Hurricane Update: Animal Tragedies

I have been in touch with my familiy members and know they are safe, but there are still so many out there who aren't. We read about the hundreds of lives lost and it saddens me.
Recently a friend of mine went to the local shelters in Leesville (LA) where we have many takeng refuge and she said that I would be heartbroken by the animals that are suffering as well, and she's right.
I have a soft spot for animals, and for me it it hard to see them suffer. I cry when I watch Animal Cops-Houston and see the cruel ways people trat animals.
Lately I have been doing some research trying to find out about the Audubon Society in New Olreans which in home to hundreds of animals.
This is what they are reporting ...

"The Audubon Nature Institute, which administers the Audubon Zoo, the Aquarium of the Americas, the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species, reports that animal facilities held up well during the hurricane. Loss of animal life was limited to a pair of river otters at the zoo and a whooping crane at the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species (ACRES). A crocodile is still unaccounted for at the zoo but is probably is a nearby pond according to Dan Maloney, general curator at the Audubon Zoo.
Duing the storm, staff took refuge in the reptile house at the zoo, which suffered little physical damage besides a number of fallen trees. Maloney reports that the zoo's staff is doing well and the biggest current concern is the psychological impact of the low flying helicopters on zoo animals.
The zoo reportedly has enough food for animals and sufficient fuel to keep generators running. The facility was quite well prepared for the hurricane.
Despite escaping Hurricane Katrina with little physical damage, the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans has suffered significant loss of animal life.
According to the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), the aquarium has lost most of its fish. A skeleton staff is preparing to move some animals out of the facility and caring for surviving animals in the collection. The sea otters, penguins, leafy and weedy seadragons, birds (macaws and raptors), and the white alligator are fine.
Animals suffered when the facility lost power and the staff had to evacuate due to violence in the area surrounding the aquarium. The area around the aquarium has now been secured but the lack of electricity meant filters and air pumps failed to deliver oxygen to tanks and maintain liveable conditions for many fish."

For the full story read the Audubon News Story.
To make donations to help the animals visit the Audubon Donation Site