Melting to death at the zoo!

I visited the Audubon Zoo on Saturday...during a heatwave...without a hat.   The website for this place shows that its a zoo, aquarium, waterpark? and has a big insect exhibit as well as IMAX.

I drove all the way to NOA, go to pay for aquarium + zoo when I'm informed that the aquarium is across town.  What the???  So you pay on one part of town then drive to another part to see the aquarium?!  No thanks.  So I payed for the zoo and went in.  First of all, this place is more Disneyland than it is Zoo.  A big emphasis is on buying things and rides/waterpark than there is on the animal exhibits. 

Many of the animal areas lead around winding paths that go nowhere but to benches and statues, or force you to go through a store to see the other animals.  While I was pleased to get some A/C to cool me in between bouts of sweating to death, it seemed really consumerist and strange. 

This was in one of the stores, I wish it was for sale.

Also some of the animals didn't have what I would consider a big enough habitat or nice enough.  It did seem like they were updating some things though, such as the Elephant area. 

Also it was SO hot that many of the animals were out of view or away (elephants, male lions, and about 10 others).  So While I get that these poor animals were too hot, I was also bummed that I drove so far and didn't get to see lots of them.  Oh well.  On to things I DID manage to see!

I really liked the primate exhibit, lots of really cute little guys playing.

Not easy to see but this one was sooo tiny and adorable, I want one!

These two were so adorable, the baby kept flopping into the black bucket there under them.

Snapped a pic because you can literally see the fear in the eyes of the prey :p

All the turtles were covered in algae/moss/something

Biggest turtle I have ever seen

People actually started to walk away from this giraffe because he was "judging them" lol

I look ok...but I'm going to perish...its too hot.  I am sweating from areas that NO human should sweat from.  I'm talking its running down my legs...this is terrible.  How did people live in New Orleans during the civil war? Or before there was air conditioning....I cant even imagine.  This place is mostly shaded and I am losing like 10 pounds of water weight and salt.  Crazy!

YAY!  Nutrias!  Finally get to see some swamp rats!

Huge alligator with the below sign beside him...

I like how they need to remind people not to harass the animals ><

Crawfish!  Get in my belly!

The famous Albino Alligator!  In truth he had a small enclosure and looked sad to me...also I presume because of the albinism, he was in the dark.

Now this guy has the right idea!  Sit your ass in that fountain and take a damn bath.

A Tapir.

This is exactly how I felt, I'm with you!  I give up, too hot!