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Lowry zoo renovations will block visitors' view

Exhibits will close as the zoo updates the Asian Domain, which also will get a new name.

By ALDO NAHED
Published June 28, 2006

TAMPA — William Deering came to Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo with his family on Tuesday hoping to see an anoa, a type of water buffalo.

Instead, the Kentucky tourists on summer vacation saw a “closed until September for remodeling” sign and a red wooden fence blocking most of the exhibit’s nearly 2 acres.

“I wanted to know what that was,” said Deering, 20, referring to the anoa.

A restyling of the Asian Domain exhibit at the Lowry Park Zoo will keep some animals out of sight: the Greater Indian rhinoceros, Sumatran tigers, Sri Lankan sloth bears, Malayan tapirs and the Reeves’ muntjacs, a species of small deer.

Visitors may still be able to catch glimpses of the clouded leopard, babirusa pig, Komodo dragon, Asian pythons and the Bactrian camel.

“We closed the entrance, but people can still see some of the animals through the exhibits’ perimeter,” said Rachel Nelson, a zoo spokeswoman.

Zoo officials say they’re excited about the modernization of the exhibit, which is a first since the park opened in 1988.

“This Asian Domain exhibit is one of our original areas,” Nelson said. “Clearly — almost 20 years — it could use a significant amount of renovation.”

Hillsborough County commissioners approved advancing $2-million in funding for improvements to the Asian Domain exhibit, the Florida boardwalk and Safari Africa, part of $4-million committed in sales tax money from the Community Investment Tax for 2008-2012. Private donations also are supplementing county funds.

The zoo expects to get the other $2-million in the 2008-2012 cycle. That money will go to additional renovations to exhibits and facilities, said Nelson.

When construction is done this fall, expect to call the exhibit by a new name: Asian Gardens.

Guests will get the chance to view the tiger and sloth bear a bit closer, through glass walls, and even be able to feed the tigers, Nelson said.

There will be a new water garden entrance, a walk-through bird and ground mammal aviary, a new tapir garden, waterfalls and an additional exhibit — the bearded pig.

Zoo officials say they envision guests being transported into Southeast Asia’s architecture, colors and sounds.

“There will be no theme rides,” Nelson said, “just an improvement to the existing area.”

For eight consecutive years, Carole-Ann Keating, 64, and her 12- year-old grandson, Harrison Gonyea, have visited the zoo. On Tuesday, they said they’ve seen a big difference over the years and had fun at the Safari Africa ride, where they got close to the animals.

Keating said the Asian exhibit’s temporary closure didn’t put a damper on their visit.

“I kind of missed it,” Keating said, “but it will come back.”

[Last modified June 28, 2006, 23:54:28]