Press Room

Media Inquiries & Information

Welcome to ZooTampa’s online pressroom, designed to give media up-to-the-minute information on important conservation work, new exhibits, special events, births, and more. This press room provides a wealth of information for media, including press releases, a Speakers Bureau, fact sheets, downloadable videos, photos, logos, and request submission forms.

This section of our website is designed for working journalists only. ZooTampa at Lowry Park maintains an extensive library of photos and videos that is available to members of the media at no charge for use with proper credit with stories about our organization. Approval from our Media Relations Team is required for the use of ZooTampa photos and videos in stories in which the Zoo is not part of the editorial content.

Members of a production company and non-news media representatives must obtain approval from the Marketing Department for commercial use of this library (including use in textbooks and published materials, documentaries, television, web, etc.). However, use of our photos and videos must align with our organization’s mission and is subject to a fee.

Press Releases

Media Downloads

Photo Gallery

Need photos of the Zoo for your story? Download our gallery of photos available for your use. These photos are for media use only and the property of ZooTampa. All photo credit can be given to ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Need something else? Let us know and we can get you additional photos specific to your story.

Download photos

Videos / B-Roll

We have compiled some clips of the Zoo for your use. Looking for something specific? Reach out to us and we would be happy to work with you on what you need to make your story a success!

Download b-roll

Logos

Need our logo for your story? Download them here. These logos are for media use only and the property of ZooTampa. All photo credit can be given to ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Need something else? Let us know and we can get you additional photos specific to your story.

Download logos
Speakers Bureau
Our Experts
You’d be surprised how many individuals, talents and backgrounds it takes to run the Zoo. ZooTampa is made up of a phenomenal team of experienced professionals in a variety of departments. Our staff experts are key to not only our day-to-day operations ensuring the highest quality of animal care and welfare for more than 1,000 animals but also to successes outside ZooTampa as we work to inspire conservation and protect and preserve wildlife.

Check out their areas of expertise below. For more information, please contact the Communications Department.

Stories, Filming, Access, & Asset Requests

Active and working media, bloggers, and influencers have the opportunity to cover ZooTampa for traditional or social media. Requests must be submitted at least 48 hours in advance. For more information, please contact the Communications Department at 347.366.5192 or media.relations@zootampa.org.

For assistance with traditional news, social media collaboration, celebrity visits, commercial production shoots, photo/video asset acquisitions, and other inquiries, please review the following guideline before thoroughly submitting a request to the Zoo’s Communications department.

We welcome the opportunity to assist credentialed members of the media with feature stories and editorial coverage of ZooTampa. Media must be accompanied by a member of the Zoo’s Communications Team while on Zoo grounds, and all interviews with Zoo employees are arranged through the Communications department. For more information, please contact the Communications Department at 347.366.5192 or media.relations@zootampa.org.

ZooTampa’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and care for animals; create exceptional personalized experiences that connect people with wildlife and each other in fun, immersive ways. We receive numerous requests to film at the Zoo, and consider only those filming and photography requests compatible with our mission or to advance strategic partnerships.

Click below to submit a filming and photography request form. Your application will automatically be sent to the Communications team.


Before submitting your application, please read carefully:

  • At least three (3) weeks’ notice is required for filming and photo requests and must be approved by the Communications team.
  • Taking photos or video for commercial purposes, including for stock images, advertising and merchandise, is prohibited without proper authorization from ZooTampa.
  • Location filming and photography requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Fees are incurred for commercial location shooting.
  • Kindly please allow up to two (2) business days for a response.
  • Pilot TV programs, student films, or unsold documentaries or films cannot be accommodated.​
  • Please limit production crews to essential personnel only, especially for filming in animal spaces or during our open hours.
  • ZooTampa cannot accommodate filming during peak attendance periods (i.e. holidays, weekends, spring break) due to increased attendance and impact on the guest experience.
  • If a filming request is approved, you’ll be asked to sign a location filming agreement.
  • ZooTampa reserves the right to cancel any shoot at any time if it is not in the best interest of Zoo animals, staff, or guests, or if it defies the Zoo’s mission or any of the guidelines outlined.



