Lowry Park Zoo - Part 3

This is the final day of the zoo, and I really didn't expect a three day post, but it really was a nice place, well done, with lots of neat exhibits.  Today is the primarily aquatic section.  So, let's go ahead and finish the tour.

You won't find these guys at Brookfield, St. Louis and certainly not at Niabi.  Manatees are simply leg-less and armless walrus looking things without the tusks, too.  They are mammals so breath air but are very much sea creatures.  We have run into them at the beach and seen them in the Bay at the Vinoy, so they are not rare or bashful, but certainly not common.  Graceful, slow and lumbering they look like giant black blobs floating about.

A mother and baby manatee swim about in a nice auditorium aquarium that you can also then go around and see them underwater through windows.  They are victims of boating props a lot down here, and protected with maniacal fervor.

Alternating between food at the surface and then at the bottom, these gentle creatures are fun to watch.

A big old sea bass swims in the aquarium. 

Isn't this the opening scene of Jaws?

Norah soaking up the cultural experience.

That turtle had some age on it and a layer of moss on its shell.

Damnable disgusting snake house with damnable disgusting snakes.  Okay, so they are dry to the touch, and not slimy, they are nonetheless enough to give a girl (or guy) the vapors. 

I couldn't get out of my head the Lizzie Borden song.  Especially the thirty whacks part.

I think this was a rattler.

All bald eagles are cool looking.  

Finally this kitty cat was the final exhibit.  And he was kind of cute because he kind of meowed, in a big cat way, of course.  You can hear him in the video below.

Brendan still hasn't learned that I have my camera with me at all times ready to snap or film.  You can hear him giving a commentary on the turtle's progress of mounting the log.



This eel was swimming in an endless arc in this tank.  Never deviating from the same routine and course.  I wonder what Darwin would say about that?



Lowry commends itself on not having any animals not directly indigenous to Tampa's climate, meaning no polar bears.  Why, then are these little guys around.  I guess there are warmer weather penguins?



I admit to having an irrational fear of these guys.  They do make great boots and belts so there's that.




You have to listen closely but he does meow a couple of times.

That's our trip to Lowry and if you are in the neighborhood, stop by.  Nice place for the family, as long as its not too big.  Thanks for hanging in there all week.