Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park Lowry Park Zoo News - 2015-2017

A male okapi was born on September 24th.

Rare forest giraffe born at Florida zoo | WJHL

 

Another article about the new Okapi calf :
A Star Is Born - With Stripes! - ZooBorns

 

A $100 000 donation was made towards the new vet facilities.

Amscot Donates $100,000 to Lowry Park Zoo to Help Fund New Veterinary Hospital | Business Wire

 

A male orangutan named GoJo was born December 21st.

Baby orangutan born at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa | TBO.com and The Tampa Tribune

 

Another article about the Orang-baby :
Challenging Delivery for Bornean Orangutan Mom - ZooBorns

 

A female Hartmann's zebra was born to parents Roxie and Rex. She is the first of her kind born at the zoo.

Zebra foals born at Lowry Park Zoo | TBO.com and The Tampa Tribune

 

The African penguins are off display for roughly the next three months while a new barn is constructed for them.

Lowry Park Zoo's African Penguins Getting Upgraded Digs | Patch

 

The zoo has welcomed its second orang baby in as many months. Hadiah has had her first baby a female named Topi. The pregnancy must have been an accident because female orangs are not supposed to be allowed to breed until they are 14 years old so that they have the emotional maturity to be a mother. Hadiah is just 10. Luckily she is doing well with motherhood.

Florida zoo's orangutan mother and daughter cuddle their young after giving birth | Daily Mail Online

 

It never fails to amaze me how quickly infants on other Great Ape species can cling onto their mothers- a human would still need to be grasped by whoever was holding it.

 

Two clouded leopard cubs were born on Leap Day.

Clouded leopard cubs born at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo are all kinds of adorable (w/video) | Things to do in Tampa Bay | Tampa Bay Times

 

Another article about the Clouded leopard-twin :
Two Cute: Clouded Leopard Cubs Born in Tampa - ZooBorns

 

The clouded leopard cubs can now be seen in the main exhibit.

Lowry Park Zoo leopard cubs on the move | FOX 13 Tampa Bay

 

Update about the Clouded leopards :
Leaps and Bounds for Leap Year Leopard Cubs - ZooBorns

 

Does anyone know why the zoo has been so stagnant this past decade?

 

How is it stagnant?

 

A major exhibit hasn't opened since 2007/2008

 

Does a zoo need a constant influx of new exhibits? Is it sustainable to constantly build large-scale, complex exhibits, and require heaps of donated or public funding? Wouldn't that start to alienate your benefactors, especially when your enclosures are quite good? Isn't there more to a zoo than just architecture? What about collection? Conservation programs? Temporary exhibitions? Aren't these zoos supported by communities and thus should cater to them?

To answer your question regarding capital projects:

Since 2008, there has been quite the economic recession that Florida was particularly hit by. Meanwhile the zoo's director focused his attention away from the zoo and towards his own extracurricular business activities. The zoo lost public and donor support. They needed a restructuring in administration and finances. And finally a need existed to update their behind-the-scenes support facilities before moving forward with any further expansion.

In the same time period they've bred 2 rhino species, African elephant, Okapi, Shoebill, and Clouded Leopard. Increased success with Manatee rehabilitation. Added more species that are threatened with extinction to the zoo's collection. And still seen over 1 million annual visitors. This is considered stagnant?

Sorry but there is a fundamental problem if zoos are only growing/reaching success when they build new exhibits.

 

I'm not saying a zoo needs to always build mega complexes or that what Lowry Park has done is insignificant. I was just curious.

 

A female white rhino calf was born Sept 12.

Your daily dose of cute: Lowry Park Zoo welcomes baby rhino | Things to do in Tampa Bay | Tampa Bay Times

 

Lowry Park's first ever Malayan tiger cub was recently born!

ADORABLE: Lowry Park Zoo welcomes rare endangered Malayan tiger cub | WFLA.com