Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Developments 2022

I like these kinds of upgrades. Its the little things that add so much more to the zoo experience. Even if its not for extended hours it could be for special events or so guests staying overnight have a cool benefit of staying onsite and safe paths to travel on. Also could simply help staff during the winter just navigate more safely in the early morning hours or later at night.
 
An interesting note from the Board meeting was regarding the facebook lives moving to weekly. they found through their analytics, that people were generally losing interest in the daily videos. people tuned in, but didn't stay the entire way through. So they're looking to do shorter live sessions and going weekly, in order to keep that viewer base interested.
 
@cypher and they were very excited that the audience was global (which is good for them!), but you could tell the city councilor was angling to determine how much of that traffic was going to be converted into footfall in the zoo itself.
 
@Zooer yeah, I noticed that. She just wanted hard number on how many people that tune in online are coming to the zoo. But that's not entirely what social media is about. Sure, bringing in people is ideal, but build positive reputation is just as good.
 
I agree with the above, it is certainly important from a reputation point of view. I am definitely ok with them being shorter, I wish they would do a text transcription of them for the description. Often I find myself wanting to watch them somewhere that having the volume up is inappropriate.
 
Some new updates from Dolf's insta story, they've added a new mural to the African Rainforest (at least I'm pretty sure that's where this is), and orang construction is continuing.upload_2022-2-16_9-25-2.pngupload_2022-2-16_9-25-24.png
 

Attachments

  • upload_2022-2-16_9-25-2.png
    upload_2022-2-16_9-25-2.png
    505.9 KB · Views: 32
  • upload_2022-2-16_9-25-24.png
    upload_2022-2-16_9-25-24.png
    402.3 KB · Views: 32
@hyena142 this is actually Indo-Malaya. The wall pictured is to the right of the tomistoma viewing, the exhibit you're seeing is the tentacled snake, with Denison barbs just to the right, along with the stairs leading up to the orang viewing
 
@Kalvin Yeah now that you say that I dunno how I missed that. I guess I just usually ignore that wall lol. I guess this was part of the renos they were doing to that area during the closure.
 
@hyena142 If it makes you feel better, I was so distracted by the new stairs I didn't even notice the new mural hahah. The stairs look great though!
New Stairs in Indo-Malaya Pavilion

New Stairs in Indo-Malaya Pavilion

  • Media owner Jefferson
  • Date added

Also here is a photo of the newly completed exhibit in the America's Pavilion. It was originally meant to be an expansion of the current Saki and Sloth exhibit, but the male Tamarins who live with them got too excited being beside the family group. At this time it is a separate exhibit and Sally and the Saki's will rotate through. The idea being to give the Sakis a break from the tamarins to encourage breeding.

Sally the Two-Toed Sloth

Sally the Two-Toed Sloth

  • Media owner Jefferson
  • Date added
In the newly renovated exhibit in the America's Pavilion
 
Last edited:
Jefferson said:
@hyena142 If it makes you feel better, I was so distracted by the new stairs I didn't even notice the new mural hahah. The stairs look great though!
New Stairs in Indo-Malaya Pavilion

New Stairs in Indo-Malaya Pavilion

  • Media owner Jefferson
  • Date added

Also here is a photo of the newly completed exhibit in the America's Pavilion. It was originally meant to be an expansion of the current Saki and Sloth exhibit, but the male Tamarins who live with them got too excited being beside the family group. At this time it is a separate exhibit and Sally and the Saki's will rotate through. The idea being to give the Sakis a break from the tamarins to encourage breeding.

Sally the Two-Toed Sloth

Sally the Two-Toed Sloth

  • Media owner Jefferson
  • Date added
In the newly renovated exhibit in the America's Pavilion
Click to expand...

The new stairs look great!
Hopefully the new arrangements will assist with breeding opportunities.
 
The new feature in the primate wing looks fantastic, I have pictures from when they had only laid down the scaffolding. I believe it's supposed to be a waterfall but it doesn't look like they've turned on the water yet.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20210831_121716.jpg
    IMG_20210831_121716.jpg
    282.7 KB · Views: 6
I love the little projects they have been doing. The people they have hired to do the murals are incredible! They and the results they can get are worth every single penny the zoo is spending and then some. The new team are the kings and queens of small projects and honestly I am getting more and more excited to see what they do with a big project like the orangs. Confidence in the team grows with each project. Oh please don't let me down with the big project because it might break my heart now.
 
The zoo is really moving forward with these Request For Proposal. They are looking for bidders for "Design, Interpretive, Fabrication And Installation Services – Graphic & Interpretive For Services Ontario Bat Conservation Display" Quite the mouthful.

I skimmed though the document and couldn't find where they plan on having this, but my guess would be the insect wing of the American Pavilion, as this is mentioned in the Animal Plan. If this is the same project, then this is being funded by Nuclear Waste Management Organization at roughly $250,000 according to the document below.

https://www.torontozoo.com/pdfs/rfp/2022/RFP 07 (2022-02) - ONTARIO BAT EXHIBIT.FINAL.pdf
 
Wow!! Love all of this progress! Thanks @cypher @hyena142 @Jefferson !!

From the document:

“The Toronto Zoo is interested in hiring an experienced contractor to design, fabricate and install a dynamic interpretive display in the Zoo’s front entrance or an alternative heavily-trafficked area.”

This makes me think it’s unlikely this is what is happening in Americas. That bug wing is not a heavily-trafficked area. I think the bug wing is just getting a facelift like much of the rest of the zoo. If it’s anything like the amphibian upgrades it’ll be blissful. Those have really changed the area.
 
Nice catch @animalman0341, I completely missed that. The current entrance would be terrible to put that in, considering the changes to be coming as early as late this year.
 
They could put it just outside the entrance which is a high traffic area and out of the way of changes for the time being. The zoo could always relocate it when the time comes.
 
I'm not sure if anyone has seen this, but there is a progress video of the orangutan outdoor exhibit that was posted last summer. Are they actually using mature trees in the exhibit? It looks like there are 2-3 trees.

 
@Flixox101, I'm not sure if those trees are staying in the exhibit. It'll be interesting to see if they're still there. I will say, that I'd like another of these videos now to see the progression so far.
 
cypher said:
@Flixox101, I'm not sure if those trees are staying in the exhibit. It'll be interesting to see if they're still there. I will say, that I'd like another of these videos now to see the progression so far.
Click to expand...

That's a shame if they aren't. It would be nice to see some trees in the exhibit alongside artificial climbing structures. I think just seeing manmade climbing structures and the a metal pole for the O-line in the exhibit would be such an eyesore.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top