ZooTampa Earns Hillsborough County Conservation Award

ZooTampa's Manatee Critical Care Center honored for decades-long conservation efforts

ZooTampa at Lowry Park is receiving recognition from Hillsborough County for its work with rescuing and rehabilitating manatees. The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners awarded ZooTampa with the 2026 Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award for its David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center.

For more than 30 years, ZooTampa has been at the forefront of saving the iconic Florida species. Since 1991, the zoo's manatee care and veterinary team have rescued more than 635 sick, injured, and orphaned manatees. The majority of which are successfully rehabilitated and returned to their native waters.

A manatee with his face looking at the camera eats romaine lettuce

ZooTampa's President and CEO Joseph Couceiro says receiving the award is a tremendous accomplishment for the hard-working team at the Manatee Critical Care Center.

"It's a recognition of work that has been ongoing for many years," said Couceiro. "An award like this recognizes a job well done by a very passionate team of animal care professionals."

Two kids are staring at manatees through the glass

ZooTampa's manatee care center plays a central role in statewide conservation efforts, often serving as a frontline responder for distressed animals. The zoo recently completed an expansion of its Florida Waters exhibit, where guests can check out the Manatee Critical Care Center. The expansion added additional critical care pools for manatees in need. Chris Massaro, chief zoological officer at ZooTampa, says the main goal of the rescue center is to ensure every manatee that comes in for care is released back into the wild.

"Guests can see right into our manatee hospital," said Massaro. "What better story can we tell by visitors seeing the reason manatees are coming in here."

Two adult manatees and a baby manatee eating lettuce

The immersive experience offers visitors a rare, up-close look at conservation in action. Guests can get an underwater view of manatees, an encounter that leaves a lasting impression.

"I've never seen manatees like this," said one visitor. "When you come from the north you don't get this experience, it's amazing."

The Manny-T mascot in a Hawaiian shirt covered in manatees poses with a mom and her two young kids in front of a manatee sculpture

Learn more about the 2026 Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award and check out how Hillsborough County is helping ZooTampa with plans for a major expansion.