Facilities

Caring for our Animals

Jacarlene animal care campus

The state-of-the-art Jacarlene Foundation Animal Care Campus is comprised of four distinct buildings that are integral in the daily care of more than 350 species – the Catherine Lowry Straz Veterinary Hospital, the Animal Nutrition Center, Sandy & Tom Callahan Center for Wildlife Conservation, and the Tiedemann-Cotton Animal Care Annex.

Catherine Lowry Straz Veterinary Hospital

With over 1,000 animals, the Catherine Lowry Straz Veterinary Hospital acts as the hub for all things medical. With state of the art equipment and a dedicated veterinary team, our animals receive the best medical care. As the only zoo to have earned accreditation with the American Association of Animal Hospitals (AAHA), it is assured that our animals receive the best healthcare.

In addition to the manatee rehabilitation work, the veterinary team at the Zoo serves as a medical center for several of Florida’s iconic wildlife species including black bears and Florida panthers.

Facilities - ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Nutrition Center

How do we feed all the animals at ZooTampa? With a lot of organization and care. All the diets for more than 1,000 animals are made here and customized for each animal based on daily observations and checkups. With a fresh food delivered on a daily basis, our animals at ZooTampa receive nothing but the best to help their growth!

Animal Care Annex

The Tiedemann-Cotton Animal Care Annex is a state-of-the-art animal holding and quarantine facility that helps our animal care and veterinary team provide exemplary care to the most severe cases.

Sandy & Tom Callahan Center for Wildlife Conservation

The Tom and Sandy Callahan Center for Conservation educates guests on the Zoo’s leadership in Florida and worldwide wildlife conservation initiatives through an immersive film. It also houses a state-of-the-art conference room, used for internal and external educational meetings.

Catherine Lowry Straz Veterinary Hospital

State-of-the-art Animal Care

The Catherine Lowry Straz Veterinary Hospital provides medical services for the more than 300 species entrusted in our care and is the only veterinary facility inside a zoo that has been accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. The hospital boasts state-of-the-art equipment, including a surgical room, X-ray area and a laboratory. Led by world-renowned veterinarians, the ZooTampa medical team works to ensure that all of our animals receive the best healthcare. In addition to the manatee rehabilitation work, ZooTampa’s veterinary team also partners with organizations such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to care for and rehabilitate several of Florida’s iconic wildlife species including black bears and Florida panthers.

David a. Straz, Jr. Manatee critical care center

ZooTampa is widely known for caring for critically injured, sick, and orphaned manatees. This endangered species has been at the heart of the Zoo’s commitment to the conservation of Florida wildlife for more than 20 years. 

Our Center

The David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center is the first non-profit, acute care facility of its kind specifically dedicated to critical care for wild manatees, and one of just four contracted federally permitted manatee rehabilitation centers in the state of Florida. Since 1991, the manatee care and veterinary team have treated over 400 manatees with more than 230 of those reintroduced into Florida waters.

To enhance animal welfare and expand our mission to save Florida wildlife, ZooTampa recently completed an upgrade to the water filtration system at the David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center. This new, upgraded life support system allows us to provide advanced, specialized care for the welfare of manatees and treat even the most severe cases.

As manatee patients recover, visitors can see this life-saving care in real time in the recovery pools of Manatee Mangrove.

Manatee News

Corduroy

Manatees and Boat Strikes

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s semiannual report, boat strike injuries are the leading cause of death for Florida manatees so far this year. As a leader

Read More

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Action

Each ONE of us can make a difference in the preservation of the ONE world we share. We encourage you to be a conservation leader in your home, community, and around the world! Small actions you take can make a huge impact on protecting and preserving wildlife and wild places. Consider making a donation to ZooTampa.

Please review our booking tips before continuing

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, 2023 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?

For a limited time, new Pay for a Day, Rest of Year Free tickets are valid from the day of purchase until 12/31/2023 Pay for a Day, Rest of Year Free tickets which were purchased prior to October 1st, 2022 are valid until 12/31/2022.

What are the blockout dates?

3/11/23 – 3/19/23
11/24/23 – 11/26/23
12/26/23 – 12/31/23

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.