Annual Report 2007 - Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo

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Amazing AnimalsSignificant Acquisitions in FY 07male female undetermined animal1 1 African Bush Pig (Red River Hog)3 3 African Penguin1 Andean Condor1 1 Bengal Tiger (White)2 Cheetah1 Florida Panther2 Grevy’s Zebra1 1 Indian Sarus Crane4 9 1 Malayan Flying Fox3 North American River Otter1 Ocellated Turkey1 1 Okapi8 8 4 Panamanian Golden Frog3 Puerto Rican Crested Toad2 Pygmy Hippopotamus1 1 Red Wolf1 Ring-Tailed Lemur1 Siamang1 New Guinea Singing Dog1 Sri Lankan Sloth Bear2 Southern Gerenuk7 7 5 West Indian ManateeThe Florida Manatee andAquatic Center and David A. Straz, Jr.Manatee Hospital at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo expandthe traditional boundaries of a zoo, focusing efforts on a highprofileFlorida marine mammal species. The Zoo is committedto educating the public about the status of Florida’s endangeredmanatees and steps necessary to conserve the population.The Zoo works in partnership with the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService, Florida Marine Research Institute and the Florida Fishand Wildlife Conservation Commission to rescue, rehabilitateand release injured and sick manatees.The Zoo’s manatee facility opened in 1991 as part of theMason M. and Charles P. Lykes Florida Wildlife Center -- thefirst of its kind to be designed and built specifically formanatees. Today, it is the only non-profit hospital in the worldspecifically dedicated to the treatment of sick, injured andorphaned manatees.Through FY 07, veterinary and animal care staff have cared fornearly 200 manatees, and of those, have released more than100 back into their native waters. Approximately 85 percent ofthose surviving the first 48 hours can be successfully releasedback into the wild. To date, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo hastreated more than 5 percent of the state’s manatee population.Births in FY 07male female undetermined animal1 1 Bengal Tiger (White)3 4 1 Red Wolf1 Red-Legged Seriema2 3 Slender-Tailed Meerkat1 1 WarthogSpecies Survival Plan (SSP)The Zoo directly participates in 43Species Survival Plans (SSPs), acooperative breeding andconservation program managedby the Association of Zoos andAquariums (AZA) to help ensurethe survival of selected wildlifespecies. Under these programs,zoos work to maintain a healthycaptive population, support fieldresearch and habitat protection,educate Zoo visitors, andreintroduce species to their nativehabitats when possible.Asian GardensBabirusaBali MynahBurmese Star TortoiseClouded LeopardIndian RhinocerosKomodo DragonMalayan TapirSri Lankan Sloth BearVisayan Warty PigFlorida Wildlife CenterRed WolfFree-Flight AviaryGreat Indian HornbillMauritius Pink PigeonRhinoceros HornbillToco ToucanManatee & Aquatic CenterPanamanian Golden FrogPuerto Rican Crested ToadPrimate WorldAngolan Colobus MonkeyBornean OrangutanChimpanzeeCollared LemurGeoffrey’s MarmosetGolden-Headed Lion TamarinGolden Lion TamarinGuenonMandrillRed-Ruffed LemurRing-Tailed LemurSiamangSilvered LangurSafari AfricaAfrican ElephantAfrican PenguinCheetahGrevy’s ZebraOkapiPygmy HippopotamusRadiated TortoiseScimitar-Horned OryxSouthern White RhinocerosWattled CraneWallaroo StationPalm CockatooOutreachAndean CondorGreen SwampPrzewalski’s HorseRed WolfPage 9Page 10
Conservation ShowcaseTampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is committed tosupporting conservation activities worldwide.To date, the Zoo’s conservation initiatives have been successful in the rescue,rehabilitation, release, research and protection of many species, includingrestoration and expansion of prime species habitat and the support ofcommunity education and outreach programs.On a global front, the Zoo’s Eco-Conservation Committee was established in1995 to provide a helping hand to conservation projects worldwide. Thecommittee established a conservation fund to provide financial support fordesignated programs, and staff members have worked in-situ (in the wild)with endangered species to help save animals and their habitats Thecommittee has worked hard to identify a select number of key initiatives tomaximize its conservation impact and to become a leader in wildlifeconservation worldwide.Several of the Zoo’s key initiatives involve Africa. Here is a snapshot of someof the conservation efforts to preserve and protect treasured wildlife likeelephants, rhinoceros, chimpanzees, birds of prey, wild dogs and okapi.Goualougo TriangleChimpanzee Conservationand Research ProjectTampa’s Lowry Park Zoo