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The Jaguar Jungle exhibit at Audubon Zoo is one of New Orleans’ premier animal destinations, combining immersive habitat design with a world-class visitor experience. Mullin was engaged to perform a complete landscape transformation of this signature exhibit, restoring the site, constructing bermed islands within an active lagoon, and integrating plantings designed to support both animal welfare and visitor engagement.
Completed over six months, the full landscape scope was delivered 100% self-performed, on schedule, and with zero safety incidents across thousands of man-hours of work.
The project introduced several layers of complexity uncommon in standard landscape construction. At its center was a lagoon that physically divided the exhibit, limiting equipment access and complicating material staging and crew movement throughout the site.
The lagoon edges showed signs of erosion, requiring shoreline stabilization before any planting could begin. This added an early-phase structural element to what began as a landscape scope.
Construction took place within an active zoo environment. Animal safety was a non-negotiable constraint. All work had to be carefully sequenced around animal activity, with strict attention to noise levels, sight lines, and overall site conditions to protect both the animals and zoo staff.
Mullin developed a phased construction plan that allowed crews to work simultaneously from multiple access points around the lagoon perimeter. The first priority was shoreline stabilization. An erosion control system was installed to create a reliable structural foundation before any planting could be introduced.
To reach the bermed islands within the lagoon, Mullin deployed flat boats to transport crews and materials across the water. This eliminated the need for heavy equipment in sensitive areas and allowed planting to proceed directly on the newly constructed islands. It was a straightforward solution to an unusual problem, and it kept the project on schedule.
Planting design focused on creating authentic habitat conditions. Species were selected to provide shade, cover, and foraging opportunities suited to multiple animals, while remaining durable enough for a high-use exhibit environment.
The full scope included landscape installation, irrigation, erosion control, and bermed island construction. By maintaining complete control over every phase, Mullin ensured consistent quality and coordination from groundbreaking through final planting.
Work was staged to avoid conflicts with zoo operations, with daily planning sessions addressing access, sequencing, and any conditions in the lagoon that required adaptive scheduling. Despite the logistical complexity of working over water in an active animal facility, the project was completed on schedule and without a single safety incident.
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With over an acre of outdoor exhibit yard, the landscaping was critical to the appearance and function of this project. Mullin rose to every challenge that we faced with a smile. — Jonathan Sanders, Senior Project Manager, Audubon Nature Institute
The completed exhibit delivers a more stable, functional, and visually immersive landscape for both the animals and the hundreds of thousands of visitors who experience Jaguar Jungle each year. Reinforced shorelines protect the lagoon’s long-term integrity, while the bermed islands and surrounding plantings create a naturalistic setting that supports genuine habitat function.
Visitor circulation and viewing areas were improved through regraded paths and strategically placed planting, achieving clear sightlines without compromising the habitat character. The exhibit now supports daily zoo operations while maintaining the authentic environment the design called for.
The project also reinforced a long-standing relationship between Mullin and the Audubon Nature Institute, a partnership that has extended across the Zoo, the Aquarium, and Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park.
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