Florida Manatee Viewing Lowry Park Zoo Tampa - Where to See Florida Manatees

Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo

The zoo even has a special manatee hospital

Manatees at Lowry Park Zoo

The small 41-acre Lowry Park Zoo is ranked one of the top three zoos for its size by the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums.

With 1,600 animals representing 272 species (including 31 threatened or endangered species), manatees are one of the Lowry Park Zoo's main attractions.

ZooTampa at Lowry Park is widely known for caring for critically injured, sick and orphaned manatees. Manatee Critical Care Center is the first non-profit, acute care facility of its kind specifically dedicated to critical care for wild manatees.

Just like a hospital for humans, the manatee hospital provides x-ray and dark room, an operating room, and anesthesia for injured or ill manatees. Pepsi Cola and the city of Tampa fund the center.

Animals that regain their full health are released back into the wild.

Although the aquatic center is available for viewing as part of the general admission fee, behind-the-scenes tours of the hospital are usually conducted Wednesday through Sunday only.

Contact info: Located at 7101 W. Sligh Avenue in Tampa. Open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Call 813-935-9486.

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