Lowry Park Zoo, which lost its accreditation in December, isn't the only local attraction courting the organization that grants it -- the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Today, the nation's premier accrediting organization for zoos and aquariums renewed its endorsement of the Florida Aquarium. The aquarium's last review by the association was five years ago. ...more

March 27, 2009

Lowry Park Zoo staff and board members scoffed in December when the Association of Zoos and Aquariums suspended its endorsement of Tampa's zoo. Today, top zoo staffers are in Oklahoma City asking the very same group to reinstate its endorsement. They will try to convince the group Lowry Park Zoo has toughened its animal transfer procedures and will embrace the group's program that manages members' populations of selected wildlife. ...more

March 27, 2009

In today's economy when donation dollars are more precious than ever, our community has the opportunity to expand our animal care without spending a dime. All it takes is a community effort. Individual people working toward the same goal can make a difference. ...more

December 30, 2008

For Bob Loring, the holiday party that he hosts each year for a select group of local elementary school students is an entirely selfish effort. ...more

December 14, 2008

The nation's premier accrediting agency for zoos and aquariums has suspended its endorsement of Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo. ...more

December 6, 2008

Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo has been notified that its membership in a national group that accredits zoos and aquariums has been suspended. ...more

December 5, 2008

A pygmy killer whale undergoing rehabilitation at a Sarasota dolphin and whale hospital has died. ...more

September 4, 2008

It was a day both of death and new life for Martha Murray. ...more

August 27, 2008

The big cat exhibit at the San Francisco Zoo reopened Thursday for the first time since a tiger escaped and fatally mauled a teen two months ago. ...more

February 22, 2008

SEBRING — Few places in Florida nurse wild bald eagles back to health, but David Wrede said that Wrede's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center does that. He fixes their wings as well as owls, hawks and geese that are all native to the area. On the side, he even houses a few peacocks, cougars and a lone coyote. Although the three bald eagles at Wrede's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center couldn't be released because they had permanent injuries such as a blind right eye in "Thunder's" case, David Wrede said he was looking for volunteers to help some of the 600 to 1,000 other animals that go through the center each year so they can return to the wild. He and his wife Karen Wrede ran the rehab center at Wilderness Trail south of Sebring for more than 18 years, but David said that they had to slow down because of health problems and they've been focusing mostly on birds. He hoped the volunteers could help him expand the center's efforts with mammals and reptiles. ...more

February 12, 2008