how Gulf rigs create man-made aquatic habitats.
Additionally, plants were removed from the Amazon-Orinoco rainforest exhibit and replaced with those that better educate guests on their contribution to medicines, among other attributes.
“We’ve done a better job at educating guests on how Amazon plants, animals and people depend on each other,” Lee said.
The bayou exhibit still features the unique white alligator, there’s now free-flying birds in the Amazon exhibit and, of course, there are adorable penguins, some of the most endangered in the world.
At the insectarium, meanwhile, 20 different butterfly species flit among guests — sometimes landing on a lucky patron — while, at the same time, those visitors enjoy dramatic views of the Mississippi River. Guests may want to sample insect-related foods at Bug Appetite, such as cricket king cake during Mardi Gras, and chocolate cricket cookies.
“We have good chefs around these parts, and they know how to make these tasty,” Lee said.
The Audubon attractions also offer “Wild Encounters,” a chance to get up close with animals. At the aquarium, guests may snorkel in the reef exhibit and meet a penguin, while at the insectarium, visitors can witness a butterfly’s first flight.
Group tickets are available for each attraction or for both together, and travelers can also add the Audubon Zoo in uptown New Orleans to their tickets.
