SOCIAL Karamu ZooTampa at Lowry Park

An African crested porcupine named Pierce scooted through the cocktail crowd at Karamu, his dark fur and white quills as elegant as a tuxedo. The 36th annual gala at ZooTampa at Lowry Park offered attendees an unbeatable setting for inspiring wildlife conservation and educating 1.2 million visitors a year. Fun animal facts flashed across huge screens as emcee Gayle Guyardo from WFLA-Ch. 8 welcomed 250 guests to the Savanna Oasis lodge, where a wild auction included the opportunity to name a newborn rhino, pygmy hippo or African penguin. Restaurateur Michael Stewart’s wine-pairing dinner, hosted by former Tampa Bay Rays coach Joe Maddon and prepared by “Hell’s Kitchen” personality chef Robert Hesse, brought a tasty $7,500 bid. In all, the Feb. 10 fête (karamu means “party” in Swahili) raised more than $400,000 for rescue and rehab programs provided through the David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center.

Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.

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From left, Nelson and Celeste Castellano and Marlene and Bob Rasmussen