200-Plus Deals Made Among Tampa Zoo, CEO, Polk Park

The rhinos and buffalo are just the tip of the iceberg.

An 8 On Your Side examination of Lowry Park Zoo reveals more than 200 animal transactions during the past three years among the zoo, its chief executive officer, Lex Salisbury, and a private exotic-animal park he is developing in Polk County.

Questions about the mingling of assets arose after The Tampa Tribune reported Salisbury had used zoo staff members to help start the park, Safari Wild, and the zoo had built two barns there.

In later reports, 8 On Your Side and the Tribune detailed separate arrangements between Safari Wild and the zoo involving rare white rhinoceroses and an African forest buffalo.

The zoo turned over the animal transaction reports after News Channel 8 threatened a lawsuit this week. News Channel 8 requested the records in early June under Florida's public records law.

The city of Tampa owns the zoo property and its animals. A nonprofit organization operates the zoo.

In all, the records show 227 loans, transfers, sales, trades and donations among the zoo, Salisbury and Safari Wild.

The records show that over three years, the zoo:

• Loaned Salisbury 26 animals, including a giraffe, several American bison and the three rhinos.

• Sold Salisbury 13 animals, including ostriches.

• Donated 11 animals to Salisbury, including six helmeted guinea fowl.

• Traded six animals with Salisbury and Safari Wild, including several pygmy hippopotamuses.

• Accepted a number of animals on loan from Salisbury, including 16 scimitar-horned oryx in February 2006.

• Returned to Salisbury a number of animals on loan from him, including nine scimitar horned oryx on July 8 and 14 patas monkeys on April 17.

According to zoo policy, any transaction between the zoo, Salisbury or Safari Wild requires approval of the Zoological Society's board chairman, Fassil Gabremariam. Gabremariam also sits on the board of Safari Wild's Conservation Foundation.

Zoo officials could not be reached for comment today.

More than a week ago, following the reports by the Tribune and News Channel 8, the city launched an audit of the zoo's management and transactions. Findings are expected in about a month, said Santiago Corrada, the city representative on the zoo board.

The zoo's six-member executive committee and Safari Wild had signed an memorandum of understanding Nov. 21, 2007, in which the zoo got a free, 10-acre lease of land on Safari Wild property. The zoo wanted to give exhibit animals open land to graze.

The zoo's executive committee severed the relationship in June after concerns arose about the appearance of a conflict of interest from the business relationship with the private animal park.