NEW ORLEANS – Thousands of people, some in tears, streamed into the Audubon Zoo on Friday, the first day it was open since Hurricane Katrina.
“It’s a city without kids and families, and a city without kids and families is a city without soul and heart,” said Ron Forman, president of Audubon Nature Institute, which operates the zoo. “So we just thought it was critical to get the thing open for Thanksgiving weekend.”
The reopening was so emotional for many visitors that the zoo posted huggers at the front gates, Forman said.
“As people walk in, they’re crying,” he said. “This is a time of sadness in this city.”
Like much in the city, the zoo has struggled to regain its footing after the hurricane. Most of the animals are fine, although two otters and a raccoon died and about 2,000 trees were destroyed.
Associated Press
A pair of giraffes take a long look at a visitor Friday at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans.
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