FIRST OILED SEA TURTLE MAKES MOVE TO AUDUBON AQUARIUM
July 1, 2010                                                                                New Orleans, LA
The world’s most photographed turtles are on exhibit at Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans.
 
After being featured on CNN, ABC Nightly News and elsewhere around the globe, four rehabilitated Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles will be on exhibit for Audubon Aquarium visitors, serving as ambassadors for their species and telling the story of wildlife affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
 
These four Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles are among more than 100 turtles nursed back to health at  Audubon Aquatic Center, a non-public facility of Audubon Nature Institute, which also operates Audubon Aquarium, Audubon Zoo and Audubon Insectarium.  All the turtles were rescued from oily waters in the Gulf of Mexico.
 
 “One of the turtles on exhibit is LA-15, the very first oiled sea turtle that came into our care on May 18th at Audubon Nature Institute as a result of the spill,” says Michele Kelley, stranding coordinator for Audubon Nature Institute. “For a staff as dedicated as ours, it’s a special treat to see that LA-15 and the rest of the group are healthy and helping people learn about the efforts to save sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico.”
 
LA-15 and friends can be found in various exhibits in the Caribbean gallery and Mississippi River gallery.
 
Audubon Aquarium is located at 1 Canal Street in New Orleans and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am-5pm.
 
Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program (LMMSTRP), coordinated by Audubon Aquarium, has been designated as the primary responder for the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of all marine mammals (dolphins, whales and manatees) and sea turtles along the Louisiana coast. Audubon Nature Institute is committed to the welfare of aquatic wildlife during the oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico and our community's successful recovery. 
 
Audubon Nature Institute operates parks and museums in New Orleans dedicated to Celebrating the Wonders of Nature, including Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Entergy IMAX® Theatre, Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Wilderness Park, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, Audubon Park, and its newest attraction, Audubon Insectarium.
 
For more information about LMMSTRP or Audubon’s efforts during the oil spill recovery, please visit www.AudubonInstitute.org/gulf-oil-spill-resources.   
 
Media Contact:
                Meghan Calhoun
                Audubon Nature Institute
                (504)378-2693
                mcalhoun@auduboninstitute.org