Zoo's vet, manatee expert resigns

David Murphy, a national authority on manatees who helped solve the mysterious deaths of dozens of the endangered sea mammals in 1996, has left his job as chief veterinarian at Lowry Park Zoo.

The reason remains a mystery.

Murphy, 53, has been gone about two weeks, said zoo spokeswoman Rachel Nelson. Zoo CEO Craig Pugh described the departure as "wholly a personnel issue." Both declined to elaborate.

Murphy, returning a call during the weekend, said in a voicemail message that he was re-evaluating his severance package and also could not comment.

Murphy's departure comes as the zoo works to make $2 million in improvements to its veterinary clinic, manatee hospital and boardwalks or risk its accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

In March, the association told the zoo to bring its aging veterinary clinic, manatee hospital and boardwalk up to industry standards. The group criticized the 20-year-old hospital's water pumps and filters and said boardwalk sections need replacement.

The departure also comes as 15 staff members at the zoo are undergoing training to help treat animals suffering from the effects of the Gulf oil spill.

"That situation is still evolving," Nelson said. "Currently, we don't know of any manatees affected by the oil spill, but we're trying to be prepared."

Nelson said she doesn't expect Murphy's departure to hurt animal care, accreditation or the oil spill training.

"We've been assured animal care is highly important to them," said Santiago Corrado, who represents Tampa's mayor on the zoo's board of directors.

Murphy worked at Lowry Park Zoo for about 20 years and was instrumental in establishing and maintaining the zoo as one of three manatee hospitals in Florida. His salary was $106,213, according to the zoo's most recent tax filing.

Murphy was credited with helping solve the epidemic in 1996 that killed 158 Florida manatees. Other scientists blamed pneumonia, but Murphy, who treated the animals at the zoo's manatee hospital, discovered the culprit was the toxic algae known as red tide.

The infected manatees had become paralyzed by red tide and eventually drowned.

In February, Murphy was interviewed by CNN about the record number of manatees -about 280, or 5 percent of the population - that had died this year from cold stress-related illnesses.

Applications for Murphy's job as well as the new position of associate veterinarian are being solicited on the zoo's website and the website of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

The zoo has received more than two dozen replies for the position, Nelson said. Several accomplished veterinarians have already inquired about the job, the association's Steve Feldman said Monday.