The continued existence of the Domain is really a moot point. The zoo looked at its options a long time ago and came to the conclusion that the cost of making the Domain accessible simply isnt worth it. Lets forget the monorail for a moment.
They would have to spend millions to engineer a long winding path along super steep terrain to meet accessibility requirements. It would hardly be as easy as the African and Indo paths have been and those werent easy because those paths also run through protected habitat for native species. They had to get all kinds of environmental approvals just to build them along the exact path they sit on. Being closer to the Rouge and more natural habitat there are probably more reasons to be picky about the path from an environmental impact. And that just is the legal difficulties of it.
Once they have a game plan for a path that isnt just accessible but also does the least environmental damage possible, you still need to build it into what is steep hillside close to cliffs. It probably wouldnt just be a matter of setting posts in concrete and then building the decking like it pretty much was in the Core Woods. Those hills were decent but hardly anything compared to the Domain hill. They would probably have to do things to anchor it which just is more expensive. By the time they overcame the engineering and construction issues you just end up with a really long winding path that will just be a walk through forest. Already have two of those in the Core Woods now (now being a relative term).
Ok you do all that and that you have this very long expensive accessible path down into the Domain. Problem is the Domain is still the Domain. It was built in the 70's and its reaching the end of its lifespan. Im not saying the exhibits are all trash. Its nice to have the views of the Rouge all around them. Fantastic natural feeling surroundings but the exhibits are literally falling apart. The fencing is fine but the barns and keepers areas need to be replaced. This is a long standing problem. There are other areas of the zoo which are having similar problems. Part of the problem of most of the zoo being built all in the 70's. They need to slowly work through the zoo to upgrade. Its a process. Unfortunately the Domain doesnt just need a facelift like the savanna would. It needs a complete rebuild so that the animals are in exhibits implementing the highest care standards of today, keepers have the tools to really care for their animals to the best of their ability and guests get amazing experiences. We have just added a ton more to this budget.
The zoo did the math and said we could spend millions building a path down to the domain and spend millions more upgrading the Domain exhibits or they could take those millions and put them into new state of the art exhibits in Eurasia where there is plenty of unused or underused land. Sure its a total redo but they need a total redo anyway. Where they save is they wont have to spend more on accessible paths because all of this land is relatively flat. New asphalt is all they need. It just made more sense.
Do I miss the Domain of my childhood with the joy of the monorail and a bunch of exhibits you could only see that way? Yes. Will I be happier with a new Canadian Wilderness that is state of the art an way closer to all of the other exhibits? Yep. Especially given the new team and how they aim for beautiful, cutting edge exhibits. The improved space we will get one day will be well worth the trade off.
Lets circle back to the monorail for a moment and remember the zoo did the math on the monorail back in I think 1994 when the crash happened. They realized at the time the cost of fixing what they had was astronomical. There was absolutely no way they could afford to fix the problems. I dont recall what the major problems were but it was enough to kill the monorail... everyone's favorite transportation around the zoo. Toronto Zoo is not a rich zoo. They dont have big time donors. They still rely on the city for a lot of funding and the city isnt into big spending. And let me stop you if you say well what about the Maglev project? Yes what about the Maglev project. It's gone nowhere since first proposed in 2016 (early a decade ago now). The plan was to upgrade domain parts of the track to test their trains. They were to expand that and then rebuild the route. By 2024 it was to be fully operational. Nothing has been done. I think we all cling to the idea because it would be amazing to have those stunning views back. We know the zoo can afford to do it themselves but a free Maglev train sounds too good to be true. Turns out it probably was. Boy to I hope I am eating crow one day when it becomes a reality but I no longer hold out grand hopes of it. I think the fact the zoo has decide to relocate the domain shows they too have all but given up hope as well.
We can argue about whether closing the Domain is the smart idea or not but its a waste of time. The zoo is closing the Domain. The zoo will eventually relocate the Domain to part of Eurasia. I dont think thats a plan that will change since two different master plans have been very clear the future of Canadian wildlife at Toronto Zoo will be up with the rest of the zoo.
@kingtank_101 I will just kindly point this out. Your comment about how a person in a wheelchair not being able to drive is offensive. You have likely hurt someone on this forums feelings with your comment. I would hope its unintentional. People with mobility issues can and do drive. Vehicles are customized to allow people with disabilities to drive. Sure some physically cannot but many can as long as they have assistive devices. I sincerely hope you just misspoke because people with physical differences don't deserved to be just dismissed as not being able to do what others can. Often they can do what others can, just in a different way. A little sensitivity can go a long way. And by the way many people with mobility issues in the past either just couldn't go down into the Domain once the monorail stopped (many parents with young kids in strollers and waggons just wouldn't go too) or they felt totally unwelcomed at the zoo because it wasn't user friendly for them so they just wouldn't go. No one should be made to feel that way in public places (or private ones for that matter), hence the changes to the accessibility laws. @hyena142's example was simply designed to show how someone who is differently abled might continue to feel unwelcomed if they are essentially price gouged just because of something not even in their control. Telling a someone well you can see what everyone else can see as part of admission but you need to pay extra for the privilege because you are different isn't right. That's discrimination.
