Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Developments 2023

This isn't the extravagant third exhibit I was kinda hoping for but from a realistic perspective I'm happy with the indoor red panda viewing being more an extension of the existing exhibits. Anything that keeps me from having to crane my neck up to the heavens to see them in the summer.

2027 is much sooner than I was expecting for the Savanna pavilion, that's exciting. Looks like most of the Master Plan features are included in here. I like that they want to move the first aid centre over here, it's always been in a bit of an inconvenient spot.
 
Exciting! I hope they on't add tall glass barriers for the open exhibit with the boardwalk. I actually like how it overlooks the exhibit and is open, so nothing is obstructing your view.
 
TZFan said:
Hopefully they change their minds, I like capys.
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I can tell you for a fact that every kid who comes through the gift shop asks for a Capybara plushy, which they have barely any of and sell out of in seconds of (metaphorically). Not investing more in those little giant hamsters would be an oversight - there are few animals for iconic in the realm of cuteness than the noble capy.
 
Nice catch @Jefferson.

For the Red Panda renovation, it's pretty much what I expected. They're building off the current exhibit to improve what's there while adding the indoor air conditioned spaces.

For the Savanna Pavilion it's nice that they have it to overlapping with the scheduling of when the Conservation Campus. Ideally, the Conservation Campus is to start construction end of this year, and fingers crossed, finish in 2 year for Fall of 2025. Assuming all goes according to plan. Finish up the Conservation Campus, and the Savanna Pavilion is already a year in construction. During all of that, smaller to mid sized projects continue. Keeping the flow of projects going is the smartest thing to do, especially when there's bound to be delays for various projects.
 
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I found this photo of a draft of the front courtyard on a real estate new site (Link below). From the looks of it, the front gates will be pushed back to just in front of the carousel (the tent-like structure behind the TZ sign is the carousel). The otters will be outside of the zoo, with the guest services building / gift shop beside it with a patio on top. The exit is to the right of the photo, with an academic building for science stuff (the big building). This looks like a super cool design, and is a lot more open and inviting, especially since you won't have to enter the zoo to see animals! The hotel would be to the offscreen left of the photo, where the Tim's is now.

One moment, please...
 
Ring-tailed lemurs and Huckleberry the Grey Crowned Crane have returned to their summer home outside of the Rhino House, presumably as the peafowl have moved to the Australasia outdoor aviary
 
It's official one of the orangutans has finally been brave enough to venture outside and it was none other than the queen of our hearts, Puppe! It is so fitting that she, the only one one to have ever experienced the outside world before is the first to venture back out into the great unknown for them. There is a video up on the zoos Facebook page and to see her out there inspecting the habitat just warms my heart. She was looking around like this is what I have been waiting for for 49 years. I wont lie seeing her out there put a tear in my eye because I truly feared given her age she wouldnt make it to this day. She seemed to go all over the exhibit and she christened the O Line in a rather interesting bum slide fashion. Who aim I to question Puppe's technique. It will be nice to see the others come out too but this was the moment I have dreamt of for years. Hopefully she can enjoy it for many years to come.
 
Man that made me happy to watch, feels like the zoo's near 50 year history was all building up to this moment, especially with Puppe being the last opening day animal left. We all wanted her to be the first and sure enough that's exactly what happened

Just for posterity's sake here's the video

 
I saw her today at the exhibit - she was quite interested in using her window washer on the new glass panels. Other than that, I saw her investigating some of the plants, but she stayed by the window for most of the time I was there. The rain that we got caused her to go back inside, but she waited by the door, eager to go back out. It was an emotional day for many of the staff as well; I heard that many staff cried watching her in her new exhibit.
 
@Elliot A. That's super cool you got to be one of the first people who got to see an orang in the exhibit! I'll admit I'm a little jealous lol. Love to hear she's just as excited about people watching and using her beloved window washer outside as she is inside. I got a bit misty eyed myself just watching the video, I can only imagine how her keepers feel about this.
 
Im certain it was a very emotional day for all the keepers and staff who have worked so tirelessly towards this moment for the past decade. The orang keepers have known how desperately this is needed. They know Puppe's history and how much she deserved this moment. And they love Puppe for the special soul she is. Im sure they would have been happy to see any of the orangs go out but Puppe is just a little extra special.

So like Puppe to not forget her beloved window washer. Only way to make the day better for her would have been a baby up at the window to enjoy as well.

This is probably one of the best things to happen at the zoo in forever. We have had a lot of special births and guest animals but Puppe going outside again for the first time in 49 years has to be the top of the list for most people.
 
So I was doing my usual snooping on the TZ website and the business opportunities page, while looking the same as it has for the past year, the bid documents all seem to be behind a paywall now :( It is like a $420 fee to access them as they are all through a portal now. My days of finding cool plans and blueprints seem to be at their end.
 
Yeah, I noticed the pay wall on the business opportunities page. A real bummer really, because you can sometimes get a wealth of information for those documents. Now we'll see when there's a new posting, but noting more really. Gone are the days of looking for blueprints and plans on what the zoo is looking for, especially when it comes to new exhibits. A real shame.
 
More orangutans have entered the outdoor exhibit! Ramai and Jingga are the first to follow in Puppe's footsteps, and Budi and Kembali have made it to the research centre with the door open but haven't ventured outside yet. The other orangs don't quite have Puppe's courage to stay out more than a few moments but they're definitely curious about the new space.

The outdoor exhibit is still only open starting at 1pm on weekdays, but now it opens at 9:30am on weekends.

Video here
 
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TZFan said:
The zoo passed its AZA inspection and has been accredited again. No surprise considering how the zoo has been improving so much in the last several years. Congrats to the whole team on their continued stellar work.
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Why did Toronto zoo lost his AZA accreditation before? Is it because of the elephants?
 
@Zoo adventures Yes the zoo lost their AZA accreditation due to the elephant disaster, but they got it back the next year (2013). The AZA drops by every now and then for routine inspections just to make sure the facility still lives up to their standards, so that's what this was. Toronto already had accreditation, the AZA just wanted to make sure they still deserved it which they obviously do
 
Zoo adventures said:
Why did Toronto zoo lost his AZA accreditation before? Is it because of the elephants?
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hyena142 said:
@Zoo adventures Yes the zoo lost their AZA accreditation due to the elephant disaster, but they got it back the next year (2013). The AZA drops by every now and then for routine inspections just to make sure the facility still lives up to their standards, so that's what this was. Toronto already had accreditation, the AZA just wanted to make sure they still deserved it which they obviously do
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AZA accreditation is only valid for five years, however during COVID-19 there was a one-year extension granted to all institutions. This just happened to be Toronto's time in the five-year cycle where accreditation expires, and the institution needs to re-apply and undergo the accreditation process to continue being accredited.
 
hyena142 said:
@Zoo adventures Yes the zoo lost their AZA accreditation due to the elephant disaster, but they got it back the next year (2013). The AZA drops by every now and then for routine inspections just to make sure the facility still lives up to their standards, so that's what this was. Toronto already had accreditation, the AZA just wanted to make sure they still deserved it which they obviously do
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Thank you for the information
 
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