Tampa Zoo Hurricane Prep Milton
Florida Hurricane Milton Evacuation Map
ZooTampa Prepares for Hurricane Milton, Ensuring Safety for Animals and Staff
ZooTampa at Lowry Park has taken extensive precautions in anticipation of Hurricane Milton, securing animals in safe enclosures and closing the zoo to visitors as the powerful storm approaches Florida’s Gulf Coast. The Category 5 hurricane is expected to make landfall near Sarasota, just south of Tampa Bay, early Thursday morning.
Tiffany Burns, the senior director of animal programs at ZooTampa, emphasized the seriousness with which they approach hurricane preparedness. “We take every storm seriously and prepare as much as possible,” Burns told Newsweek. “Everyone in the Tampa Bay area is on edge. It’s a big storm, and while we’ve done all we can to get ready, there’s still nervousness about what it could bring.”
As Hurricane Milton moves toward the Gulf Coast with sustained winds of 160 mph, ZooTampa has moved animals like giraffes to secure enclosures. In a social media announcement, the zoo confirmed it would remain closed to the public from October 8 through at least October 10, with the timeline subject to change depending on conditions.
The zoo’s “ride-out team,” composed of animal-care experts and essential staff, will remain on-site to ensure the safety of both the animals and the team members. Burns explained, “We keep the staff to a minimum, but make sure the critical team is there to monitor the animals and keep everything safe.”
ZooTampa follows a comprehensive hurricane plan, updated annually, that prepares the team for storms of all categories. “We always prepare for the worst, so we’re over-prepared rather than caught off guard,” Burns said, adding that preparations for Milton are more intense than those for recent storms like Hurricane Helene.
Generators are ready, tree branches have been trimmed, and additional food is stocked to care for over 1,000 animals during the storm. The zoo also received a “Storm Ready” certification from the National Weather Service this past summer, underscoring its readiness for extreme weather.
Each animal has different needs in a hurricane, and most are moved to indoor enclosures or “hurricane buildings,” where they are accustomed to staying at night. Burns noted that reducing stress for the animals is a top priority. Furthermore, with caretakers closely monitoring their behavior throughout the storm. “We do everything we can to make it as stress-free as possible. We don’t know exactly how the animals feel, but we keep a close eye on them.”
Tampa Zoo Hurricane Prep Milton
Some animals, like macaws, are provided with enrichment activities to keep them occupied during the storm. Others, like orangutans, react differently—some are curious and explore their new surroundings, while others prefer to keep to themselves. “Orangutans are very intelligent and notice changes right away,” Burns said.
Moreover, the zoo staff stand well-prepared for post-storm recovery. Thus, after the storm passes, the first recovery team will become deployed to check on the animals. In addition, assess damage, and ensure that operations return to normal as quickly as possible.
“Our number one goal is to make sure the animals are safe and secure,” Burns stated, as the community prepares for Hurricane Milton’s arrival.
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