‘Zoofluencer’ Program at ZooTampa


ZooTampa is home to over 1,000 animals representing 350 species. Our vision is that everyone we touch is motivated to join us in taking action to protect and preserve wildlife.


Our hope is that as a Zoofluencer, you will partner with us in being a Conservation Champion, where you’ll proudly share our mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and caring for animals; create exceptional personalized experiences that connect people with wildlife and each other in a fun, immersive ways.


Influencers who are chosen to partner with us each receive:

  • Complimentary admission (details below)

We ask that participants produce high-quality and engaging content highlighting their visit to the Zoo and, where applicable, their experience at special events that are hosted on site.


Media Admissions Policy

The Public Relations courtesy ticket policy is designed for business purposes to give working journalists an opportunity to experience and cover ZooTampa.  All decisions regarding courtesy tickets are at the discretion of the ZooTampa Public Relations department. The following information is meant to serve as a guideline to help media determine if they may be eligible for consideration. For more information, please contact the Communications Department at media.relations@zootampa.org

  • Qualifying media may request four (4) tickets once every 12 months.
  • Please fill out the media passes request form at least two (2) weeks prior to visit.
  • Once approved, an email confirmation will be sent to the requester from ZooTampa Public Relations.
  • Qualifying positions include the following in these news-related categories:

Print Media: *Editors, News Reporters, News Photographers, Publishers, Managing/Assignment Editors

Broadcast Media: News Producers, News Directors, News/Sports/Weather Anchors, and Reporters, Managing Assignment/Planning Editors, News Writers, Videographers

Social Media and Online Media: Bloggers, Freelance Writers, Editors affiliated with established news organizations or online publications

Media in travel, lifestyle, entertainment, business, consumer, sports, or related fields

  • Positions that do not qualify for ZooTampa courtesy tickets include sales, graphic artists, promotions, programming, technical, public relations, clerical, engineering, management, production, staff assistants, station managers, and general managers.
  • Freelance journalists must provide copies of current articles (published in the past 6 months) with the requester’s byline and publication date. Topically, the content provided must have some relevance to ZooTampa and zoological organizations.
  • When complimentary media passes are picked up at the membership window, the journalist will be asked to provide a current media outlet photo ID and a business card and/or driver’s license (i.e. magazine or freelancer requests). Tickets cannot be issued without proper credentials.
  • Tickets are issued to and can only be picked up by the requester.

Contact ZooTampa Communications Department

To be included on ZooTampa’s media distribution list and/or to request fact sheets, please complete the form at the bottom of this page. To contact a Zoo Communications team member, please email media.relations@zootampa.org with your name, title, affiliation, and contact information.

Contact ZooTampa Communications Department

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Job Fair

Please review our booking tips before continuing

1. Please make one field trip per reservation order. Complete one and start a new one if you have multiple days you are booking.

2. Headcount can be approximate. Please include children and adults in your headcount. Please do not include pass holders in your headcount for a ticket.

3. On the ticket page, choose the correct grade level (to the left of your screen) to receive the correct chaperone ratio.

4. On the ticket page, when on the calendar section, the number of tickets available will appear in the top right corner for each particular day. Tickets available include children and adults. If you have more people than tickets available, please choose another day.

5. Anyone that is ordering lunch, even pass holders and adults that receive free chaperone tickets, do need to pay for a lunch IF they are ordering one. Free chaperone tickets and pass holders are for admission only.

Boxed lunch orders must be received 5 business days prior to your field trip arrival. Groups will be responsible for all boxed lunches that were confirmed at that time.

6. Payment does not need to be paid at the time of registration. Choose the pay upon arrival option if you would like one person to pay for your entire trip on the day of your visit.

7. The prices of adult and children’s tickets are different.

8. You will receive a confirmation number and confirmation letter via email when your trip is confirmed. If you do not, please contact FieldTrips@ZooTampa.org right away.

