This summer the heat is so much it seems like a fool’s errand to spend any time outside. However, ZooTampa at Lowry Park is a great place to beat the heat while spending time outside, among lots of exotic and local animals. ZooTampa has misters, a splash pad, a cool tunnel and a water ride to keep guests comfortable, even in the doldrums of a Central Florida summer. Plus, there are a few exhibits you can go to chill out in the shade and just watch the animals.
The many animals of ZooTampa at Lowry Park
One highlight of a trip to the Tampa Zoo is its newly revamped Florida Wilds, an extremely popular attraction featuring some of the state’s most endangered species. “We re-opened it back in March and it is one of our biggest attractions for families to visit,” said Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Sandra Torres. “You will see Florida black bears on your right and red wolves on your lefthand side. There might only be 15 or 20 of these wolves left in the wild. Their home range was the southeastern United States, including Florida. We have three in the Florida Wilds area and now we also have a mom and dad and four pups in another area of the zoo. I would definitely say it is one of our most popular attractions.”
Of course, Florida Wilds includes endangered Florida panthers, now with a larger enclosure so Lucy, Mickey and Walter can all be viewed at once. Theirs is a sad tale, as their habitat is becoming depleted because of development, and many are victims of vehicle encounters.
“The reason we have Florida Wilds is because in the past, our animal care people would have to shuffle the animals in and out. Now, with the larger enclosures, they can all be out together,” Torres said.
There are also skunks, owls, flamingos, and various other bird species on display.
Site: Is it Possible to Bring Back Extinct Animal Species?
Guests also love the Africa Realm, an area where visitors can view a “crash,” or group of white rhinos. “They can see the southern white rhinos and there are also our giraffes. We have three young females from one to four years old and then we have Sekani, a male who is about 16 years old,” Torres said. “The ultimate goal is to mate them, but the girls are still kind of young,” so they are kept in separate areas for now.
“Ruby is our baby rhino, who just turned one in May. She was born here,” Torres said. “Her mom is Aleki.”
While visiting each area of the zoo, there are restaurants and rest areas with cover to get out of the sun. That includes the Safari Pizza in the Africa Realm. “It’s inside the Savannas Oasis and it’s a great place to get out of the sun,” Torres said. Guests can also watch episodes of Secrets of the Zoo Tampa. “They do behind-the-scenes, like what it entails to take care of the animals from day to day,” she said. “You can watch while you eat pizza, which by the way, is really, really good. They also have salad, wings, beer, wine and soda. It is a great way for guests to cool off.”
Another favorite is the awning near the giraffes, a good place to get out of the heat.
“Also, our tortoises are amazing, and everyone loves them,” Torres said. “We have a special encounter. People love the aldabra tortoises, which are actually bigger than our Galapagos tortoises.”
For the kids, the splash pad is a huge hit. It is in Wallaroo, which is all a kids’ zone. “It has a mister, plus the splash pad and it’s definitely a place to cool off and where parents can relax a bit, as well.” Wallaroo also has a Wendy’s Frosty Cart. ZooTampa is the first not-for-profit that Wendy’s has partnered with and they even let guests personalize their Frosties with various toppings.
In between animal encounters, there is a water ride called Roaring Springs that takes guests down a floom where they are certain to get splashed.
The Florida manatees can be found in the zoo’s Manatee Circle. Guests can walk through a tunnel and see them swimming underwater, along with the turtles that share their space. “It is very relaxing, so it is a great place to calm things down,” Torres said. ZooTampa is one of four places in the state that offers critical care to injured manatees. It is one of only two places that takes in orphaned manatee youngsters for care and rehabilitation.
“There is a list of Wildlife Connections guests can visit at various times throughout the days, as well as special behind-the-scenes programs,” Torres said. For more information, visit ZooTampa. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, hats and misters.
