The zoo just released 3 orphaned manatees, males Lokey and Longo and female Joleen. Longo stayed at South Florida Museum after his initial recovery at the zoo. They were released together at a site where lots of other adult manatees were hanging out during a cold snap so they could learn from others. Lowry Park Zoo releases rehabilitated manatees
The zoo is currently hand rearing and orphaned wild born Florida Panther kitten. He will stay with them until weaned and then he will be transferred to Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park where he will be displayed. Tiny panther kitten found in Collier taken to Lowry Park Zoo
Article about a rescued Florida panther : Rescued Florida Panther Kitten Recovers at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo - ZooBorns
Starting today and ending on May 31st, the zoo is hosting several California and Patagonian Sea Lions in a temporary exhibit. Sea Lion Splash at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
As far as I know, these are the only ones. Last year, Mote Aquarium temporarily displayed this same mixed-species group of sea lions, but I don't know where they originally are from.
These will be the only patagonians in an accredited collection in North America. The last ones permanently on display were three females at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. However, that being said, I am fairly certain there are several in private hands in the US, which is most likely were these ones are coming from.
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Former male koala, "Buduru", was transferred to Zoo Miami while a new male named "Heathcliff" is now at Lowry Park, and will stay there until the SSP pairs Heathcliff up with a female.
The rescued cougar kitten is thriving. He's a week or two away from moving on to the Wildlife Park but there is a long cute video of him. Rescued Florida Panther Kitten enjoys outdoors - Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo | News Video | Bradenton Herald
The Komodo Dragon, Roseate Spoonbill, and Eastern Fence Lizard exhibits are under renovation. The spoonbills are being held in one of the Ituri Forest aviaries. The Martial Eagles may have some eggs right now. The area that held the camel rides is closed, with a sign explaining that the area is under renovation, with an "exciting new experience" coming in spring/summer 2014. The Gator Falls flume ride is closed, and the area behind it is under development, as a new veterinary hospital and animal science/conservation center plans to open in December. An Eastern Screech Owl exhibit next to the American Kestrel exhibit may be new. It wasn't there on my visit 3 years ago, which might mean that it's not that new anyways...
I wish I knew why the Phoenix Zoo wasn't able to keep their brother/sister Koala on loan from San Diego like Lowry Park has been able to. I don't know if it was Phoenix's decision or San Diego's. We were never told why they didn't come back after that one season. I bought a Koala adoption package from Lowry Park when they arrived a couple of years ago. Good luck with the breeding.
Lowry Park doesn't really keep any specific koalas for a while. I reckon that each koala is kept at the zoo for 1 1/2 to 2 years until he's found a suitable mate, or SDZ wants to replace him with another koala. No breeding actually goes on at Lowry Park. Also, on the safari ride, the Eastern Crowned Cranes were kept in an incredibly small pen in the kudu exhibit. I hope this is just a holding pen for them, as it was hardly big enough for the two birds to both fit in it.
The panther kitten was moved to the Wildlife Park in April, and is thriving. Rescued panther kitten now at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Gharials have been added to the zoo's collection. From the looks of the zoo's map, they have replaced Tufted Deer and Bar-Headed Geese in their exhibit. A picture of the exhibit, taken by snowleopard, is in the link below the map. Zoo Map; Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo http://www.zoochat.com/580/asian-gardens-tufted-deer-reeves-muntjac-290601/
