Earth Hour

By Katie Murray, ZooTampa Green Team

Did you know 75% of the electricity used to power electronics such as TVs, computers, and kitchen appliances is consumed while products are turned off? An estimated 15 trillion watts of power are used world-wide at any given time, that’s the equivalent of ten billion 100-watt light bulbs being used at the same time!

Many of our daily activities contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and these emissions make up our carbon footprint. It may come as a shock, but at this very moment—simply by reading this blog—you are contributing to your carbon footprint!

There are things you can do to lessen your footprint which include: shutting off your computer when you leave work for the day, opting for LED lightbulbs, unplugging idle electronics, turning off lights when you leave a room, and insulating your home properly, among many others.

There is one more SIMPLE thing you can do to lessen your carbon footprint- celebrate Earth Hour on March 30th from 8:30pm-9:30pm in your time zone. Earth Hour is the largest grassroots movement for the environment, inspiring people like you and me to take action for the planet! Be a part of the conversation simply by unplugging. Switch off those lights and any non-essential electronics.

So what do you do when you have no electronics and lights for ONE WHOLE HOUR? Well, go old school: play cards, tell scary stories, curl up with a book by candlelight or hit the sack early that night. We’ve all experienced a power outage before, so think of this as a self-induced power outage and make the best of it in honor of the planet we love!

If this wasn’t convincing enough, check out these facts that will leave you even more shocked:

  • 48 people riding bikes for 24 hours can generate enough power to run a TV for ONE WHOLE WEEK!
  • The energy it takes to conduct 10 searches on Google could power a 60-watt light bulb. At any given time the energy used by the search engine could power 200,000 homes.
  • Americans waste an estimated $300 billion on inefficient appliances, drafty windows and doors, poor insulation, and other fixable energy wasters!
  • The most energy efficient appliance in most kitchens? The Microwave! Microwaves use one-third of the wattage the average oven uses.

 

Interested in finding out your carbon footprint? Visit: https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/.

 

Commemorations

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.