a multi-year vision aiming to continuously and gradually add new realms and immersive wildlife experiences across multiple habitats over the next 20 years
As Florida’s most attended cultural institution and recognized leader in wildlife conservation, including our renowned work in the rescue and rehabilitation of Florida’s manatees, we are raising funds for a planned $125 million transformation, which will progressively increase opportunities for friends and families to form lasting connections with animals, expand public education initiatives, and drive local and regional economic growth.
The Zoo’s transformation began with the opening of Florida Wilds, featuring expanded habitats for endangered and threatened native species, Stingray Shores, and the new Australia realm. Our future enhancements include four new areas: Manatee Rescue, South America, Africa, and Asia.
As the home of the David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center, the largest non-profit and one of only four critical care centers in the world, the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Florida’s iconic species has been at the heart of our mission for more than 20 years. The new Manatee Rescue (opening January 2026) will be an innovative multi-dimensional environment that will immerse guests in the manatee’s world, the state’s fragile marine ecosystem; from rivers, to the intracoastal, to the Gulf. The area will offer unforgettable moments of education and eye-level viewing with manatees as guests witness the real-time life-saving work taking place every day to save these gentle sea cows. Importantly, this newly designed area will expand the capacity of the David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center with the addition of acute care and nursery pools for the direst patients (opening December 2024).
Manatee Rescue will also feature graceful jellies floating weightlessly with the current and a riverbank oasis home to playful otters that will glide by so closely that families will feel like they are swimming alongside them.
Click or tap a photo to enlarge it in our gallery view.
“As our world-class Tampa Bay community continues to evolve, we will raise the bar on distinctive and interactive conservation experiences with the potential to engage and inspire future generations.”
-President and CEO Joe Couceiro.
In collaboration with the City of Tampa, we are developing plans to expand to the Hillsborough River, creating a new realm connecting Tampa to its cultural roots. Guests will encounter multiple South American species including sea lions, giant river otters, jaguars, and a variety of other rarely seen wildlife. The expansion will also offer a new way of getting to the Zoo itself – via water taxis!
The South America realm will include a vibrantly themed entertainment, retail, dining and nature district in Lowry Park that renovates green spaces and multiplies public access, allowing more of the riverfront to be enjoyed by local residents and Zoo visitors alike.
Click or tap a photo to enlarge it in our gallery view.
“Our plans will energize the community, improving the quality of life for neighbors and area residents.”
-President and CEO Joe Couceiro.
The reimagined Africa realm will feature expanded habitats that create a new experience on every visit and reinforces our commitment to the care and protection of species in peril.
At ground level, guests will see red river hogs in their natural environment. A higher climb will bring them side-by-side with mighty gorillas and ultimately, high in the treetops, safely face-to face with a variety of playful primates. The realm will also feature multiple-species habitats that bring together endangered African elephants, Masai giraffes, and white rhinos, and a unique opportunity for guests to sleep within the roar of the king of the jungle.
Click or tap a photo to enlarge it in our gallery view.
“”As ZooTampa embarks on an even more extraordinary future, we remain committed to transforming with the resilient Tampa Bay community, creating worldclass zoological experiences, providing the highest standards in animal care, and inspiring action to be responsible stewards of the natural world.”
-President and CEO Joe Couceiro.
The transformed Asia realm will immerse guests amid the habitats of some of the world’s most endangered species. Featuring stunning overhead paths that blur the line between guests and animals, the area provides new unforgettable–and safe–ways to connect with wildlife such as Bornean orangutans and Malayan tigers.
We have been engaging our neighbors and members about the project, including inviting representation from the Zoo’s nearest neighbors in focus groups and broader community surveys. Feedback has been positive, seeing the project as a vibrant rejuvenation to the historical Lowry Park Central and Seminole Heights areas, advancing economic development for small business owners, and improving neighborhood safety, traffic flow and beautification. Further neighborhood meetings are planned, as well as opportunities for local residents to share thoughts and stay up to date with developments.
The Zoo’s transformation promises to be a boom for the local economy, bringing more jobs and tourism dollars to the community while enhancing the beauty of Tampa’s natural areas. The proposed expansion would enhance the riverfront and boost the direct economic activity of Hillsborough County by 42 percent, to $274 million, and bring in nearly $1 million in additional tax dollars for the county annually.
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Open today from:
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Please fill out the form below to sign up for the job fair.
To complete your camp registration, you must:
By clicking the registration button below, I confirm that I have read and agree to the Camp Waiver and Liability Release and Camp Handbook and will print, sign, and return the Camp Waiver and Liability Release to complete my registration.
Trustees of the Lowry Park Zoological Society, Directors of the Lowry Park Zoo Endowment Foundation, and the Employees and Volunteers of ZooTampa understand and appreciate the vital role of philanthropy to accomplish our work. That’s why we subscribe to the Donor Bill of Rights developed by the American Association of Fund Raising Counsel, Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, National Society of Fund Raising Executives:
“Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes that they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:
ZooTampa at Lowry Park is committed to protecting your privacy. We value the trust of our donors, volunteers, employees, and other supporters and recognize that maintaining this trust requires us to ensure the confidentiality of personal information that you share with us.
As a non-profit organization, ZooTampa relies on your support, depends on the support of generous contributors, and achieves ambitious fundraising objectives by communicating with and understanding donors. We know that it is essential to protect the privacy of that information. ZooTampa, the Lowry Park Zoological Society, and the Lowry Park Zoo Endowment Foundation will neither sell nor trade a donor’s personal information to any other entity without the written permission of the donor.
Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa, INC.: Registration No. CH140
Lowry Park Endowment Foundation, INC.: Registration No. CH20389
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
Phone: (800) 435-7352
FloridaConsumerHelp.com
ZooTampa at Lowry Park offers a variety of delicious food for guests at several restaurants and concession stands throughout, but we understand that guests may need to bring outside food for special dietary needs. Acceptable and prohibited food items are listed below. For the convenience of our guests, there is a picnic area located outside the park near the main parking lot.
For the safety of our animals, guests and employees, the following items are not permitted to be brought into ZooTampa:
The following items are also prohibited to avoid blocking of walkways and/or trip hazards:
Please leave any unnecessary articles secured within your vehicle to expedite your entry into the park.
We reserve the right to deny entry to anyone not observing Zoo Rules.
With a new Pay For A Day, Rest of Year Free ticket – for a limited time – you get unlimited admission through December 31, 2024 including access to our seasonal event series. Some blockout dates apply — see below for details. Not valid with any other discounts.
When does my Pay For A Day ticket expire?
Pay for a Day Get the Rest of the Year Free tickets purchased in October, November, or December of 2023, are valid from the day of purchase until 12/31/2024. Any Pay For a Day Get the Rest of the Year Free tickets purchased prior to October 1, 2023 expire on 12/31/2023.
What are the blockout dates?
11/24/23 – 11/26/23
12/26/23 – 12/31/23
3/9/24 – 3/17/24
11/24/24 – 11/26/24
12/26/24 – 12/31/24
Blockout dates apply to admission before 4:00 PM on the above dates.
Can I purchase a Pay For A Day ticket on a blockout date?
Yes! You can purchase a Pay for a Day, Rest of Year Free ticket for first-time use on a listed blockout date and have full access to the park on that day. Blockout dates apply to repeat visitation.
