ZooTampa at Lowry Park facts for kids
 |
|
| Location | 1101 W. Sligh Avenue, 33604 Tampa, Florida, United States |
|---|---|
| Land area | 63 acres (25 ha) |
| Coordinates | 28°0′48″N 82°28′10″W / 28.01333°N 82.46944°W |
| No. of animals | 1,300+ |
| Memberships | AZA |
ZooTampa at Lowry Park is an amazing place in Tampa, Florida, where you can explore the animal kingdom! It covers 63-acre (25 ha) and is home to over 1,300 animals. This special zoo is a nonprofit organization, meaning it focuses on helping animals and educating people, not just making money.
The zoo is known for being super family-friendly. In 2009, Parents Magazine even called it the #1 Family Friendly Zoo in the US! It's also recognized by Florida as a key place for protecting local wildlife. ZooTampa works hard to save endangered animals both in Florida and around the world.
The zoo first started as a small animal display way back in the 1930s. It moved to its current spot in 1957 and has grown a lot since then. Over the years, it has been updated and expanded many times. In 2018, it officially became "ZooTampa at Lowry Park" to show its strong connection to the city. Nearly a million people visit each year to see all the incredible creatures!
Contents
Discovering ZooTampa's Past
The very first animal collection in Tampa was small. It was located at Plant Park on the grounds of the University of Tampa. This was across the Hillsborough River from downtown.
In the 1950s, city leaders wanted a bigger zoo. They chose a piece of land near an existing public park called Lowry Park. This park was named after Sumter de Leon Lowry Sr., a city commissioner. His son, Sumter de Leon Lowry Jr., later helped the park a lot. He even donated money for a bandstand and bought an elephant for the zoo!
The zoo opened in 1957 as Tampa Fairyland Zoo. It had fun concrete statues of fairy tales and nursery rhymes. These were along winding paths under big oak trees. You could reach this magical area by crossing a large rainbow bridge.
Over time, more animals and rides were added. By the early 1980s, the zoo had a small roller coaster, a skyride, and a kid-sized train. However, the animal areas needed a lot of work. They were old and not very good for the animals.
So, in 1987, the original zoo closed for a huge $20 million makeover. Almost everything was rebuilt with modern facilities. The new zoo opened in March 1988. Since then, many new sections and attractions have been added. The Fairyland area was removed by 1996, and the Rainbow Bridge was taken down in the early 2000s.
In 2018, the zoo changed its name to ZooTampa at Lowry Park. This new name highlights its ties to Tampa and the exciting growth happening in the area. The zoo plans to keep expanding and improving for many years to come.
Exploring Animal Habitats
ZooTampa has many different areas where animals live. Each area is designed to look like the animals' natural homes.
Asian Gardens: A Trip to Asia
This part of the zoo was updated in 2007. It feels like you're walking through a beautiful Asian garden. You can see amazing animals like the Indian rhinoceros and powerful Malayan tigers.
Other cool animals here include babirusa, Visayan warty pig, and the giant Komodo dragon. Look out for Binturongs, Lowland anoa, sun bears, and gharials too! There's also an Indonesian-themed aviary filled with birds.
Florida Wildlife Center: Our Local Heroes
The Florida Wildlife Center is a long exhibit that shows off animals from North America and some from Central America. You can see striped skunks, American alligators, and even North American black bears.
Keep an eye out for a small group of red wolves and gentle West Indian manatees. There's also an Alligator snapping turtle! This area has a special show about manatees and an aquatic center. The aquatic center has sharks, eels, seahorses, and many kinds of snakes. You can learn about amphibians like frogs and toads in the Discovery Center.
Primate World: Monkeys and Apes Galore
.jpg)
In Primate World, you'll see many different kinds of monkeys and apes. The exhibits are connected by pretty waterfalls and waterways. You can watch amazing great apes like siamang gibbons and Bornean orangutans.
There are also Hamadryas baboons and colorful mandrills. Don't miss the Angolan black-and-white colobus monkeys, golden lion tamarins, and ring-tailed lemurs!
Wallaroo Station: Australian Adventure
Wallaroo Station is a fun children's zoo area. It was updated in 2015. This section is home to animals from Australia. You can meet cuddly koalas and yellow-footed rock wallabies.
You might also see Australian singing dogs and tall emus. There are many kinds of cockatoos and flying foxes too. This area has interactive bat habitats and exciting rides like the "Flying Bananas" and the Tasmanian Tiger Roller Coaster. Kids can also cool off in "The Billabong" splash play area.
Safari Africa: Journey to the Savanna
Step into Safari Africa, shaded by acacia trees. You can take a safari tram ride for a special look at the zoo. On this ride, you might spot Martial eagles and Patas monkeys.
This area is home to many famous African animals. See playful meerkats, tall Reticulated giraffes, and Hartmann's mountain zebras. You can also find African bush elephants, African penguins, and the southern white rhinoceros.
The Ituri Forest is a part of Safari Africa that looks like an African river bank. Here, you'll find beautiful greater flamingos and tiny pygmy hippopotamuses. Look for unique birds like saddle-billed storks and shoebill storks. You can also see Aldabra tortoises and juvenile Galapagos giant tortoises here.
Main Aviary: Birds in Flight
Near the entrance, you'll find the Main Aviary. It's a huge area covered in plants where birds fly freely. You can see colorful birds like great hornbills, toco toucans, and scarlet ibises.
Many other birds, like white-faced whistling ducks and guineafowl, live here. You might even spot two-toed sloths hanging out!
Spirits of the Sky Raptor Show
This exciting show happens twice a day at the Zooventures Theater. It's a great way to learn fun facts about birds of prey. You'll see amazing birds like the Eurasian eagle-owl, the bald eagle, and the huge Andean condor. The show teaches us how to protect these incredible birds.
Helping Animals: Conservation Efforts
ZooTampa is very involved in saving animals. It takes part in 95 Species Survival Plan projects. These plans help protect animals that are endangered or threatened. Some of these animals include Bornean orangutans, Indian rhinoceroses, red wolves, and Komodo dragons.
The zoo also has a special hospital just for Florida manatees. This hospital helps injured or sick manatees get better so they can go back to the wild. It's the only nonprofit hospital in the world focused on critical care for wild manatees! ZooTampa works with government groups to rescue, heal, and release these amazing creatures. In 2012, the zoo won an award for its important work with manatees.
Fun Rides at the Zoo
Besides seeing animals, ZooTampa has some fun rides!
- Jungle Carousel: A classic carousel with zoo animals to ride.
- Boomer’s Flyin’ Bananas: A small ride that takes you up in the air.
- Overland Express: A kiddie train ride that takes you on a journey.
- Tasmanian Tiger Family Coaster: A mini roller coaster for the whole family.
- Roaring Springs: This exciting water ride opened in 2018. It has a three-story drop that creates a huge splash, getting riders and onlookers wet!
