Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park Zoo Tampa $125M expansion and renovation

My initial thoughts on this project:

These renovations and expansions are exciting, but it must be realized that this is a 20 year plan. As such these are long horizon projects and a dream.

Clearly the article was written by someone that is not really familiar with the zoo saying things like:
"redeveloping its gorilla habitat and creating a new multispecies space for elephants, giraffes and white rhinos...." We don't have gorillas now at all.

That said, here are the highlights:
  • New Stingray area
  • Expanded manatee hospital
  • New South America section on the east side on North Blvd.
    • Jaguars, sea lions, giant otters etc.
  • New entrance on the east side
  • New shops, restaurants, and entertainment areas
  • Bridge over North Blvd to the main part of the zoo
  • New lion and gorilla habitats in Africa
    • Red river hog and gorilla multi-species habitat like in Houston.
  • Overnight cabana's in the African area near the new lions
  • Possible renovation to other parts of Africa
  • Renovated orangutan and Tiger habitats

The timeline has the stingray opening next year along with the expanded manatee rehab and hospital in 2026.

Everything else does not have announced dates at this point. I would expect the lions, gorilla, and renovated tiger and orangutan habitats to be before a huge expansion across North Blvd. The renovations to the tigers and orangutans would be next up if I were planning it.

The main gift shop also needs to be expanded or re-located, it is very small by today's standards.

Not mentioned are a parking lot renovation and expansion project that is under planning now.
 
I can also second Lowry has never had gorillas.

It wouldn't surprise me if tigers especially would be first. The zoo has long wanted to renovate their enclosure and the fact they removed the sloth bears and put in a phase out species as an exhibit filler only affirms that to me.

It will be interesting to see what the plan for elephant, rhino and giraffe is. When that part of Africa was originally built it was going to be one big savanna (until good sense prevailed with the realization elephant and rhino don't mix).

I like the idea of basically copying the Houston gorilla exhibit and adding another smaller primate to it. Would also free up the current RRH enclosure for another species.

As @SwampDonkey said, the S.A. section is so far down the line, I would just wait and see what happens
 
PSO said:
It wouldn't surprise me if tigers especially would be first. The zoo has long wanted to renovate their enclosure and the fact they removed the sloth bears and put in a phase out species as an exhibit filler only affirms that to me.
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That's been my working assumption as well, it makes a lot of sense and also would partially explain why they never bothered to fix the cave viewing area.
It will be interesting to see what the plan for elephant, rhino and giraffe is. When that part of Africa was originally built it was going to be one big savanna (until good sense prevailed with the realization elephant and rhino don't mix).
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I would like to have confirmation from someone involved, I am not entirely sure they are actually planning on any changes there given the author was unaware of the current lack of gorillas. That said, I wonder if they are going to get rid of the safari ride eventually, it would be hard to keep it and squeeze in these cabanas and extra habitats.
 
The thing that caught my eye was sea lions. Are they actually getting South American Sea Lions or are they using California Sea Lions as stand in? It will be interesting to see.
 
Thats a very good point about the author. Based on the drawings though I could see them building a new enclosure, mixing the rhino, giraffe and zebra (with lions looking like they are part of the exhibit) and giving elephants the entire current area.
 
Ituri said:
The thing that caught my eye was sea lions. Are they actually getting South American Sea Lions or are they using California Sea Lions as stand in? It will be interesting to see.
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As much as it would be cool to see a new species of pinniped, part of me really does hope that they stick with California sea lions. There are always non-releasable animals in need of placement, and it would seem a shame to lose a potential holding facility in favor of a species that won't be used to establish a sustainable population in the US and, if we're being totally honest, only one-tenth of a percent of visitors will actually notice and difference and care.
 
PSO said:
Thats a very good point about the author. Based on the drawings though I could see them building a new enclosure, mixing the rhino, giraffe and zebra (with lions looking like they are part of the exhibit) and giving elephants the entire current area.
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They have the space to do that if they want, but they would have to take the area occupied by the safari ride, patas monkey and bongo. But that would not be much of a loss really, that ride is always way to crowded and if we are honest is not really that great.
 
They talk about adding sea lions to the South America section, and a rendering of a sea lion exhibit calls them "South American sea lions." Are they going to be incredibly lucky by getting their hands on some pinniped specie from South America, or is this just another California sea lion exhibit? According to Pinnipeds in North America, only two (nonaccredited) facilities hold any South American pinniped specie (South American sea lion to be specific). Unless they breed them prolifically (I have no idea), I'm just going to assume this is just California sea lion.
 
