CONSERVATION Celebrating Each day, our partners here at the Wonders home and around the globe of Nature work with us on fulfilling our 2016 shared goals. All eight objectives of the Audubon Nature Institute mission have conservation at their core, particularly our pledges to preserve native and to enhance the care and survival of wildlife through research and conservation. That’s why we wanted to show you the scope of Audubon’s conservation commitment through this report. These projects are top of mind for us every day, and we work on them together—donors, members, guests, employees, and peer organizations around the world. From the smallest act of recycling a piece of paper to multi-national coalitions saving oceans away, we know we must keep pushing forward. The stakes are high, and together, we are making progress.

Sincerely,

Ron Forman President and CEO Audubon Nature Institute FOUNDING SUPPORTER 2016 NEWS of AZA’s SAFE Program

Audubon is New Elephant Environment As the world’s largest land , elephants have an active a profound effect on our ecosystem, so Audubon is $919,908 participant in the Wildlife part of a nationwide initiative of banding together Dedicated to conservation initiatives Conservation to fund elephant conservation. At Audubon our Society’s elephants settled in recently to a spacious new monumental that raises awareness to our 850,000 annual visitors 96 Elephants and shows people how they can help keep these initiative. from disappearing forever. 19,710 Hours Dedicated to conservation initiatives

Participated 20 in more than Mississippi 100 37 Field Species Sandhill Crane Programs program has Survival supported worked to Plans and help these Studbooks endangered

240 Cubic Yards Mulch created from tree clippings for garden

1 beds across Audubon Nature Institute Since 2000, Whooping Crane Recovery Ongoing work in rescuing North America’s 500+ Hours a record- most endangered earned Audubon Dedicated to this program breaking Nature Institute and three other organizations a 85 whooping prestigious award in 2016—the North American crane eggs Conservation Award from the Association of have been Zoos and Aquariums. The Whooping Crane laid at the Recovery Program sparked Saving Animals from (SAFE) Species encouraging progress for this Survival species through collaboration Audubon Nature Institute has been a supporter of AZA’s Center. in innovative conservation science and breeding. SAFE program since its inception. Audubon’s involvement in the creation of the program helped get the program operational. As such, Audubon is a Founding Supporter of the SAFE program and one of the top zoos that showed the commitment. Audubon has continued its support through a substantial, multi- pledge to help ensure that the program continues to mature.

Connections to Our Wetlands

Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh hit the shelves in time for the holidays in 2016, connecting children with the beauty and importance of Louisiana Wetlands through a partnership with Audubon Nature Institute and the Pelicans. Proceeds supported wetlands education initiatives. 2 In a first- of-its-kind Creative Collaboration partnership, Conservation On 475 acres of land on the outskirts of New San Diego Near and Far Orleans, Audubon Nature Institute and Global Zoo Global are building an unprecedented teams with From far-flung locales such as Audubon to facility to maintain numbers of species Tinian and Saipan to familiar breed some dangerously in decline—a modern-day ark areas close to home, Audubon of the world’s safeguarding animals for generations to come, Nature Institute participates endangered focusing on science, sustainability and survival. in field projects having a real- animals. world impact on wildlife. Our work with Jamaican iguanas and Louisiana pines snakes found our experts in sometimes less-than- ideal conditions, bolstering populations of species like these to give them a shot at survival in the wild.

Partnering for Outreach

The Zoo Conservation Outreach Group (ZCOG) promotes capacity building and collaborative zoo and aquarium-based efforts throughout the Americas. Audubon is especially proud to be a member of the ZCOG Leadership Circle, which provides critical operations and programming support allowing ZCOG to pursue its core mission. Audubon also sponsors a Species Conservation and Management scholarship to help improve records-keeping standards in developing country zoos and aquariums.

$35,400 Dedicated to this program 3 Endangered BIG BIRTHS animal baby highlights In 2016, Audubon Zoo witnessed the birth of two The black- critically endangered black-and-white ruffed and-white lemurs, the first born at the Zoo since the lemur Penguin chicks hatched at the ruffed lemur parent pair arrived in 2013. Audubon, Aquarium since 1990. is critically like other zoos that are part of the 54 Survival Plan (SSP), follows strict and breeding recommendations for breeding. this species This ensures that in zoos is within the breeding population African painted puppies essential to remains at a high level to help born at the Zoo. their survival. sustain a healthy population. 10

Mississippi sandhill crane chicks raised at Audubon moved to 4 the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge.

Endangered black-and-white 2 ruffed lemurs born at the Zoo.

Endangered piglets 2 born at the Zoo.

