ZooTampa expands manatee care

In Florida’s waters, few animals inspire the same affection and urgency as the manatee. Gentle, slow-moving, and uniquely tied to the state’s identity, manatees have become both a symbol of conservation success and a reminder of how fragile that success can be.

At ZooTampa at Lowry Park, caring for manatees is a mission rooted in science, public trust, and decades of hands-on conservation work. That commitment reached a historic milestone in 2025, when ZooTampa released 26 rehabilitated manatees back into Florida waters, the most in its history. The achievement underscores ZooTampa’s central role protecting the species as part of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership.

“Manatees face many serious threats, most of which are caused by humans,” says Molly Lippincott, Senior Curator of Florida and Marine Life at ZooTampa.

Unlike many wildlife species, manatees have no natural predators. Instead, the greatest dangers they face come from boat traffic and environmental conditions. It’s estimated that more than 620 manatees died in Florida waters in 2025, 97 following boat strikes. Those collisions can break bones, damage organs, and be fatal, Lippincott says.

Cold weather is another serious risk. When water temperatures drop below 72, manatees can suffer from cold stress because they lack sufficient body fat to stay warm. That can lead to illness, skin problems, and sometimes death, particularly for young or orphaned calves, Lippincott says.

Manatees are also injured by entanglement in fishing line and marine debris that can restrict movement. Harmful algal blooms, such as red tide, add another layer of danger by releasing potentially fatal toxins.

“Because of these threats, we continue to see orphaned manatee calves in need of care,” Lippincott says.

National leader

The David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center is at the center of ZooTampa’s manatee care. Since opening in 1991, the facility – the largest nonprofit manatee hospital in the country – has cared for more than 615 manatees, with the vast majority successfully returned to their natural habitat. Those outcomes reflect decades of veterinary expertise, state and federal partnerships, and sustained public support. 

The record number of releases in 2025 highlights the zoo’s capacity to respond. Its manatee rescue, rehabilitation, and release team is on call 24/7 days and consists of veterinarians, including two federally-certified manatee critical care vets, and animal care professionals. 

.Maintaining that level of care requires significant resources. A combination of public and private sources fund  ZooTampa’s manatee rehabilitation efforts. The State of Florida provides funding through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Lippincott says, but the majority of the funding comes from ticket sales, donations, and grants.

That model reinforces a simple reality of conservation. Protecting Florida’s wildlife depends heavily on community engagement and public participation.

Manatees hold a singular place in Florida’s identity. In the U.S., they are native only to Florida, though they may travel into the Gulf of Mexico and up the east coast during warmer months.

Their recovery from near extinction has  made them a powerful symbol of what conservation can achieve.

“Manatees are a conservation success story,” Lippincott says. “They show what is possible when communities work together to protect a species.”

Expanding the mission

That message will soon reach more visitors with the scheduled spring 2026 opening of the Straz Family Manatee Rescue Center, the marquee attraction of ZooTampa’s largest expansion to date, Florida Waters.

The Manatee Rescue experience will feature immersive underwater manatee viewing areas alongside habitats filled with native Florida fish species and moon jellies. 

The fundraising campaign for the new center raised approximately $35 million through a mix of private philanthropy and public investment. ZooTampa Senior Vice President and Chief External Relations Officer Mark Haney says that included two record private donations to the zoo, including one from the Straz family. Funding also came from county and state governments and corporate donations.

The Florida Waters expansion also includes Otter Oasis, a riverbank sanctuary for North American river otters, and Reptile and Amphibian Discovery, which will focus on conservation efforts for some of Florida’s most misunderstood species.

For more information, go to ZooTampa conservation facilities