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Zoo Regains Blessing Of Accrediting Agency

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By BAIRD HELGESON

bhelgeson@tampatrib.com

Published: March 28, 2009

TAMPA - Lowry Park Zoo is back in good standing with the nation's premier accrediting agency for zoos and aquariums.

The board of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums on Friday unanimously reinstated its endorsement of Tampa's zoo at a special hearing during the group's midyear meeting in Oklahoma City.

Zoo staffers persuaded the group that they overhauled once-lax animal transaction procedures and renewed their dedication to the group's program managing members' endangered wildlife populations.

For one city official, the action signals a new beginning for an attraction that in the past six months forced out its president and lost two board chairmen and its accreditation.

"Hopefully, we can now leave all the negativity behind," said Santiago Corrada, the city's representative on the zoo board.

In practical terms, zoo visitors won't notice any difference.

Among those in the zoo world, however, the reinstatement puts Lowry Park back among the nation's finest animal attractions. It means the zoo meets the most stringent standards for animal care, conservation and education. It also gives the zoo access to other institutions' surplus animals.

"We are very pleased to be reinstated as a member of AZA - a relationship that is very important to all of us at the zoo," said Craig Pugh, acting director. "Throughout this process, we have focused on taking action to ensure best practices in all areas of operations."

The association also reinstated the membership of Larry Killmar, the zoo's director of collections.

The board did not reinstate former zoo President and CEO Lex Salisbury, who was forced to resign in December for taking more than $200,000 in animals and supplies from the facility. Salisbury did not contact the group to appeal, said Steven Feldman, a spokesman.

The association suspended the membership of the zoo in early December. The group discovered Killmar sent several animals, including four in the species survival program, to Salisbury's personal Dade City ranch and his for-profit exotic-animal park, Safari Wild.

The two locations are not recognized by the group.

The endorsement also puts the Lowry Park Zoological Society back in compliance under terms of its lease with the city, which owns the land and the animals. The lease requires the zoo to meet the association's accrediting standards.

The zoo first gained membership in 1989.

Catherine Lowry Straz, chairwoman of the zoo board, said in an earlier interview that the board would begin its search for a new chief once the zoo regained accreditation.

Board members haven't lost sight of the problems that threw the zoo into tumult.

A Tampa Tribune investigation revealed Salisbury was treating the zoo as his own, taking animals and supplies for his private ventures. Most board members had no idea of his dealings. Even those on the executive committee didn't realize his salary had ballooned to $339,000.

The zoo board reorganized to ensure better oversight.

"The new structure of the zoo board, and its multiple committees, now ensures checks and balances," said Curt Harbsmeier, a zoo board member.
Corrada pledged to remain watchful.

"We have to stay on our toes and keep a watchful eye," he said. "We don't want to make the same mistake again."
Lowry Park Zoo was one of two local attractions seeking an endorsement Friday.

The Florida Aquarium received another five-year accreditation from the association.

"I'm extremely proud of our team and their passion for the aquarium," said Thom Stork, the aquarium's president and CEO.

Reporter Baird Helgeson can be reached at (813) 259-7668.

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