Join our Summer Camp Waitlist

Parent/Guardian Name(Required)
Child's Name(Required)

Important Information

To complete your camp registration, you must:

  • Add camps to your shopping cart.
  • Enter roster information for each camp.
    • List all people that are authorized to pick-up your child from camp.
    • No camper will be released unless the adult picking up the child is on the authorized pick-up list and shows a photo ID.
  • Read and agree to the following documents:
  • Make payment.
  • Upon payment, you will receive a Confirmation Email with the above documents attached. Please print, sign, and return the Camp Waiver and Liability Release to EducationPrograms@ZooTampa.org or ZooTampa Summer Camp, c/o Jamie Elkington, 1101 W Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL 33604. All waivers MUST be received no later than 2 weeks prior to the start of your camp program or your registration is subject to cancellation.

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.

‘Tis the Season For Giving!

Donate to the ZooTampa Giving Tree

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:

  1. To be informed of the organization’s mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
  2. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization’s governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
  3. To have access to the organization’s most recent financial statements.
  4. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
  5. To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
  6. To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
  7. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
  8. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
  9. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
  10. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.”

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.

FLORIDA STATE REGISTRATION

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.

DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES

Phone: (800) 435-7352
FloridaConsumerHelp.com

Christmas in the Wild Reservation Changes

  • This can be found in your original purchase or reservation confirmation email.
  • We will do our best to accommodate your request, however changes are based on availability. A member of our team will reach out to you via the contact information provided above within 48 hours. Note: an additional fee may apply to event tickets being changed to a higher priced event night. Thank you!

Commemorations

Outside Food & Drinks Policy

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.

 Acceptable Items
  • Bottled water (max 20oz bottle, sealed) one per guest
  • Small snacks for young children
  • Baby food/baby formula
  • Soft-sided insulated bags no larger than 8.5” wide x 6” high x 6” deep (limit one per child)
  • Pre-purchased empty ZooTampa souvenir cups
  • Any food required for medical purposes and medically-indicated nutritional supplements
 Prohibited Items
  • Prepared or packaged food or meals
  • Alcohol
  • Glass or any open containers or water bottles filled with beverages
  • Hard-sided coolers of any size
  • Soft-sided coolers larger than 8.5” wide x 6” high x 6” deep
  • Suitcases and soft-sided bags with wheels larger than 24” long x 15” wide x 18” high

Prohibited Items

For the safety of our animals, guests and employees, the following items are not permitted to be brought into ZooTampa:

  • Any type of explosive or weapon 
  • Knives or other sharp objects
  • Pepper spray
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Marijuana
  • Illegal drugs
  • Straws
  • Clothing likely to create a danger or disturbance
  • Any hazardous items or materials

The following items are also prohibited to avoid blocking of walkways and/or trip hazards:

  • Segways
  • Hover boards
  • Two-wheeled scooters
  • Self-balancing electric vehicles
  • Shoes with wheels
  • Drones
  • Hard-sided coolers of any size
  • Soft-sided coolers larger than 8.5” wide x 6” high x 6” deep
  • Suitcases and soft-sided bags with wheels larger than 24” long x 15” wide x 18” high

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.

Pay For A Day Tickets

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.

Can I use my Pay For A Day ticket on blockout dates? If you already have your Pay for a Day, Rest of Year Free ticket and wish to visit during a listed blockout date, please stop by the Zoo’s ticketing windows for alternate options:
  1. During blockout periods, Pay For A Day ticket holders have access to significantly discounted single-day tickets.*
  2. For a limited time from the date of purchase, Pay For A Day tickets can be upgraded to a Zoo Membership (with no blockout dates).
I purchased a Pay For A Day ticket online. How do I get my actual ticket?

Bring a copy of your confirmation (or show the confirmation email on your mobile device) to expedite entry into the Zoo. At your convenience during your visit you can stop by the Tours & Guest Services kiosk located just inside the Zoo to print your physical pass. No need to stand in line at the ticket windows. Walk right in!
Still have questions? Email us or call (813) 935-8552 ext. 0.