Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Births, Deaths and Transfers 2025

[Zoo adventures]

- Likely our new silverback will come from Quebec. I asked if it would be from Granby, she said no, the other one but couldn’t remember the zoo’s name. But idk if another QC zoo has gorillas so she might have gotten that backwards.

There aren't any zoos in Quebec other than Granby that houses gorillas. The only facilities in Canada are in Toronto, Calgary, and Granby. The volunteer probably made a mistake. Maybe she said "Zoo de Granby" and not "Granby Zoo". Thank you for this amazing report.

Second oldest female (Nneka? Johari? I should have taken a picture of the sign lmao) has the second best dna of all female gorillas in North America so she thought it would be likely that that breeding would be the priority with the new man.

I think it is Johari(gorilla)because she was born in 2001 and Nneka(gorilla) was born in 1994. So it is likely to be Johari.

 

[Blitz]

There aren't any zoos in Quebec other than Granby that houses gorillas. The only facilities in Canada are in Toronto, Calgary, and Granby. The volunteer probably made a mistake. Maybe she said "Zoo de Granby" and not "Granby Zoo". Thank you for this amazing report.

I think it is Johari(gorilla)because she was born in 2001 and Nneka(gorilla) was born in 1994. So it is likely to be Johari.

Scrolling through the Zoo Family Tree post, I think you’re right on it being Johari. Also forgot…she said Ngozi’s birth year on her sign is wrong. Sign says 1988 but she was born in 1998!

 

[nya~]

- There was a “something new is coming” sign in the glasses exhibit to the left of the White Handed Gibbon viewing spot with the turtles. Sign above says Green Crested Basilisk, but I don’t remember if that’s an old sign or not.

I believe this exhibit used to house the Red-tailed Green Rat Snake. I don’t believe Toronto was holding Green Crested Basilisk, so as far as I know this species is new

Shame about the lack of regard for geography by putting it in Indomalaya but at this point I’m not really surprised.

 

[kingoffreaks]

I believe this exhibit used to house the Red-tailed Green Rat Snake. I don’t believe Toronto was holding Green Crested Basilisk, so as far as I know this species is new

Shame about the lack of regard for geography by putting it in Indomalaya but at this point I’m not really surprised.

The Ontario Science Center had a Crested Basilisk for years don't know if it was still alive when they closed doors so the Toronto Zoo might have taken it.

 

[EagleScout610]

Does anyone know if red pandas Poppy and Kalden have left the zoo? Cleveland just got a new pair of pandas and one is named Poppy, so we're trying to figure out if this is who we got.

 

[Rev705]

Does anyone know if red pandas Poppy and Kalden have left the zoo? Cleveland just got a new pair of pandas and one is named Poppy, so we're trying to figure out if this is who we got.

i was there on Tuesday and she was running around chasing Kalden and playing with him so no I don't think so. Must be another Poppy

 

[Jefferson]

Additionally Dolf (1.0 Zoo CEO) posted on his instagram of them yesterday.

I would be absolutely shocked if they were transferred without an announcement. People love the red pandas. Additionally if they were going to transfer them, they would also use it as a chance to advertise the new holding space that is coming.

So I also conclud that there is second red panda named Poppy in the AZA.

 

[Rev705]

I believe the Bronx zoo had a Red Panda named Poppy (0.1) that's probably close to 2 years old so I assume it's her that moved out. Looking at the SSP I can see that Cleveland was her intended location with another male from Rochester coming in as well. So we are all good. Would be crazy to transfer them without notifying the public especially with her story. Also it being March Break up here

 

[EagleScout610]

It was figured out that the pandas that moved to Cleveland were from Bronx and Seneca Park. Apologies for the confusion

 

[Jefferson]

Sad news from the zoo today.

Cora a female saki monkey who was expecting a baby any day now, underwent some complications prompting surgical intervention. Unfortunately despite the zoos efforts the baby was a still born.
Heartbreaking on many levels. This would have been the first saki monkey born at the zoo and a highlight for the summer for sure.

 

[TZFan]

The loss of the saki baby is a real tragedy given how hard staff had worked to not only prepare for the historic first but also to just achieve the pregnancy in the first place. Poor Cora. All shes been through and she wont even have her baby at the end of it. Staff clearly did their best to save the baby and Cora. We just have to be grateful we didnt loose her as well. Hopefully she will be able to carry another baby to term in the future and the C-section wont prevent that.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Sad news from the zoo today.

Cora a female saki monkey who was expecting a baby any day now, underwent some complications prompting surgical intervention. Unfortunately despite the zoos efforts the baby was a still born.
Heartbreaking on many levels. This would have been the first saki monkey born at the zoo and a highlight for the summer for sure.

While sad news on its own, one should be grateful that - without any interventie - the breeding female would probably have passed away herself. Chances that she may be rebred and re-conceive are there.... yet.

I wonder how old the white-faced saki female is (given that it has been a long time since she actually started breeding/mating and eventually birthing)?

