Fantastic Florida wildlife: Where to find it (hint: Tampa Bay)
When it comes to wildlife diversity, Greater Tampa Bay has, to put it mildly, got it going on.
Testaments to this are its more than two dozen species of nesting herons, ibis, egrets and other shorebirds. The Grand Hyatt in Tampa’s Westshore District has a 35-acre nature preserve that offers a peek at some of these fabulous fowl, but that is by no means the end of Greater Tampa Bay’s breathtaking list of unusual animal species.
The elevated boardwalk at Sawgrass Lake Park is a safe way to view live alligators, and it is not uncommon to catch sight of a dolphin at Honeymoon Island State Park. Want to get in on some of the animal action? Check out this list of the area’s hottest animal-viewing spots, simply brimming with all that is bestial.
Florida Aquarium
The Florida Aquarium is rated among the best aquariums in the United States. It specializes in thematic zones, which contain a sample of a given ecosystem for patrons to explore. Exhibits include the Wetlands of Florida, Stingray Beach, Coral Reef and the crowd favorite, the No Bone Zone, home to any number of gelatinous marine creatures.
From the flapping frenzy of an exotic bird-riddled glass dome to the murky alligator tanks, this semi-aquatic supercenter does not shy from spectacular views of fascinating beasts. Fixing to lock eyes with a reclusive garden eel? The Florida Aquarium is a top-notch place for exactly this.
Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens is like a mashup of zoo and theme park, which might suggest that its zoo half is about half as good as a regular zoo — but that is far from the case. As one of America’s biggest zoos, this place features a full 200 different animal species.
Of special note is Busch Gardens’ award-winning Serengeti Safari exhibit, immersing patrons in a surprisingly Serengeti-like setting chock-full of African wildlife — giraffes, hippos, crocodiles and more.
Got the animal jitters? No worries – Busch prides itself on a high safety standard, so no patron need worry about getting nipped by a surly giraffe.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
A unique take on animal exhibits, Clearwater Aquarium places extra emphasis on the protective care of endangered species. Patrons will get the opportunity to meet a variety of named animals and learn their rescue stories. Some of these now include the chunky yet adorable Florida manatee, a threatened species for which the Clearwater Aquarium plans to create an expanded rehab habitat.
The aquarium is a permanent home to a number of marine species who have been rescued but would not survive and thrive in the wild, including sharks, stringrays, sea turtles, otters, pelicans and dolphins including the famous Winter and Hope, featured in the “Dolphin Tale” and “Dolphin Tale 2” films.
Some of the animals are actively undergoing rehabilitation, which is all part of the aquarium’s committment to caring for the environment and, also, is decidedly more interesting to witness than rehab for humans. Clearwater features a number of fun-themed zones as well, like the Otter Oasis, Dolphin Terrace and Shark Pass.
ZooTampa
Zoos tend to be family-oriented places, but this one in particular was voted Best Kids’ Attraction by Tampa Magazine in 2021. With nearly 1 million visitors annually, one is inclined to believe that award is deserved.
Park areas at ZooTampa are divided by animal ecosystem, including sections devoted to Asia, Africa, Australia and Florida. This includes manatees, which manage somehow to be cute while boasting more girth than a literal sumo wrestler. Orangutans, pygmy hippos and African penguins are just a few more of the many wild residents of ZooTampa, and if readers find it surprising that Africa has penguins, they are not alone.
By Drew Mortier
