Lowry Park Zoo

About Lowry Park Zoo

Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is a 56 acre zoo located in Tampa, Florida. It is noted for being one of the best mid-sized zoos in the United States. With its humble beginnings as an old style menagerie, the zoo now has over 200 employees, is run by a nonprofit society, and is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The zoo was voted the #1 Family Friendly Zoo in the US by Child Magazine , and is recognized by the State of Florida as the center for Florida wildlife conservation and biodiversity (HB 457).

The zoo features a larger collection of Florida species than any other zoo and includes Bison, Alligator, Flamingos, Roseate Spoonbill, Florida Panther, American Crocodile, River Otter and many other species. 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 a new section called "Safari Africa" that is home to African elephants, giraffe, Grant's zebra, white rhinoceros, shoebill stork, okapi, meerkats and many other interesting African species.

In 2006 the Zoo was host to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums conference. One of the zoos oldest sections, the Asian Domain, was renovated and renamed the Asian Gardens. Exhibits include Indian Rhinoceros, Sumatran Tigers (including two white tiger cubs born April 16th, 2007), Babirusa Pig, Komodo Dragon, Clouded Leopard, Sloth Bear and an Indonesian themed Sulawesi Aviary. As well as the new Asian Gardens, the Free Flight Aviary was also renovated.