Expanding Capacity For Critical Care
TAMPA, Fla. – ZooTampa has announced the completion of two new 16,000-gallon medical pools at its David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center. These new additions are designed to expand the center’s capacity to provide care for injured, sick, and orphaned manatees.
The David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center, described as the largest nonprofit manatee critical care center in the U.S., has assisted over 600 manatees since 1991, with the majority subsequently returned to Florida waters.
The newly constructed pools feature rising medical floors, which are intended to facilitate in-water treatments. The expansion also includes an advanced life support system and a dedicated generator, aimed at ensuring continuous operation during power outages. ZooTampa is one of two facilities in the United States equipped to admit critically injured or sick manatees and orphaned calves…