Cattle, foxes, deer, raccoons, opossums and household pets are among the animals that have lost their lives to Hurricane Katrina, which plowed into the Gulf Coast on Monday, Aug. 29.
State officials are concerned that the floating carcasses will spread disease, endangering those survivors forced to wade through the rising flood waters.
In some areas, the hurricane has washed dangerous animals normally confined to lagoons and swamps into public streets. Places like Biloxi, Miss., have reported dozens of alligators and thousands of snakes swimming in flooded neighborhoods.
The Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport, Miss., was completely destroyed by the hurricane, according to
The Daily Telegraph. Meanwhile, a trio of dolphins moved from the aquarium to a hotel swimming pool is said to be doing fine.
On a positive note, New Orleans' Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, which is considered one of the world's top aquariums, reported very few animal deaths, according to a report in
The Baltimore Sun.
Aquarium officials told the
The Baltimore Sun that only a few flamingos have died at the facility, which is home to some 10,000 animals. The nearby Audubon Zoo also had very few animal losses, according to the report.
