Lowry Park Zoo
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| Lowry Park Zoo | |
| Location | Tampa, Florida, USA |
| Land area | 24 acres (97,000 m²) |
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The Lowry Park Zoo is a 24 acre (97,000 m²) zoo located in Tampa, Florida. It is noted for being one of the best mid-sized zoos in the United States. The zoo has over 100 employees, and is run by a nonprofit society, and is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The zoo was voted the #1 best zoo for children by Child Magazine [1], and is recognized by the state of Florida as the center for Florida wildlife conservation and biodiversity (HB 457).
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[edit] Interactive exhibits
The zoo features a larger collection of Florida species than any other zoo in the state of Florida. The zoo also features several hands-on exhibits, including Lorikeet feeding, stingray feeding, camel rides, an interactive discovery center, safari rides, an Australian-themed children's zoo, a river ecotour and manatee encounters. The zoo recently opened up a new section called "Safari Africa" that is home to African elephants, giraffe, Grant's Zebra, White rhino, Shoebills and many other interesting exotic species.
[edit] Conservation
The zoo has several Species Survival Plan projects, which includes threatened and endangered species species, as well as species of special concern. The largest project involving Chimpanzee, Bornean Orangutan, Mandrill, Siamang, Colobus, Golden Lion Tamarin, Geoffrey's Marmoset, Ring-tailed Lemur, Red Ruffed Lemur, Indian Rhinoceros, Sumatran Tiger, Clouded Leopard, Sloth Bear, Babirusa, Przewalski's Horse, Red Wolf, African Elephant, Bongo, Bali Mynah, Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Great Indian Hornbill, Mauritius Pink Pigeon, Palm Cockatoo, and Komodo Dragons. Another large project involves Florida Manatees (Trichechus manatus). Other notable conservation projects include Key Largo Woodrats, Florida Panthers, Whooping Cranes, Key Deer, and the Butterfly Conservation Initiative. The zoo opened a safari ride in 2006, which offers a trip though many animal exhibits, and a behind the scenes tour in the same ride.
[edit] Controversy
In 2006, one of the zoo's two Sumatran tigers, a 14-year-old female named Enshala, slipped through an unlocked gate and into an area undergoing renovation. The zoo director, Lex Salisbury, defended his decision to shoot and kill the animal after attempts to tranquilize the tiger failed and the animal lurched towards the animal doctor that had shot the tranquilizer dart.[2]
In 1993, an Asian elephant killed a zookeeper at Lowry Park.[3]
[edit] External links
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Conservation biology | List of zoos | List of zoo associations | Zoological Garden | Menagerie | Tourist attraction | Wildlife Conservation | Endangered species |
