Caring During Construction
From lions to hyenas to hippos (oh my!), Edge of Africa gives guests the chance to witness some of the world’s most charismatic animals face to face! If you’ve visited recently, you may have noticed a few familiar faces are temporarily missing.
Over the summer, the Edge of Africa Team learned that a construction project would soon take place in several habitats. To ensure the wellbeing and safety of our residents, some animals would need to temporarily move to other areas of the park. Planning for these relocations takes careful thought: not only do we have to figure out where the animals will stay, but also how to move them safely and comfortably.
Planning with Animal Wellbeing in Mind
The animal care specialists from Edge of Africa collaborated with the Veterinary Team and another special team in the park to develop a plan.
The Outback Support Team plays a crucial role within the zoo, though they’re often not in guest view. Located beyond the park walls, the team cares for the “Outback Area” and a variety of ever-changing residents. Throughout Busch Gardens’ long history, that area has specialized in breeding endangered birds, introducing kangaroos to one another, providing a behind-the-scenes area for older Busch Gardens residents, and more.
And there’s even a space for a Nile crocodile in need of a temporary home until construction is complete!
Moving Sobek
Sobek, our 28-year-old Nile crocodile, is a standout resident at nearly 15 feet long and more than 1,000 pounds. Normally spotted lounging or swimming near the Hippo Habitat, he’s now living in a temporary space in the Outback Area.
But how do you move a 15-foot-long, 1,000-pound reptile across the park?
Sobek is trained to walk into his crate and allow the door to close. He does this regularly each time his keepers need to clean his habitat and is often fed diet items during these moments, making it a very reinforcing behavior. In September, the Edge of Africa Team asked Sobek to enter his crate and began the process of escorting him across the park to the Outback Area. Along the way, veterinarians weighed him and took a blood sample to get an overall picture of his health.
When he arrived, the team attached his crate to the habitat designed for him, and he walked out within just a few minutes — a great sign that the relocation wasn’t overly stressful!
Settling Into the Outback
Over the last month, Sobek has settled into his new routine. He will remain in the Outback Area until next year. Despite their size and reputation, during colder weather, crocodiles rarely eat and focus on conserving energy — which means they’re more likely to be seen basking in the sun than walking around.
When the warmer months return, Sobek will begin eating and moving more often. His care team will time his return to the Edge of Africa with this natural uptick in motivation.
Other Animals on the Move
Sobek isn’t the only animal in need of a temporary residence. During the upcoming construction, the indoor area called the “Lion and Hyena House” won’t be available to the animals either.
Mandazi, the 9-year-old male hyena born at the park, was recently introduced to a new female, 2-year-old Cazimira, who arrived this summer on recommendation from the Spotted Hyena Species Survival Plan(“SSP”). The pair, often called “Cazi and Dazi”, have been seen splashing in their pool, rolling around in the lush grass and flowers, and occasionally playing a game of chase around the habitat. The hyenas will be transported behind the scenes where their care team will continue to interact with and provide for them in this area as they wait to return to Edge of Africa.
Rose the Lioness
When moving animals, several factors are considered, especially those related to the individual’s needs. The morning of October 29th, Rose, Busch Gardens’ geriatric lioness, will have a checkup with the vets at the Animal Care Center and then be transported to the Outback Area to a behind-the-scenes habitat.
At 19 years old, Rose has already exceeded the life expectancy of a lioness, this proactive measure ensures her ongoing wellbeing in a habitat modified for geriatric big cats. While the Outback Support Team is well-versed in caring for aging big cats, over the course of a couple of weeks, the Edge of Africa Team will visit Rose in her new home often, assisting her new care team sharing information about her personality, preferences, and routines to ensure a smooth adjustment.
Even under normal circumstances, each animal at the park receives regular wellbeing assessments that measure factors contributing to health and behavior. When big changes occur - like a habitat move or social introduction - care specialists reassess to measure the impact and make adjustments if needed.
Dedicated to ensuring that she continues to interact with her caretakers, explore her entire space, and remains in good health and high spirits, both care teams and the veterinary team will continue to monitor Rose as she adjusts to her new long-term home.
While we know that guests will miss seeing her, we are thankful for each person who has taken the time to visit Rose at Edge of Africa over the years. This decision was made with her needs in mind, and she will continue to receive high quality care for the remainder of her life with us at Busch Gardens.
This transition also allows us to work with the African Lion SSP to further contribute to this remarkable species in a new way and we look forward to being able to share this species with our guests again in the very near future.
Guests can visit Rose on habitat through October 28, 2025, and see her once more during her checkup at the Animal Care Center on October 29 at 10:30 a.m. Follow Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on social media for the latest updates to the checkup time.
Our Commitment to Care
From regularly assessing behavior and health, to upgrading habitats, to making individualized choices for animals, and contributing to the global understanding of a species, these efforts are all part of our continued commitment to the animals in our care, their lifelong wellbeing, and our guests’ curiosity, and connection to our world.
See It All Yourself
You can experience the dedication and care of our teams firsthand at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, home to an AZA-accredited zoo with more than 200 species, thrilling rides, and world-class animal experiences.
Want to make the most of your visits and see residents like Sobek,Cazi, and Dazi as they return to Edge of Africa next year? Become a Pass Member! Pass Members enjoy unlimited visits, exclusive discounts, and special perks that give you closer access to all the behind-the-scenes action and seasonal experiences throughout the year. Visit BuschGardensTampa.com to learn more.