4 196 Hours To raise one baby penguin at the Aquarium African Puppies Star at the Zoo Penguin Preservation Ten African painted dog pups mesmerized Audubon Audubon Aquarium of Zoo guests in the fall of the Americas celebrated 2016. The highly-celebrated Penguin Awareness Day pups were the first ever in 2016 noting the 54 born at Audubon Zoo. An penguin chicks hatched endangered species, these at the Aquarium since playful pups represent 1990. Diminishing food some of the most effective sources in the wild reduce predators in Africa. African penguin populations so painted keep prey breeding in human care is species in check and important for the survival of protect local African this endangered species. habitat. Audubon is one Audubon’s aviculturists of only a handful of zoos have dedicated more breeding the distinctively- than 10,000 hours of raising marked canines native to chicks and helping bolster sub-Saharan Africa. the population.

Babirusa Babies A Rare Find Quirky and unique, Audubon babirusa are extremely Garden and Insectarium important to maintaining introduced visitors to the of their something they’d likely native forest never seen before: man- home. With threats to faced bugs. Although the species from hunting common in their native and habitat loss, babirusa Malaysia, this unusual babies are always cause species of stink bug is a for celebration. Audubon rare find in New Orleans is one of only a few zoos and made an impression breeding and caring for on guests. Curators these animals. Two new began efforts to breed babirusa piglets named the distinctive bugs as Ginger and Ivy pranced 2016 drew to a close. into the hearts of guests at Audubon Zoo in October.

5 PROGRAMS 2016 Program Highlights Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival The Audubon Center is a research center on the west Coastal Wildlife Network Aquatic bank of New Orleans dedicated to science, Center at sustainability and the survival of disappearing $162,508 | 3,600 hours the Survival animal species. The Survival Center sits on 1,200 Center serves acres of land licensed from the U.S. Coast Guard as an animal and houses several innovative and successful rehab facility. conservation programs. Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries $550,000 | 9,400 hours

Whooping Crane and Mississippi Sandhill Crane Recovery Projects $175,000 | 10,700+ hours

International Iguana Foundation Jamaican Iguana $10,300 | 300 hours

6 Coastal Gulf United Wildlife for Lasting Network Fisheries

Dolphins Blue Crab A juvenile dolphin rescued Louisiana’s blue crab in late 2015 became the fishery became the first first ever to be rescued, to receive G.U.L.F.’s rehabilitated and released Responsible Fisheries in Louisiana. He was Management Certification released into the Gulf of in 2016, ensuring Mexico after more than responsible practices six months of rehabilitation for harvesting crabs at Freeport-McMoRan and enhancing the Audubon Species Survival marketability of these Center. When last spotted delicious delicacies. in summer, 2016, the dolphin was thriving back in his natural habitat.

Sea Turtles Sustainable Young green sea turtles nicknamed “Bubba” Seafood and “Peanut” were Dinners released into Gulf of The Sustainable Seafood Mexico waters after Dinner series presented by intensive rehabilitation the Gulf United for Lasting at Freeport-McMoRan Fisheries (G.U.L.F.) Chef Audubon Species Survival Council continued to be Center. They are the a culinary highlight of latest of nearly 200 sea the year. 2016 took these turtles Audubon’s Coastal popular dinners to a new Wildlife Network has level in the second year, rescued since 2010. with a growing roster of high-profile chefs and an expanding awareness among diners about all the reasons we want to make sure our Gulf of Mexico has a healthy population.

7 Raising Mississippi Butterfly Effect Sandhill Cranes Audubon’s program with While it’s true that small the endangered sub- things can have large species Mississippi sandhill impact, at Audubon crane (MSC) goes back Butterfly Garden and more than 20 years and Insectarium the term has produced more than “butterfly effect” has 200 chicks, bolstering the broader meaning. The MSC population in the only imports these place these cranes still only from butterfly fly, the Mississippi Sandhill farms that do the important Crane National Wildlife work of keeping tropical Refuge. This enduring forests intact by slowing labor of love includes clear-cutting, and costume-raising chicks and providing livelihood for a host of other assisted locals. It is a small act that reproduction techniques. impacts habitats around Audubon houses about 50 the world. of the cranes at Freeport- McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center.

Innovative New Hope for Education Whooping Cranes There was new hope for Audubon Nature whooping cranes in 2016. Institute’s education Once ubiquitous across programs offer a wide Louisiana, these imposing range of programs for birds teetered on the both young and old. brink of extinction. But Students love coming now Audubon, Louisiana to Audubon attractions, Department of Wildlife & and teachers know Fisheries (LDWF), and other these students are facilities are working to budding stewards of our reintroduce them to their environment. Programs Louisiana native habitat on-site are tailored to using some of the same nurture with a varied techniques that made the curriculum of programs. Mississippi sandhill crane program so successful.

