While You Were Gone ... Animals Take Over During Pandemic

TAMPA, FL — While Tampa Bay's animal attractions were closed to the public during the coronavirus pandemic, the zoo, aquarium and park residents took advantage of the crowd-free venues to some exploring.

At The Florida Aquarium, the penguins ruled the roost, checking out the fish in the aquariums and taking rides on the elevator. Meanwhile, the pelicans at the aquarium got to play with the venue's bubble-making machine.

ZooTampa at Lowry Park's newest zoo baby, Freya, a 2-month-old penguin, also had a chance to explore her environs, checking out the wallabies. And the orangutans celebrated Cinco de Mayo by busting open piñatas filled with sunflower seeds and peanuts.

Meanwhile, Dash and Chase, Busch Gardens new cheetah cubs, had the run of the house, so to speak. They spent two days exploring the park and introducing themselves to their new neighbors.

Across the bay at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, pelicans Ricky, Skylar, Matthew and Tyndall enjoyed the kids-free wading pools while one of the aquarium's rescued sea turtle showed off its underwater hand stands.