Former zoo boss might be fined

Former Lowry Park Zoo President Lex Salisbury again is in trouble with local water managers for making land changes without authorization.

This time, the trouble stems from work at his personal Dade City ranch, where he has kept a collection of cattle and exotic species.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District visited Salisbury's ranch April 20, said Robyn Felix, a spokeswoman.

District staff members found 2.6 acres of wetlands had been excavated to create a watering hole for the animals. The pile of dirt from the work created another half-acre of floodplain impact.

The district asked him to return the land to its original condition.

A month later, staff members returned and found Salisbury had restored the land, Felix said.

The district's legal staff is determining whether to fine him, she said. Water managers can waive a fine if a problem is corrected.

Water district staff decided to visit Salisbury's private ranch to check for compliance after citing him for unauthorized development at another site, Safari Adventures, his for-profit exotic animals park in Polk County.

In late April, water managers fined Salisbury $8,863 for construction they determined had degraded water quality.

Salisbury and St. Petersburg veterinarian Stephen Wehrmann want to a build a 260-acre animal park north of downtown Lakeland. Visitors would take safari-style rides on the property to see exotic species in a more natural setting.

Safari Adventures remains stalled by county, state and water district permitting issues.

Neighbors have complained about the project for more than a year, saying they worry that potentially dangerous exotic animals could escape and terrorize their rural area.

Saturday, storms downed a portion of the perimeter fence that surrounds Safari Adventures. An interior fence that keeps animals on the property was not damaged.

Safari Adventures workers had repaired the fence by Sunday morning, said Gary Morse, a spokesman with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

No animals escaped.