 

[Jambo]

While sad news on its own, one should be grateful that - without any interventie - the breeding female would probably have passed away herself. Chances that she may be rebred and re-conceive are there.... yet.

I wonder how old the white-faced saki female is (given that it has been a long time since she actually started breeding/mating and eventually birthing)?

She is eight years old.

 

[kingoffreaks]

Visited the Zoo a few days ago noticed the frog exhibit in Australasia that was previously two tanks is now one and only Solomon Leaf Frogs are on display.
I only noticed one
The signage for the White's Tree Frog is gone and replaced with Solomon Tree Frog signs.
A volunteer said one of the Kookaburras is sitting on an egg. I think they said the female is fifteen but not sure how fertility works in birds, so not sure if it's viable.
Noticed there was only one of the Red Bellied Short Necked Turtles on display, anyone know what happened to the other?
Went to the Malayan Woods pavilion and all the invert terrariums now have inhabitants. Gooti Blue Sapphire Tarantula, Malayan Wood Nymphs Heteroptryx dilatata, Malayan Walking Sticks Lonchodes brevipes, Bush Katydid Mecopoda elongata, and Giant Shield Mantis Rhombodera megara.

 

[Zoo adventures]

The Ontario Science Center had a Crested Basilisk for years don't know if it was still alive when they closed doors so the Toronto Zoo might have taken it.

The Toronto Zoo indeed got them. In a Facebook forum, someone posted that new male and female green crested Basilisk came from the Ontario Science Center.

 

[Cowdoy1010]

From the Zoo's FB:

The Indo-Malaya Pavilion has a brand new mom Happy Mothers’ day to Phyllis the Palawan peacock-pheasant, who has been busy raising her first chick since Easter weekend

Phyllis arrived at the Zoo last year and was paired with our resident male, Philip. The two quickly bonded, and this winter, Phyllis began incubating eggs. After a few attempts, she successfully hatched a chick and has shown excellent natural instincts as a first-time mom.

This is an exciting milestone for the Zoo—it’s the first time this species has hatched here!

Palawan peacock pheasants are native to the Philippines where they appear to show a preference for old growth forest. Unfortunately, their populations are declining due to human activities such as logging and mining, and as a result are classified as Vulnerable #GuardiansOfWild

 

[TZ Animal Lover]

From TZ fb page:

Big news: little hooves

In honour of Mother’s Day, your Toronto Zoo is excited to announce 11.5-year-old Masai giraffe, Mstari, is expecting! Mstari is six months into her 13- to 16-month-long pregnancy (just past the first trimester) and is doing well so far. Based on her previous pregnancies, we estimate her due date will be late winter to early spring 2026.

Your Toronto Zoo is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Masai Giraffe Species Survival Plan® (SSP), a cooperative breeding program among accredited zoos that recommended the pairing of Mstari and 12.5-year-old Kiko. In preparation for their introduction, Wildlife Care staff began collecting Mstari's feces three times a week to monitor her hormone levels.

Breeding introductions were carefully observed up to November 4, 2024, and in January, our Reproductive Science team analysed several months of fecal samples for pregnancy hormone levels and confirmed that Mstari is showing normal hormonal signs of being pregnant.

Your Toronto Zoo continues to support field conservation efforts for the species through the Wild Nature Institute’s Masai Giraffe Project.

In December 2018, the conservation status of Masai giraffes was elevated to Endangered by the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN). Fewer than 35,000 Masai giraffes survive in the wild, having experienced more than a 50% decline in the past 30 years. Illegal hunting and habitat loss are their primary threats. Your Toronto Zoo continues to support field conservation efforts for the species through the Wild Nature Institute’s Masai Giraffe Project.

The Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy is the dedicated fundraising partner supporting vital conservation efforts led by the Toronto Zoo in the fight against extinction. With the help of generous donors, @tzwc supports animal well-being, experiential learning opportunities, and essential conservation science programs connecting people with nature.

Learn how you can help create a lasting impact for animals like the Masai giraffes—today and for generations to come: wildlifeconservancy.ca #SixFootSmall #GuardiansofWild

 

[Zoo adventures]

Very sad news, Macro the raccoon passed away due to a poor prognosis. He had one large mass in one of the kidneys, and in the other kidney, there was a kidney stone. He was an amazing raccoon that went through so much to lose his weight and become a normal raccoon.
The Toronto Zoo

 

[larissa613]

I spoke to a keeper in January re: Kindia (0.1 Pygmy Hippo) and it doesn't sounds like she and Harvey (1.0 Pygmy Hippo) had bred yet, but that hopefully soon! He was certainly making some loud noises towards her that day.

I was there on Thursday last week and did the "Wild Encounters" African Rainforest tour. I asked the keeper conducting the tour if she thought Harvey and Kindia would have any more children, and she told me they plan to breed them again but first they want to renovate their enclosure to provide them with some outdoor space.

 

[Jefferson]

That is going to be a long wait, and a waste of some genetic potential... They could have two kids by the time that is done. They are such a genetically strong pairing as well.. Sometimes the logic here frustrates me.