ZooTampa at Lowry Park is a 63-acre nonprofit zoo in the Seminole Heights neighborhood of Tampa, Florida. It opened in 1957 and traces its roots to a small animal exhibit at the University of Tampa in the 1930s, growing over the decades into one of the most visited zoos in the southeastern United States.
Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, ZooTampa is home to more than 1,300 animals across themed areas like Safari Africa, Primate World, Wallaroo Station, and the Florida Wildlife Center. The zoo is also the state-recognized center for Florida wildlife conservation, drawing close to a million visitors each year.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Tampa, Florida
- Opened: 1957
- Size: 63 acres
- Animal count: 1,300+ animals, 300+ species
- Annual visitors: Nearly 1 million
- Accreditation: Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
- Famous for: World’s largest nonprofit manatee critical care hospital
The Zoo Experience
Visitors move through immersive themed zones, from the Asian Gardens with tigers, rhinoceroses, and Komodo dragons to Safari Africa’s giraffes, zebras, and African elephants. Primate World houses orangutans, gibbons, and lemurs, while Wallaroo Station showcases koalas and other Australian species. A Main Aviary hosts free-flight bird and raptor shows throughout the day.
The Florida Wildlife Center highlights native species including alligators and manatees, tying the zoo’s exhibits directly to its conservation mission in the Sunshine State.
Manatee Conservation Leader
Since opening in 1991, the zoo’s David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center has treated hundreds of injured, sick, and orphaned wild manatees, making it the largest nonprofit facility of its kind in the world. The center operates around the clock with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-certified veterinarians on call.
In 2025, ZooTampa released a record 26 rehabilitated manatees back into Florida waters, and the zoo is expanding this work further with the Straz Family Manatee Rescue Center, set to open as part of its Florida Waters expansion.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park FAQs
When did ZooTampa at Lowry Park open?
The zoo opened in 1957, though its origins trace back to a small animal exhibit at the University of Tampa in the 1930s.
How big is ZooTampa at Lowry Park?
The zoo covers 63 acres in Tampa’s Seminole Heights neighborhood and is home to more than 1,300 animals representing over 300 species.
What is ZooTampa best known for?
ZooTampa is widely known for operating the world’s largest nonprofit manatee critical care hospital, which has rescued and rehabilitated hundreds of manatees since 1991.
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Photo: TampAGS, for AGS Media / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.