ZooTampa at Lowry Park's Manatee Critical Care Center honored for work to save iconic species
Hillsborough County, Fla. (April 15, 2026) - The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday honored ZooTampa's Manatee Critical Care Center with the 2026 Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award for its groundbreaking work to save a unique Florida treasure.
Since 1991, ZooTampa at Lowry Park's David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center has been at the forefront of manatee conservation. The multidisciplinary team, spanning animal care, veterinary services, and nutrition, and supported by staff and volunteers across the organization, provides critical and rehabilitative care to manatees from across the state while also supporting rescue and response efforts in the field.
The Manatee Care Team has rescued more than 635 manatees and returned 356 to the wild. The work is made possible through close partnerships with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Manatee Critical Care Center's impact extends beyond treatment of manatees, which are native only to Florida and vulnerable to the environment and humans. Through public engagement and education, the team helps residents and visitors understand how to protect manatees and preserve Florida's waterways. In addition, due to their expertise, collaboration, and dedication, the Manatee Care Team is not only saving individual animals but also strengthening the health of local and statewide ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
Past Conservation Award winners include retired Tampa Tribune Opinion Page Editor Joe Guidry, Ann Paul of Audubon Florida, former Florida Gov. Robert "Bob" Martinez, and Michael "Sid" Flannery, formerly with the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
About the Award
In 2017, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners established the Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award, to be presented annually to an individual or group of individuals who exemplifies dedication to preserving the County's natural resources. The award was created in honor of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States and noted conservationist.
Considered to be the nation's first conservation president, Roosevelt established the United States Forest Service, 51 bird reserves, four game preserves, and 150 national forests. He also signed into law the creation of five national parks, and placed 230 million acres under federal protection.