Natural-habitat exhibits such as the white tiger clubs and clouded leopards in Asia Gardens make the 56-acre Lowry Park Zoo one of the best small-scale animal parks in the country. Safari Africa is the home of Tamani, an elephant born in 2005, and residents of the nearby Ituri Forest include cheetahs and lovably plump pygmy hippos. The stars at Primate World range from cat-size red-ruffed lemurs to a colony of heavyweight Bornean orangutans that love to ham for the camera. For hands-on experiences, Lowry has more options than most large parks, including chances to ride a camel, feed a giraffe, or serve as a perch for energetic lorikeets. Majestic red-tailed hawks and other raptors are displayed in the Birds of Prey Center, and you can come face-to-face with American alligators, Florida panthers, black bears, and red wolves at the Florida Wildlife Center. Kookaburras and kangaroos populate the Wallaroo Station children's zoo, and gentle creatures of another kind star at the Manatee Aquatic Center. Speaking of manatees, they are among the occasional sights on the hour-long Hillsborough River Odyssey Ecotour, where you also may spot wild hawks and herons. There are also water-play areas, rides, shows, and restaurants.
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