| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution recognizing April 14, 2005, as "Lowry Park |
| 3 | Zoo Day" in Tallahassee. |
| 4 |
|
| 5 | WHEREAS, the 2004 Legislature recognized Lowry Park Zoo as |
| 6 | a state center for Florida species conservation and |
| 7 | biodiversity, and |
| 8 | WHEREAS, Lowry Park Zoo, a nonprofit entity located in |
| 9 | Hillsborough County, is the only licensed nonprofit manatee |
| 10 | rehabilitation facility in the world, the only zoo where six |
| 11 | endangered species - the Florida panther, the red wolf, the |
| 12 | Florida manatee, the whooping crane, the Key Largo wood rat, and |
| 13 | the Key deer - can be seen in one place, and hosts an inventory |
| 14 | of 1,600 animals, and |
| 15 | WHEREAS, the zoo is Florida's best-attended nonprofit |
| 16 | attraction and features a year-round education center popularly |
| 17 | known as "The Zoo School," with early child care and preschool |
| 18 | education, and |
| 19 | WHEREAS, "Child Magazine" recognized the school as the |
| 20 | "Number One Zoo in the United States for Kids," a distinction |
| 21 | based on strict criteria and data compiled after an extensive 5- |
| 22 | month investigation of more than 150 institutions belonging to |
| 23 | the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, and |
| 24 | WHEREAS, Lowry Park Zoo has an estimated annual economic |
| 25 | impact of more than $72 million with 80 percent of its annual |
| 26 | $12 million budget based on earned revenue, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 27 |
|
| 28 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 29 | Florida: |
| 30 |
|
| 31 | That the Florida House of Representatives recognizes April |
| 32 | 14, 2005, as "Lowry Park Zoo Day" in Tallahassee in recognition |
| 33 | of the outstanding work of the Lowry Park Zoo on behalf of the |
| 34 | people of Florida in providing exhibits and education on species |
| 35 | conservation and biodiversity, as the Legislature concurrently |
| 36 | celebrates "Hillsborough County Day" at the State Capitol with |
| 37 | the second annual "Flavors of Hillsborough" event. |
| 38 | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be |
| 39 | presented to Lowry Park Zoo as a tangible token of the |
| 40 | sentiments expressed herein. |