RE the sea lions, we really have no idea. The renderings may label them as SA, but in reality we all know these early drafts are often "pie in the sky" kind of things. That said, it would be possible to get SA if they happen to move the ones from Sarasota here......but again this is all a 20 year plan, so we really have no idea what they can or really will end up doing.

All that said, I would bet on them being California sea lions in the end.
 
They really should do away with the safari ride. The only hold up of turning that into the mixed savanna is supposedly, according to colleague that worked there, it's also a possible location for the gorillas.

I did find it ironic that the only SA sea lions left in the country are located just south in Sarasota but again unlikely (though they did have them at the zoo as a temporary summer exhibit).

Another interesting thing about the article is the reference to FL Aquarium and how they want to compliment one another's specie collection but both are now planning on building new sea lion exhibits
 
PSO said:
Another interesting thing about the article is the reference to FL Aquarium and how they want to compliment one another's specie collection but both are now planning on building new sea lion exhibits
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That was interesting, the FLA new seal ion exhibit should be done well before this one though....so there will be a gap enabling this to feel "fresh" when it opens.

Both facilities are in need of updates, so these new announcements are welcome.
 
Thanks @SwampDonkey for posting the link and supplying a breakdown of the major highlights of the Master Plan. It's a bit frustrating when zoos announce sweeping future changes over 20 years, as that always makes me skeptical about whether or not half the exhibits will even be built. A lot can happen in two decades. Still, it's great to see a zoo with ambition!
 
This looks like a very promising and exciting plan. Zoo Tampa is certainly in need of some TLC and even if just a portion of the plan comes to fruition it would be remarkable. The zoo really seems to be going all out on plans for the South American precinct. 28 acres is a lot of space for a single exhibit complex and they can really do whatever they want here. I realize some of that includes the new secondary entrance and other amenities, but regardless this could be spectacular.

I'm also really looking forward to seeing what comes of the revitalized African area. I'm all for the drive-through area being replaced, as it really is both unnecessary and unsightly in the current layout of the area. The gorilla/monkey/red river hog area has potential to be excellent. I'm guessing the lions will take up the space of the old wetlands aviary and some of the savannas will be combined, perhaps even mixing the elephants with giraffes and antelope ala Dallas/Boras.

Here is another article which includes additional renderings, such as the future manatee center and Asian exhibit with orangutans, siamangs and tigers: ZooTampa unveils plans for new $125 million expansion, which includes Hillsborough River water taxis
 
This is wonderful news! Hopefully the general updates and expansion of existing sections happens sooner rather than later within the given timeframe.

Regarding the USA South American Sea Lions, does anyone know where they currently are? The only individuals in the USA were at the Sarasota Sea Lion Preserve, but the facility completely closed this past year. What happened to the residents?

20 years is a long time, political/social/economic climate can shift, not to mention animal populations, so perhaps importing sea lions from SA may be a viable option in the distant future, but as on now I'd agree it would likely be California Sea Lions as a stand-in.
 
pachyderm pro said:
Here is another article which includes additional renderings, such as the future manatee center and Asian exhibit with orangutans, siamangs and tigers: ZooTampa unveils plans for new $125 million expansion, which includes Hillsborough River water taxis
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WOW! Thanks for finding those extra images. The re-done manatee care center looks like it is really a complete over hall of the existing manatee building - which is in SORE need of an update.
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It is kind of hard to place the tiger and orangutan project, if I had to completely guess I would say the building in the orangutan picture is the komodo night house and they plan on an expanded orangutan habitat - but that is a wild guess. Not sure where the tiger bridge is going to ...
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In this image you can see the SA area with jaguar, macaw, sea lions and a large snake (likely anaconda):
screen_shot_2022-12-15_at_10.15.12_am.png
 
SusScrofa said:
Regarding the USA South American Sea Lions, does anyone know where they currently are? The only individuals in the USA were at the Sarasota Sea Lion Preserve, but the facility completely closed this past year. What happened to the residents?
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I believe the same people own them, they just do the traveling show (Sea Lion Splash) now and do not operate the place you can actually go to, IIRC. It was always two businesses with the same animals operating out of the same base location.
 
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