Audubon Aquatic Center

Audubon’s Aquatic Center, housed at Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, launched a new era in animal care when it began operations in 2008. The expansive facility provides holding and breeding tanks for Audubon Aquarium of the Americas' extensive marine collection.

The Aquatic Center also serves as headquarters for Audubon’s coordination of the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program, which offers rehabilitation to marine species stranded along Louisiana’s Gulf Coast.  LMMSTRP works with several other organizations to respond to stranded marine mammals and sea turtles, to collect data about existing populations of marine animals along the Louisiana coast and waterways, and to help researchers develop new knowledge in support of the conservation of marine species.

During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 the Aquatic Center became a 24/7 critical care unit for endangered marine mammals and sea turtles rescued from the Gulf of Mexico. Certified veterinarians and aquarists worked long hours to care for these animals until the were once again healthy and ready for release back into their native environment.