NEW ORLEANS – As the late afternoon was lolling toward dusk, Dan Maloney was on a mission. The giraffes needed food and water. He hopped into his green golf cart and headed down the path past the reptile center, around a sharp curve near the bear exhibit, darted slightly left to avoid a scurrying rabbit and finally parked in front of a wooden blind overlooking the giraffe’s spread of land.
Maloney, vice president and general curator of the Audubon Zoo, has not left his post since before Hurricane Katrina struck. He and about a dozen other workers have been clearing trees and feeding and watering the 1,500 animals living on 58 acres.
Located in uptown New Orleans across Audubon Park from Tulane University, the zoo is situated on some of the highest ground in the city. Water came up to the entrance during the height of Katrina, but the zoo itself was spared from flood.
“We stayed because the animals can’t leave,” Maloney said. He said two small animals died in the storm and that some waterfowl are missing. “And one alligator,” he said, “but I think it’s just in another lagoon.”
But the white tigers, bears and Satchmo the baby rhino came through the storm fine. Unlike the Miami zoo, which herded some animals into buildings, Maloney let his animals stay outside, figuring the stress from the storm would be less than if the flamingos were locked in a restroom. “We have five flamingo chicks, still with their down, and they came through fine,” he said.
Maloney, dressed in a zoo T-shirt, tan cargo pants and a bush hat, enlisted some visitors to help him water the giraffes. “They’re really thirsty,” he said.
A military helicopter roared overhead. “It would be a real shame if these animals made it through the storm and then get injured or killed because they got spooked by these helicopters,” Maloney said. “I wish they would declare the zoo area a no-fly zone.”
He coaxed the giraffes with his bucket of water. Another helicopter buzzed by. He said he was getting supplies from the zoo in Baton Rouge and had a promise of help from the Houston zoo.
As Maloney spoke, Alex the giraffe lowered his majestic head and stuck his tongue in the bucket. He slurped up a good bit of water and as he raised his long neck skyward, he spit a stream of water toward Maloney and the visitors.
“Hey, Alex,” Maloney laughed. Alex bent his head, took another long drink and, apparently not listening to his keeper, sprayed him again.
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