ZooTampa has completed two new 16,000-gallon pools at its David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center to improve care for injured, sick, and orphaned manatees. The facility is the largest nonprofit manatee critical care center in the United States and has treated more than 600 manatees since 1991, with most returned to Florida waters.
The new pools are equipped with rising medical floors that allow staff to provide treatments directly in the water. An advanced life support system and a dedicated generator have also been added to ensure continuous care during power outages or severe weather events. ZooTampa is one of only two facilities nationwide able to accept critically injured or sick manatees and orphaned calves.
Funding for these upgrades came from several sources, including major contributions from the State of Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Additional support was provided by the U.S. Department of Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as private donors such as the McCune Family Foundation and Triad Foundation. As a nonprofit organization, ZooTampa depends on donations, grants, and ticket sales for its operations.
In spring 2026, ZooTampa plans to open “Florida Waters,” which will be its largest expansion yet. This area will include Manatee Rescue—an immersive experience where visitors can observe rehabilitation efforts—and educational exhibits featuring jellies, otters at Otter Oasis, and native reptiles and amphibians at the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery.
According to ZooTampa, it spends nearly $2 million annually on manatee conservation efforts. The zoo also participates in multiple species survival programs and educates approximately 1.2 million visitors each year about wildlife conservation.