annuallysupports the Goualougo TriangleChimpanzee Conservation andResearch Project in Africa’sNouabale’-Ndoki National Park,Republic of Congo. The goal ofthis project is to protect theunique central subspecies ofchimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) inthe Goualougo Triangle, while gaining a better understanding of their population size,community structure and ranging patterns. As a result of this study the Triangle has beenannexed into the protection of the Nouabale’-Ndoki National Park, thus cancelingproposed logging activities.The primary investigator for this project is David Morgan, who worked as a night siteinstructor at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo before becoming a wildlife researcher in theCongo. His dedication to chimpanzee conservation and other animals of the Goualougotriangle is a wonderful example of how one person can make a difference.www.wcs-congo.org/resgoua.htmThe Peregrine FundEstablished in 1970, the Peregrine Fund works nationally and internationally to conserve birdsof prey in nature. The organization conserves nature by restoring species in jeopardy, conservinghabitat, educating students, training conservationists, and providing factual information to the public.Swaziland Elephant/Rhino ConservationIn the early 1950s, wildlife in the country of Swaziland was severelydecimated by rampant hunting and habitat loss. One family, theReillys, recognized this loss of the country’s wildlife heritage andbegan a tireless crusade to save the remaining species and restorethose that were lost. Their determination and perseverance led to theestablishment of three National Parks and the beginning of wildlifeconservation in the country of Swaziland. Today the Reilly familycelebrates more than 40 years of successful nature conservation. Theycontinue to work tirelessly to manage and protect wildlife as well aspromote awareness of conserving both Swaziland’s natural resourcesand the world’s. Elephants, black and white rhino and many otherspecies are now thriving due to their efforts.In 2003, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo along with the San Diego WildAnimal Park committed to provide financial support to help thepeople of Swaziland with their conservation mission. Funds help todefray the cost of acquiring additional land, anti-poaching programsand public education. To date this funding has allowed for theexpansion of the Mkhaya Game Reserve by 10 percent, which willhelp support the survival of thousands of species.www.biggameparks.orgTampa’s Lowry Park Zoo provided funds of $2,000, to the Peregrine Fund in support ofornithologist Dr. Munir Varani’s large raptor surveys in Kenya. www.peregrinefund.orgAfrican Wild Dog ConservationThe African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is one of Africa’s most endangeredcarnivores. In 1999, African Wild Dog Conservation (AWDC) was formed to study andprotect one of the largest remaining populations of wild dogs found in Zambia.Through the efforts of AWDC, knowledge of wild dogs and support of large scalehabitat conservation have increased, which in turn benefits many other species.Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, provided funds of $4,500 to African Wild DogConservation to purchase radio collars necessary to monitor a pack of dogs andto provide educational materials for local schools and communities.www.awdczambia.orgOkapi Conservation ProjectFound only in the Congo, the okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is a shy andreclusive forest dweller and is the only living relative of the giraffe.In 1987, the Okapi Conservation Project was founded to secure a protectedarea in the Ituri Forest region of the Democratic Republic of Congo for the okapi and other nativespecies. The goals of this project are to train and equip wildlife guards to protect the area frompoachers, provide community assistance to people living around the reserve, educate people aboutsustainable use, and provide care for a breeding group of okapi in the reserve.Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo annually provides funds to support this project and maintains a breedingpair of okapi at the Zoo. www.wildnet.org/okapi.htmPage 11 Page 12
Page 1 and 2: Lowry Park Zoological Society of Ta
Page 3 and 4: New Happenings and MilestonesTampa
Page 5: Learning Comes NaturallyZoo School
Page 9 and 10: A Look AheadA young white tiger cub
Page 11 and 12: Events and DonorsZoo BooSelect Date

Annual Report 2007 - Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo

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