Lowry Park Zoo
Zoo chief gone; problems aren’t
Lex Salisbury lost his job as president of Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo because he mingled zoo and personal business and abused his position. The board that allowed that to happen finally woke up to its responsibilities and forced him out last week. But it moved so slowly and in such bad form that it was [...]
22Dec2008 | Sara | 0 comments | ContinuedZoo Director Resigns in Face of Audit
By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS
ST. PETERSBURG TIMES
TAMPA | The man who transformed one of the worst zoos in America into the nationally renowned institution that is Lowry Park Zoo resigned Thursday, giving up a fight that roiled the city for months.
Lex Salisbury walked away from a five-hour board of directors meeting, head bowed and silent. He left [...]
19Dec2008 | Sara | 0 comments | ContinuedZoo Scandal Brewing?
A Tampa city audit has found that Lowry Park Zoo director Lex Salisbury took animals and equipment that belonged to the zoo to his private ranch and a for-profit animal park he is planning.
Mayor Pam Iorio has reportedly called for Salisbury to be fired. This after an audit found that Salisbury’s transactions cost the zoo [...]
Lowry Park Zoo News Release
From Lowry Park Zoo
Published: December 5, 2008
TAMPA, Fla. (December 5, 2008) – Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is engaged in a series of reviews and audits by the City of Tampa and the Zoo’s independent auditor. Several months ago, zoo management also invited the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a voluntary membership organization, to [...]
6Dec2008 | Sara | 0 comments | ContinuedLowry Park Zoo president to take leave of absence
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY (Bay News 9) – The president of Lowry Park Zoo, Lex Salisbury, will take a leave of absence, effective immediately.
The executive committee of the board of directors of the Lowry Park Zoological Society and Salisbury came to a mutual agreement, according to a statement released Friday night.
An elected official has called for Salisbury to [...]
Tampa council member calls for Lowry Park Zoo boss to resign
By Alexandra Zayas and Janet Zink, Times Staff Writers
In print: Friday, October 3, 2008
TAMPA — For the first time, an elected official is calling for Lowry Park Zoo president Lex Salisbury to resign.
City Council member Thomas Scott said Thursday that the almost daily revelations about Salisbury’s private dealings with the zoo raise “too many questions” [...]
Official: Zoo Boss Could Keep Animals’ Offspring
By BAIRD HELGESON | The Tampa Tribune
TAMPA - Most of the animals that Lowry Park Zoo President Lex Salisbury has borrowed or boarded at his private property came with an agreement that he could keep some of the offspring, a top zoo official said today.
About 90 percent of the boarding or loan agreements stipulated that Salisbury [...]
200-Plus Deals Made Among Tampa Zoo, CEO, Polk Park
By STEVE ANDREWS | News Channel 8
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 [...]
Government Lax On Zoo Deal
The Tampa Tribune
Published: September 21, 2008
Regarding “Crisis In Leadership Threatens Support For Lowry Park Zoo” (Our Opinion, Sept. 18):
We can all agree that Lex Salisbury’s actions were at best merely ignorant and at worst dishonest. Yes, he should have been more diligent, forthcoming and open about the decisions he made as president of the zoo [...]
Join the Zoo in naming cute new Pygmy Hippo via Web!
By Janel Heflin, Special to The News
TAMPA — A rare baby Pygmy Hippopotamus born at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo on Aug. 26 needs a name, and zoo leaders are asking for help from zoo fans and the public. An online contest that began on Sept. 8, and runs through Oct. 3 will name the first [...]