Hurricane Katrina Kills Aquarium

[BrookeLea]

Hey guys...I just thought I'd post here because nobody else seems to understand or be upset about it as I am.

I'm from New Orleans, and I actually moved in with my fiance 4 hours away from New Orleans THREE days before Katrina hit. Before my fiance asked me to move in with him, I had an apartment lined up right in the middle of the city, right in the middle of all the disaster. So, I was lucky, unlike so many others...

Anyway, a week or so ago, my grandmaw told me that all the fish at the Aquarium of the Americas were killed in the storm. I've been so sad about it. I LOVED the aquarium and the fish there have been a big part of my life and brought me so much joy since I was a little girl. We donated money to the aquarium when it was being built and there was a brick there with my family's names on it. It was always fun to search for. One fish was especially special to me. One of the big sharks who had very funny teeth. Apparently, when he was in the wild he tried to eat something that was too big, and his jaw became permenantly disfigured, leaving him with what a child would consider the funniest face in the world. I thought it was sad when I was older, not quite so funny. My brother, my cousins and I would sit and watch him forever and anytime I took anyone new to the aquarium, I couldn't wait to show off the funny-toothed shark. I'm especially sad to know that he was lost in the storm.

It makes me feel better to know that there were some survivors, like the penguins, the GIANT sea turtle named Midas (another favorite of mine), the sea dragons, the white alligator that's been there since he was little and has grown up to be soooo big and handsome and the birds.

One of my tanks was still in New Orleans (it hadn't made the move with me yet) and it was out of power for a couple of weeks. I got to go home and pick it up Sunday. I only had a few livebearer losses, so I fared pretty well, I'd say. My tank's all set up at my new house and the fish are safe and sound here.

Here's a link to an article that I found. Aquarium of the Americas.

Anyway, I feel better already after posting this, because I feel like I can "talk" to you guys about it and have you understand, rather than think I'm crazy and soft-hearted.

 

[Ben]

Terrible diaster for humans and animals alike
Sorry to hear the Aquarium's generators never held up, i hope it recovers

DD

 

[BrookeLea]

Another Article

 

[trace1]

thats awful, was nearly crying readin that it makes ya so sad to hear of things like that. think the thing is most people tend to be more concerned with propertys n people. not many think of the poor animals that suffer as well in these distasters.
all poor animals

 

[BrookeLea]

Terrible diaster for humans and animals alike
Sorry to hear the Aquarium's generators never held up, i hope it recovers

DD

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I just read that it may be up and running again in a year...sooner than I had thought.

 

[rdd1952]

Actually they died as a result of the storm but not during it. Shortly after the storm, there was an article online that stated that all but one flamingo survived the storm. The staff was running equipment (filters, etc) off generators and the fish were doing fine. A later article said that the fish had died because the staff had to be evacuated for their own safety due to the looting, violence and concerns over disease and unsafe conditons. When they left, there was no one to keep the generators running. With the high heat, the water temps went up, depleating oxygen and killing the fish. They were able to save the albino alligator, the sea turtle and some other animals. We were in NO in June and I really enjoyed the aquarium. Sad that they lost so many fish. The last article said that it would be at least a year before it would reopen.

 

[BrookeLea]

Actually they dies as a result of the storm but not during it. Shortly after the storm, there was an orticle online that stated that all but one flamingo survived the storm. The staff was running equipment (filters, etc) off generators and the fish were doing fine. A later article said that the fish had died becasue the staff had to be evacuated for their own safety due to the looting, violence and concerns over disease and unsafe conditons. WHen they left, there was no one to keep the generators running. With the high heat, the water temps went up, depleating oxygen and killing the fish. They were able to save the albino alligator, the sea turtle and some other animals. We were in NO in June and I really enjoyed the aquarium. Sad that they loast so many fish. The last article said that it would be at least a year before it would reopen.

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There were no flamingos at the aquarium... And it's not that there was no one there to run the generators, the generators broke down. Some of the local police did a lot of work to keep some of the animals alive after the employees had to be evacuated. I think that it was nice of the to go out of their way to do that.

 

[rdd1952]

BrookLea, if you ever get a chance to go to Chattanooga, their aquariums are unbelievable. We actually went from NO to Chattanooga on our way back home. They have the FW in one building and the SW in a second seperate building. That is the best one I have ever been to. I may be wrong about the kind of bird that they lost. I thought it was a flamingo but couldn't remember seeing any there.

 

[BrookeLea]

BrookLea, if you ever get a chance to go to Chattanooga, their aquariums are unbelievable. We actually went from NO to Chattanooga on our way back home. They have the FW in one building and the SW in a second seperate building. That is the best one I have ever been to. I may be wrong about the kind of bird that they lost. I thought it was a flamingo but couldn't remember seeing any there.

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The Chattanooga aquarium sounds really cool! I hope I get the chance to see it sometime. When I was living in Savannah, GA I got to go to the aquarium in Charleston, SC and that one was pretty nice, as well. (There was an anteater there!)

I know that the Audobon Research Center lost a whooping crane, could that be what you're thinking of?

 

[rdd1952]

We were at the Charleston Aruarium last month. It was nice but doesn't compare to NO or Chattanooga. I did like the anteater in the Amazon section. My wife wanted one for a pet. He was cute though and would be creap to feed too. I think I could find some ants. I am trying to work out a trip to Atlanta to see the new aquarium there. I think it is scheduled to open on Thanksgiving weekend. They will (pretty sure it is already there) have a whale shark there. BIGGGGG FISH.

Edit: After reading the second article, it is nice to know that some of the tarpons survived. Also amazing that the sea dragons made it (had read that a week or so ago in the other article). Those are supposed to be very delicate "fish". I don't really know if they are classified as a fish or not.

 

[Synirr]

thats awful, was nearly crying readin that

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Me too

New Orleans is one of my absolute favourite cities, second only to Barcelona, Spain, so I was devastated when I heard about all the damage. My heart goes out not only to the victims, but to the city itself. At least the French Quarter is still intact, though.

 

[Briarmoor]

I have been keeping up with the dolphin rescue from those that escaped during Katrina. They aren't fish, but they are water creatures, so I thought it was relevant. Heard they found a skinny sea lion hanging out in the city and got it back. And another one that a lady was feeding her canned sardines to and pouring water over to keep it healthy. It was in good shape. So many stories of people trying to do good things. Very sad so many fish were lost though. There was a rumor of a shark from the aquarium loose when NO was flooed, but I never could verify that. Anyone know?

 

[rdd1952]

( There was a rumor of a shark from the aquarium loose when NO was flooed, but I never could verify that. Anyone know?

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I heard that there was one swimming down Canal St and it had probably come from the lake when the levee broke. I haven't seen any verification. I suspect it was a fabrication by someone's idle mind (fancy way of saying it was a lie).