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'Wild' Deal Raises Questions About Zoo's Mission

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 27, 2008

Conflicts Of Interest

Regarding "Crisis In Leadership Threatens Support For Lowry Park Zoo" (Our Opinion, Sept. 18):

I'm sorry; I'm a bit confused. I've been reading the continued coverage of "Rhinogate."

If I'm following this correctly, Lowry Park Zoo made a deal with Safari Wild to house the pregnant rhinos and how the offspring would be divvied up. Now, am I to understand that the rhinos are gone?

How in the world did they transport animals of this size out of the county and no one even knew it?

Add to that, what are the monetary and legal arrangements that were made with the California facility that took them?

Who approved their transfer there, Fassil Gabremariam wearing his hat as Lowry Zoo board chairman or wearing his other hat as board member of Safari Wild?

And they say there's no conflict of interest?

By the way, just what is this California facility that now owns our rhinos - a zoo, a sanctuary, a private owner?

It would seem that Lowry Zoo or Safari Wild owes the city of Tampa taxpayers a huge amount of money for selling off or transferring or trading, whatever they call it, endangered species that are indeed priceless.

Someone recommended I read Alan Green's "Animal Underworld," which lists Lowry Park Zoo and its questionable animal dealings. I'm afraid now I know why!

Thank you for your in-depth reporting on this issue.

JULIE HANAN

Lutz

Editorial Was Inaccurate

I found your Sept. 18 editorial inaccurate.

The zoo leased 10 acres from Safari Wild for $1 per year for 10 years. They had control of the acreage on which they erected structures. Lowry Park Zoo leases from the city, and has erected buildings.

Safari Wild boards five bison for $120 per month - below the zoo's feeding cost. The zoo needed space for animals off-site for the three years I have volunteered there.

If the mayor's office attended board meetings they were aware of this, but they offered no public property earlier?

Rhinogate: Animals are frequently shipped between zoo and accredited entities for breeding. Frequently, the breeder owns neither animal, but boards them and provides medical care. In most agreements the breeder gets the first and third born and the owner gets the second and fourth. Safari Wild (breeder) has forgone first position and gives Lowry Park the first and third. Rhinos only reproduce every three years so Safari Wild would not have benefited for four to five years.

The city provides less than 5 percent of the zoo's income. Before the city takes over operations of the zoo consider: being independent, Lowry Park Zoo gets grants and donations.

The Los Angeles Zoo (where I volunteered for 15 years) is city-owned and managed. A fundraising problem was that businesses with city contracts don't contribute due to perceived conflict of interest with politicians.

PENNY HUNTER

Lutz

Focus On Mission

Such ado about Lowry Park Zoo. Unfortunately, all the Tribune's articles are mostly about people. Should this be? What about the animals that have suffered because of Lex Salisbury's recent distractions?

The Gator Falls Flume Ride should never have been built. It displaced bison, deer, turkeys and sand hill cranes.

The mayor and the mayor's representative on the Lowry Park Zoo Board need to take a close look at not only Lex Salisbury's leadership and managerial capabilities, but the direction he seems to be steering the zoo. The zoo needs fewer rides and buildings selling souvenirs. These are taking away spaces once used for animals. The zoo's mission must be to take in, care for, display properly and safely and educate visitors about animals.

RICHARD FORMICA

Tampa

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