8 Reaching Around the World

Audubon Nature Institute participates 1 7 in more than 100 Species Survival Plans 2 6 and Studbooks across amphibians, , birds and mammals. 3 10 5 8 Highlights from our participation in 9 AZA Cooperative Programs include: 4

1. UNITED STATES 11 • American Black • Desert Pupfish 4. CENTRAL/ • Lined Seahorse • Black Howler Monkey • Louisiana Pine Snake • Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloth • Sand Shark • Hyacinth Macaw • Southern Sea • 5. AFRICA 6. INDIA 9. • Texas Blind Salamander • King Vulture • African Painted Dog • Nicobar Pigeon • Bali Mynah • Whooping Crane • Maned • African Penguin • Zebra Shark • Komodo Dragon • Plush-crested Jay • Bongo Antelope • North Sulawesi Babirusa 2. CUBA • Stingrays: • East African Eland 7. ASIA • Sumatran Orangutan • Cuban Amazon Parrot Bigtooth River Ray • Eastern Black and White • Asian Elephant Colobus Ocellated River Ray • Asian Small-clawed Otter 10. MARIANA ISLANDS • Mandrill 3. PANAMA Tiger River Ray • Mariana Fruit Dove • Pink-backed Pelican • Panamanian Golden White-Blotched River Ray 8. MALAYSIA • Red River Hog (Ahogado) Frog • Malayan Great Argus 11. AUSTRALIA • Southern White Rhino • Panamanian Golden • Malayan • Abdominalis Seahorse (Sora) Frog • Western Lowland Gorilla • Malayan Tiger • Prehensile-tailed Skink • False Gharial

9 Educating INSPIRATION about the natural world in 2016 The ZOOmobile, AquaVan, Bugmobile and Wetlands Audubon’s Express are rolling ambassadors for Audubon’s education conservation mission, visiting schools throughout the programs 933,245 Visitors metro area—free of charge! Other stops at libraries, travel beyond enjoyed an educational program summer camps and community events meant that our doors to nearly 50,000 people—most of them children— those who experienced a visit from one of these want to learn. memorable outreach vehicles in 2016. 203,423 Student field trip and group visitors

4 36,000 Outreach Engaged Scouts Member Vehicles can earn households reached badges at the supporting 45,000+ Zoo and Audubon’s students Aquarium mission

115,000+ People Receive at least one Audubon Nature Institute

10 electronic communication each month Audubon Catering The first Louisiana caterer to be certified by the National Green GREEN TEAM Restaurant Association Walking the walk, Audubon Our green employees value the Most Common Recycled Materials team leaders contributions we make meet every behind-the-scenes at Audubon Nature Institute month to through recycling and discuss new our Green Team efforts. ways to We constantly seek out reduce waste new ways to reduce, at work. reuse, and recycle. Elephant Contributions Audubon uses elephant droppings for composting

Green Team Leaders 30 across Audubon facilities THREE 720 Months compost heap 50-gallon Cubic transition rain barrels Yards to usable collect soil mix. rainwater of debris composted to water and Audubon recycled plants 11 MAKE A DIFFERENCE Audubon Nature Institute is a 501(c)3 not for profit that operates a family of ten and parks dedicated to nature. Working together, we can JOIN VOLUNTEER create a bright future for generations to come. The Audubon Nature As an Audubon volunteer, Institute family is growing we put you to work helping AudubonNatureInstitute.org every day. Join this wildlife! For example, in 2016, forward-thinking group of Audubon volunteers planted environmental citizens who 1,696 native trees, shrubs, are ensuring our children grasses and flowers at have a future surrounded Audubon Louisiana Nature by the wonders of nature. Center over the course Become an Audubon of three weekends. That’s Nature Institute member. making a difference!

AudubonNatureInstitute.org/join AudubonNatureInstitute.org/volunteer

DONATE Audubon Zoo AUDUBON NATURE INSTITUTE Donate to Audubon Nature 6500 ACCREDITED Institute and invest in the New Orleans, LA 70118 future of our natural world. (504) 861-5107 Audubon Aquarium If you have any questions AudubonNatureInstitute.org of the Americas about making a donation, ACCREDITED you can reach the Development Department at (504) 861-5107 or Freeport-McMoRan [email protected]. Audubon Species Survival Center AudubonNatureInstitute.org/donate 12 CERTIFIED