Behind the Scenes: Preparing for Emergencies at Global Wildlife Center

At Global Wildlife Center, caring for our animals means being ready for anything, even the unexpected. Hurricanes, floods, and other disasters can strike Louisiana at any time, and when they do, our staff are the very first responders for the thousands of animals who call our preserve home.

That is why this spring, our team took part in the 2025 Louisiana State Animal Response Tabletop Exercise, a statewide training focused on protecting animals during emergencies. Many thanks to Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and Louisiana State Animal Response Team for hosting such a worthwhile event.

Global Wildlife Center is a proud member of Zoological Disaster Response, Rescue and Recovery, and we are grateful that our partners at ZDR3 alerted us to this invaluable exercise. ZDR3 is an industry-led mutual aid effort network that provides support to zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries and other non-domestic animal businesses before, during and after significant incidents.

Gathering Around the Table

Picture this: emergency managers, veterinarians, animal services, and representatives from more than a dozen Louisiana parishes gathered together in one room, joined by state agencies such as the Department of Health and the Department of Transportation and Development. National organizations including the United States Department of Agriculture, the American Red Cross, American Humane, and RedRover were there as well.

Together, we walked through different disaster scenarios, talking through the steps we would take to keep animals safe, where challenges might arise, and how we could better work as a team across agencies and facilities.

A Seat at the Table for Wildlife

For many of these exercises, the focus is often on domestic animals like pets, livestock, and service animals. Wildlife preserves and zoological facilities face unique challenges too. Participating in this exercise gave Global Wildlife Center a chance to represent wildlife in those conversations and learn through networking.

“Our team came away with new ideas, strategies, and stronger connections with state and federal agencies,” said Christina Cooper, Executive Director of Global Wildlife Center. “It was also an incredible opportunity to share how Global Wildlife might be able to help others during a time of disaster.”

Stronger Together

The exercise was sponsored by the Louisiana State Animal Response Team, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Programs, and Volunteer Louisiana. We are grateful to them and to our partners in the Zoo Disaster Response, Rescue, and Recovery Network for fostering these connections.

At Global Wildlife Center, we believe preparation is just another way we show love for our animals. It gives us confidence that no matter what comes our way, we will be ready to protect our preserve, our staff, and our community.