Lowry Park Zoological Society Of Tampa Inc

RESCUE, REHABILITATE AND CARE FOR ANIMALS; CREATE EXPERIENCES THAT CONNECT PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE.

ZOOTAMPA AT LOWRY PARK FEATURES 63 ACRES OF LUSH, NATURAL HABITATS COMPRISING FLORIDA, ASIA, PRIMATES, AUSTRALIA, AND AFRICA. AS A NONPROFIT CULTURAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO CONSERVATION, THE FOCUS IS ON ANIMALS FROM FLORIDA, SUCH AS MANATEES AND FLORIDA PANTHERS, AND ANIMALS FROM FLORIDA-LIKE CLIMATES, SUCH AS ELEPHANTS AND ORANGUTANS. ZOOTAMPA HOUSES 1,000 ANIMALS IN NATURALISTIC OUTDOOR HABITATS YEAR-ROUND. THE ORGANIZATION HELPS TO ENSURE CONSERVATION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AS WELL AS THE SUSTAINABILITY OF A HEALTHY, GENETICALLY DIVERSE, AND DEMOGRAPHICALLY VARIED POPULATION OF NUMEROUS SPECIES.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ZOOTAMPA HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROPAGATION OF SPECIES, IN CONJUNCTION WITH AZA SPECIES SURVIVAL PLANS, TO HELP SAVE NUMEROUS SPECIES FROM EXTINCTION AND PARTICIPATES IN SPECIES CONSERVATION EFFORTS LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. ZOOTAMPA MANAGES A STATE-OF-THE-ART VETERINARY HOSPITAL THAT IS PART OF ITS LARGER MEDICAL CAMPUS THAT INCLUDES A NUTRITION CENTER AND ANIMAL CARE ANNEX. IT IS THE ONLY ZOOLOGICAL OR AQUARIUM FACILITY IN THE NATION THAT IS ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ANIMAL HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION (AAHA). ZOOTAMPA IS ACCREDITED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA) AND LICENSED TO OPERATE BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) AND THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION (FWC). THE ZOO IS DEDICATED TO SERVING AS AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND TO PROVIDING AN EXCITING, NATURE-BASED ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND ORGANIZATIONS. UP-CLOSE EXPERIENCES WITH THE LIVING ANIMALS AT THE ZOO TEACH THE VALUE OF THE LIVING WORLD FIRSTHAND.ZOOTAMPA IS PROUD TO LIST THE FOLLOWING ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2021:- EXPANSION OF ZOOTAMPA'S LEADERSHIP AND EFFORTS AIMED AT SAVING MANATEES: - SURPASSING A MAJOR MILESTONE WITH A TOTAL OF 500 MANATEES RESCUED SINCE THE OPENING OF ZOOTAMPA'S MANATEE CRITICAL CARE CENTER. - SUPPLEMENTING RESCUE CAPABILITIES WITH ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBERS FOCUSED ON THE MANATEE STRANDING NETWORK. - PROCUREMENT OF THE ZT SAVES RETROFITTED RESCUE VEHICLE WHICH COVERED MORE THAN 6,400 MILES AND ASSISTED IN THE RESCUE, TRANSFER, AND RELEASE OF MORE THAN 40 MANATEES. - LAUNCH OF MANATEE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM TO ASSIST IN STRANDING OPERATIONS.- OPENING OF NEW ATTRACTION, EXPEDITION WILD AFRICA, OFFERING UP-CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH THE WORLD'S MOST MAJESTIC SPECIES.- INTRODUCTION OF NEW SPECIES INCLUDING BINTURONGS AND RARE SHOEBILL STORKS.- SIGNIFICANT BIRTHS OF NUMEROUS VULNERABLE ANIMALS AS PART OF THE SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN INCLUDING ENDANGERED AFRICAN PENGUINS AND SIAMANG, AND THREATENED INCA TERN, WHITE RHINO, AND BONGO.- PARTNERSHIPS WITH EXTERNAL CONSERVATION PROJECTS INCLUDING AZA'S WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING ALLIANCE, INTERNATIONAL RHINO FOUNDATION, OKAPI CONSERVATION PROJECT, INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT FOUNDATION, PAINTED DOG RESEARCH TRUST, SANCCOB, CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE HOSPITAL, BORNEAN ORANGUTAN SURVIVAL FOUNDATION, MACAW RECOVERY NETWORK AND THE TURTLE RELIEF FUND.- RELEASE OF THOUSANDS OF CRITICALLY ENDANGERED PUERTO RICAN CRESTED TOAD TADPOLES TO THEIR NATIVE HABITAT.- EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WITH THE TAMPA-HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN, MOFFITT CANCER CENTER'S HEALTHY KIDS PROGRAM- I HEART TEACHERS PROGRAM - REACHING THOUSANDS OF SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN.- THE PROCUREMENT OF THE PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN GRANT FOR A PROGRAM WITH AT-RISK FAMILIES TO HELP WITH THE RECOVERY OF PANDEMIC-RELATED CHILD LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES.- FILMING OF THE THIRD AND EXTENDED SEASON OF NATGEO'S SECRETS OF THE ZOO: TAMPA.- RECOGNIZED BY TAMPA MAGAZINE'S READERS AND THE PUBLIC AS BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION.- UNDERTOOK NUMEROUS EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES TO COMMUNICATE OUR MISSION THROUGH ZOO SCHOOL, MISSION-RELATED CONTENT, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESS AND PATHWAYS THROUGH NATURE OUTREACH PROGRAM. - PATHWAYS THROUGH NATURE OUTREACH PROGRAM FOCUSED ON CAREGIVER/CHILD ACTIVITIES INTEGRATING CHILD DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES OF THE NATIONAL INITIATIVE, TALK, READ, SING AND THE CORRELATION TO EMPATHY TOWARDS NATURE. OVER SIX MONTHS AND PROVIDED EVIDENCE THAT THE PROGRAM INCREASED EMPATHY TOWARDS ANIMALS BY 28%. - BROADENED SUITE OF ACCESSIBILITY RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY. INCLUDING AN ACCESSIBILITY TAB ON OUR WEBSITE THAT PROVIDES HELP TO PEOPLE WITH LOW VISION, HEARING, MOBILITY, AND SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDERS. - PROVIDED 4K COMMUNITY ACCESS TICKETS DISSEMINATED TO UNDER-RESOURCED PROGRAM PARTNERS IN TAMPA BAY.- NOTABLE BIRTHS: AFRICAN PENGUIN (2), BAY DUIKER (1), BLACK-NECKED STILT (1), CRESTED OROPENDOLA (1), EASTERN BONGO (1), INCA TERN (1), MARABOU STORK (1), NORTHWEST BORNEAN ORANGUTAN (1), NYALA (2), SIAMANG (1), SOUTHERN GROUND HORNBILL (1), SOUTHERN WHITE RHINO (1), YELLOW-BACKED DUIKER (1). - NOTABLE ACQUISITIONS: EASTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE (2), EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE (1), GREEN & BLACK POISON FROG (8), IMPALA (2), MALAYAN TIGER (1), MASAI GIRAFFE (1), SHOEBILLED STORK (1), STRIPED NEWT (8), FLOREANA GIANT TORTOISE (2), UPSIDE-DOWN JELLYFISH (154), YELLOW-FOOTED ROCK WALLABY (2).