TAMPA, Fla. — It was a banner year for manatee conservation at ZooTampa at Lowry Park. The institution confirmed this week that it successfully returned 26 rehabilitated sea cows to Florida waters in 2025, marking the highest annual number of releases in its history.
The milestone highlights the facility’s intensifying role within the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership at a time when the species remains under significant pressure.
According to recent estimates, more than 620 manatees died across the state in 2025, with 97 of those fatalities attributed to watercraft injuries.
READ: Manatee Migration Underway In Florida: FWC Urges Boaters To Slow Down And Be Vigilant
Against that backdrop, the work inside the zoo’s David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center has become a critical lifeline. Recognized as the largest nonprofit facility of its kind in the United States, the center has treated over 615 manatees since 1991, with the vast majority eventually cleared for return to the wild.
The operation runs on the back of a specialized team that is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This unit includes animal care experts and veterinarians specifically certified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for manatee critical care.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the zoo invests nearly $2 million annually into these rescue efforts. The organization also integrates this work into its visitor experience, educating roughly 1.2 million guests and students each year about the threats facing local wildlife.
Public access to these efforts is set to expand significantly in the coming months. In the spring of 2026, ZooTampa will unveil the Straz Family Manatee Rescue.
A key component of the new “Florida Waters” expansion, the state-of-the-art facility will feature immersive, eye-level underwater viewing, giving visitors a rare, firsthand look at the rehabilitation process.
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