They would have to spend millions to engineer a long winding path along super steep terrain to meet accessibility requirements. It would hardly be as easy as the African and Indo paths have been and those werent easy because those paths also run through protected habitat for native species. They had to get all kinds of environmental approvals just to build them along the exact path they sit on. Being closer to the Rouge and more natural habitat there are probably more reasons to be picky about the path from an environmental impact. And that just is the legal difficulties of it.
Once they have a game plan for a path that isnt just accessible but also does the least environmental damage possible, you still need to build it into what is steep hillside close to cliffs. It probably wouldnt just be a matter of setting posts in concrete and then building the decking like it pretty much was in the Core Woods. Those hills were decent but hardly anything compared to the Domain hill. They would probably have to do things to anchor it which just is more expensive. By the time they overcame the engineering and construction issues you just end up with a really long winding path that will just be a walk through forest. Already have two of those in the Core Woods now (now being a relative term).
Ok you do all that and that you have this very long expensive accessible path down into the Domain. Problem is the Domain is still the Domain. It was built in the 70's and its reaching the end of its lifespan. Im not saying the exhibits are all trash. Its nice to have the views of the Rouge all around them. Fantastic natural feeling surroundings but the exhibits are literally falling apart. The fencing is fine but the barns and keepers areas need to be replaced. This is a long standing problem. There are other areas of the zoo which are having similar problems. Part of the problem of most of the zoo being built all in the 70's. They need to slowly work through the zoo to upgrade. Its a process. Unfortunately the Domain doesnt just need a facelift like the savanna would. It needs a complete rebuild so that the animals are in exhibits implementing the highest care standards of today, keepers have the tools to really care for their animals to the best of their ability and guests get amazing experiences. We have just added a ton more to this budget.
The zoo did the math and said we could spend millions building a path down to the domain and spend millions more upgrading the Domain exhibits or they could take those millions and put them into new state of the art exhibits in Eurasia where there is plenty of unused or underused land. Sure its a total redo but they need a total redo anyway. Where they save is they wont have to spend more on accessible paths because all of this land is relatively flat. New asphalt is all they need. It just made more sense.
Do I miss the Domain of my childhood with the joy of the monorail and a bunch of exhibits you could only see that way? Yes. Will I be happier with a new Canadian Wilderness that is state of the art an way closer to all of the other exhibits? Yep. Especially given the new team and how they aim for beautiful, cutting edge exhibits. The improved space we will get one day will be well worth the trade off.
Lets circle back to the monorail for a moment and remember the zoo did the math on the monorail back in I think 1994 when the crash happened. They realized at the time the cost of fixing what they had was astronomical. There was absolutely no way they could afford to fix the problems. I dont recall what the major problems were but it was enough to kill the monorail... everyone's favorite transportation around the zoo. Toronto Zoo is not a rich zoo. They dont have big time donors. They still rely on the city for a lot of funding and the city isnt into big spending. And let me stop you if you say well what about the Maglev project? Yes what about the Maglev project. It's gone nowhere since first proposed in 2016 (early a decade ago now). The plan was to upgrade domain parts of the track to test their trains. They were to expand that and then rebuild the route. By 2024 it was to be fully operational. Nothing has been done. I think we all cling to the idea because it would be amazing to have those stunning views back. We know the zoo can afford to do it themselves but a free Maglev train sounds too good to be true. Turns out it probably was. Boy to I hope I am eating crow one day when it becomes a reality but I no longer hold out grand hopes of it. I think the fact the zoo has decide to relocate the domain shows they too have all but given up hope as well.
We can argue about whether closing the Domain is the smart idea or not but its a waste of time. The zoo is closing the Domain. The zoo will eventually relocate the Domain to part of Eurasia. I dont think thats a plan that will change since two different master plans have been very clear the future of Canadian wildlife at Toronto Zoo will be up with the rest of the zoo.
@kingtank_101 I will just kindly point this out. Your comment about how a person in a wheelchair not being able to drive is offensive. You have likely hurt someone on this forums feelings with your comment. I would hope its unintentional. People with mobility issues can and do drive. Vehicles are customized to allow people with disabilities to drive. Sure some physically cannot but many can as long as they have assistive devices. I sincerely hope you just misspoke because people with physical differences don't deserved to be just dismissed as not being able to do what others can. Often they can do what others can, just in a different way. A little sensitivity can go a long way. And by the way many people with mobility issues in the past either just couldn't go down into the Domain once the monorail stopped (many parents with young kids in strollers and waggons just wouldn't go too) or they felt totally unwelcomed at the zoo because it wasn't user friendly for them so they just wouldn't go. No one should be made to feel that way in public places (or private ones for that matter), hence the changes to the accessibility laws. @hyena142's example was simply designed to show how someone who is differently abled might continue to feel unwelcomed if they are essentially price gouged just because of something not even in their control. Telling a someone well you can see what everyone else can see as part of admission but you need to pay extra for the privilege because you are different isn't right. That's discrimination.
