Tampa Bay Rescues, formerly known as the Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center, has moved to a new location at 4703 Park St. N. The center remains dedicated to conservation, public education, and handling exotic pet surrenders, where every visit supports its mission. Now, with more space and resources, the rescue is bigger and better than ever. The new location officially opens on September 9.

The expanded facility features 178 exotic animals housed in brand-new habitats across 6,500 square feet of interior space and 4,000 square feet of outdoor areas. This larger footprint enables the center to accommodate bigger animals, such as crocodile monitors, and increase the total number of animals it can care for.

At the back of the property, a new aviary has been built where birds can fly and rehabilitate after injury. Sonny Flynn, the founder of Tampa Bay Rescues, shares, “I have a macaw who didn’t know how to fly, and now she flies…we are working on developing her muscles.” Flynn is also collaborating with the Seabird Sanctuary to use the aviary to help other birds, just like the macaw, recover and thrive.

“Animals save me every day…”

Before Sonny Flynn began rescuing exotic animals, she had a lengthy career in the hospitality industry. After being diagnosed with cancer for the third time, she left the industry and briefly worked in real estate. During this time, she had a mentor who owned Alligator Attraction. Flynn purchased the business from her mentor and expanded its services to what it is today.

“Animals save me every day,” says Flynn, “they give me purpose to wake up and not give up.” Besides alligators and avians, Tampa Bay Rescues has a robust roster of iguanas, lemurs, a squinty-eyed, big-eared fennec fox, and a large assortment of furry friends and exotic aquatics, among others.

The website states: “Step into a world of wonder at our exhibits, where you can learn about the diverse wildlife of Tampa Bay and the incredible work being done by local rescues. Explore our interactive displays and enjoy up-close encounters with our animal ambassadors, many of whom are pet surrenders that have found a safe haven with us.”

Learn more about Tampa Bay Rescues’ mission, exhibits, and programs here.