FL Zoo Expands Manatee Critical Care Center With New 16K-Gallon Medical Pools

TAMPA, FL — ZooTampa recently completed two new 16,000-gallon state-of-the-art pools designed to provide life-saving care to injured, sick and orphaned manatees, according to a news release.

The zoo’s David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center was already the largest nonprofit facility of its kind in the U.S. and has helped more than 600 manatees since 1991 with the majority returning to Florida waters.

The new medical pools significantly increase the center's rehabilitation capacity and feature innovative rising medical floors that allow for effective treatments to be administered directly in the water, the news release said.

The expansion also incorporates an advanced life support system and a dedicated generator to ensure that care for manatees continues uninterrupted during power outages and inclement weather.

ZooTampa is one of only two facilities in the United States equipped to take in critically injured or sick manatees and orphaned calves.

The addition of the two new pools were funded by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, with additional support for the other critical care enhancements from the U.S. Department of Interior, Fish, and Wildlife Service, the McCune Family Foundation, and the Triad Foundation.

See Also:

• Corporate Culture Inspires New FL Coffee Brand Founded By 2 College Friends
• Community Bank Expands On FL’s West Coast With New Bradenton Location
• 2 Jackpot-Winning FL Lottery Tickets Sold At Same Publix 2 Months Apart
• Popular Kid's Amusement Center Opens First Adult Arcade In FL
• Tampa Bay-Area Bar Hosts Christmas In July Fundraiser For Toys For Tots

In spring of 2026, ZooTampa is opening the largest expansion in its history, Florida Waters, which features the new Manatee Rescue, an immersive area where guests can explore the underwater world of manatees and witness the zoo's life-saving efforts up close.

The Florida Waters journey continues with Otter Oasis, a riverbank sanctuary for otters and the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery.

The spends nearly $2 million each year to save manatees, participates in multiple species survival programs, and educates 1.2 million visitors and students annually about global wildlife conservation.

• Get The Latest Local News (For Free!) With One Quick Tap