ZooTampa Gets Approval To Reopen June 1

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, FL — ZooTampa at Lowry Park has received approval from city and county officials to begin reopening the zoo with modified operations starting June 1.

“We’ve all felt the anxiety and stress of the pandemic on people, including children.” said Joe Couceiro, president and CEO of ZooTampa. “Outdoor experiences and connecting with nature and wildlife are healing and bring comfort to people. The zoo can provide restorative family experiences that are within the recommended guidelines for controlling the spread of COVID-19.”

Using experts and scientific data, the ZooTampa team developed protocols for each area of operations in the park. The 17-page plan, which was submitted to county and city officials on Friday, calls for a target reopening date around June 1.

Key points of the plan include:

• Limiting the number of zoo guests to 50 percent of comfortable capacity
• Six feet or more social distancing enforced
• Restricting the zoo’s limited indoor venues to 25 percent of capacity, emphasizing outdoor seating, with staff supervision
• Adding safety and thermal monitoring stations at its single point of entry and hiring on-premise EMTs
• Providing personal protection equipment to employees and offering disposable masks to any guest free of charge
• Enforcing constraints to prevent forming groups of more than 10 people
• Restricting close contact in the park through clear and enforced physical distancing guidelines
• Communicating new safety protocols with mandated training for every zoo employee
• Zoo School, the on-site Childhood Education Center, will follow the Florida Department of Children and Families and Hillsborough County child care licensing guidelines with an anticipated opening of mid-June
• Shift the start of Zoo Camp to the week of June 22

While temporary closed, ZooTampa’s team continued cleaning and sanitizing protocols of zoo grounds while caring for the 1,100 animals who live at the zoo.

“We recognize that in everything we do, the well-being of our employees, volunteers, supporters, members, guests and animals continues to be our foremost priority” said Couceiro. “As we look toward reopening in the near future, we reaffirm our commitment to the mission of immersing guests in unforgettable animal experiences beyond the ordinary that help foster connections with nature, wildlife and each other."

ZooTampa is located at 1101 W. Sligh Ave. in Tampa.