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.