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Help Support our mission

Your donation to ZooTampa provides crucial support for our animal care, education programs, and wildlife conservation efforts. As a non-profit organization, the Zoo depends on contributions from donors like you to help enrich the lives of animals and inspire generations of youth to protect our natural heritage. Your commitment shows that you are part of a community that cares about saving species and conserving wildlife.

Dear Zoo friends,

At the heart of our mission is our unwavering commitment to the more than 1,000 amazing animals who are entrusted to our care, and to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Florida wildlife. Our goal is to inspire the next generation to join us in saving wildlife and preserving the world we share.

As a non-profit that is 93% self-funded, we depend on the generosity of our guests through memberships, tickets, and donations to continue our journey of educating, connecting, and inspiring.

Thank you for considering a gift today. We are extremely grateful to have friends like you, and we’re always happy to hear from you. Only with your support and by working together can we save wildlife for future generations to enjoy!”

Warmest regards,

JL Bielon signature

JL Bielon, CFRE

VP Development

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Why Your Support Matters

Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release of Florida Wildlife

We are a leader in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Florida species. From majestic manatees to critically endangered Florida panthers, our team is at the forefront of helping the diverse species that call the Sunshine State home.

Conservation & Research

ZooTampa is home to more than 100 species in danger of going extinct in our, or our children’s, lifetime. Through our participation in the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Programs, we are directly helping in the long-term sustainability of vulnerable, threatened, and endangered species. Additionally, through our more than 20 years of support to field conservation programs, we are committed to creating strong and successful partnerships with conservation organizations and field programs positioned at the forefront of species survival.

Learning & Community Access

ZooTampa’s Community Access Program partners with Renaissance Schools in Hillsborough County and human service organizations in Tampa Bay to provide high-impact science education experiences to more than 90,000 students from more than 1,000 schools. Our goal is to make visiting our Zoo accessible to all members of our community, despite financial or social obstacles. We welcome all who wish to connect to nature and learn more about animal conservation.

What Your Support Can Do

Small Gifts Can Have A

BIG Impact

Donate - ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Can feed our entire rookery of African penguins for a day
Donate - ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Can provide 20 pounds of meat for our critically endangered Malayan tigers
Donate - ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Can send 2 disadvantaged children to the Zoo for a day of adventure

Need Our Support?

ZooTampa is committed to giving back to our local community. We donate complimentary general admission tickets to qualified non-profit entities that serve children and families. In addition, we have a donation policy that typically allows for two (2) complimentary general admission tickets to qualified educational and conservation community organizations.
To be a qualified entity, the donation request must come from either state or local governments, or from registered non-profit organizations within the State of Florida. The request must at least include the organization name, verification of governmental or 501 (c)3 status (form DR-14), and the Tax ID. Entities meeting this criterion should complete the online request form for approval. This request system has been implemented to decrease our carbon footprint and to help protect our environment.Regrettably, however, because the majority of our annual operating budget that supports our conservation and education work is dependent upon earned revenue, we must limit the number of complimentary admission tickets distributed each year. As a result, because of the sheer quantity of requests far exceeds our ability to meet the demand, we are not able to fulfill the following: medical or hardship related cases (those requests must come directly from a hospital or Wish organization), schools or churches, or requests from organizations that support activities that do not align with our policies. Please note, submission of this request does not guarantee that your request will be fulfilled. Please allow 30 days for processing. Due to volume, status updates on request will not be available over the telephone. Communication will be via email. We appreciate your support.

Trustees of the Lowry Park Zoological Society, Directors of the Lowry Park Zoo Endowment Foundation, and the Employees and Volunteers of ZooTampa understand and appreciate the vital role of philanthropy to accomplish our work. That’s why we subscribe to the Donor Bill of Rights developed by the American Association of Fund Raising Counsel, Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, National Society of Fund Raising Executives:

“Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes that they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:

  1. To be informed of the organization’s mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
  2. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization’s governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
  3. To have access to the organization’s most recent financial statements.
  4. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
  5. To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
  6. To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
  7. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
  8. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
  9. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
  10. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.”

ZooTampa at Lowry Park is committed to protecting your privacy. We value the trust of our donors, volunteers, employees, and other supporters and recognize that maintaining this trust requires us to ensure the confidentiality of personal information that you share with us.

As a non-profit organization, ZooTampa relies on your support, depends on the support of generous contributors, and achieves ambitious fundraising objectives by communicating with and understanding donors. We know that it is essential to protect the privacy of that information. ZooTampa, the Lowry Park Zoological Society, and the Lowry Park Zoo Endowment Foundation will neither sell nor trade a donor’s personal information to any other entity without the written permission of the donor.

We are committed to financial transparency. You can download the following financial documents to learn how your donation dollars are allocated to conserve and protect wildlife at ZooTampa

Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa, INC. is a 501(c)(3) Organization; TIN# 59-2328289.

FLORIDA STATE REGISTRATION

Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa, INC.: Registration No. CH140
Lowry Park Endowment Foundation, INC.: Registration No. CH20389

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES

Phone: (800) 435-7352
FloridaConsumerHelp.com

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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.