TAMPA, Fla. — Zoo Tampa is one of only a few critical care facilities in Florida able to treat sick and injured manatees.

But zoo officials say that because of limited space, they can only take care of so many at a time.

What You Need To Know

  • Two new manatee pools are planned at Zoo Tampa to allow 60% more manatee to be treated

  • The pools are expected to be finished by June

  • According to preliminary numbers from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, more than 500 manatees died in 2023

For Zoo Tampa head veterinarian Cynthia Stringfield, the preservation and care of manatees is something she and her team dedicate countless hours to. 

“We want to make sure they’re not having any troubles breathing and then also looking at their rate of respiration,” she said. 

She said the ultimate goal is to get every manatee healthy enough to return to the wild, but a lack of space at the zoo means there are manatees the facility just can’t help.

“We really need more space,” Stringfield said. “We are the only facility on the West Coast and we’re only one of three critical care facilities.” 

Thanks to a $3 million grant from the state, though, the zoo will soon complete the construction of two new pools, which will allow Stringfield’s team to treat more manatees.

According to preliminary numbers from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, more than 500 manatees died in 2023.

Stringfield said she hopes they can help decrease that number by treating sick and injured animals at Zoo Tampa.

“We have three pools now, so adding two pools to that is going to be a huge increase in what we can accept,” she said.

The two new pools are set to be finished by June, and once complete, will allow the zoo to take care of 60% more manatees. 

Stringfield says the new pools can’t come soon enough. 

She said her team is currently taking care of 20 manatees and can’t house any additional animals, forcing them to send the manatees to other places.

“They have to go to Orlando or they have to wait,” she said. “So it’s like being in a waiting room to be able to get into the emergency room, and obviously we don’t want manatees to have to be doing that.”

The pools aren’t the only expansion possible for Zoo Tampa. On Thursday, the Tampa City Council is expected to discuss a resolution that would allow the zoo to construct a manatee rescue center.