arcticwolf
Well-Known Member
I also thought the exhibits were too bare. The main exhibit was large enough to fit some more trees and one or two more climbing structures.
Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Future Developments 2013
- Thread starter GorillaFan15
- Start date
Things must be going well between Shani and Jake if they are breeding. Hopefully Jake will be as good a producing foals as Shaka was. Its just too bad we have to wait 15 months to see the baby if all goes well.
Just too bad it doesnt seem like there are many babies this year. Guess last year was just a good bonus.
Just too bad it doesnt seem like there are many babies this year. Guess last year was just a good bonus.
Zoogoer2000
Well-Known Member
From what I recall, the zoo has/had a recommendation to breed Jake with Tori (Shani and Shaka's 2010 foal) as well, so who knows! I believe they were together last summer, so we'll just have to wait and see!
arcticwolf
Well-Known Member
A picture of the snowy owl sign has been posted in the Toronto Zoo gallery for anyone that's interested.
This is true- there are 3 warthog piglets. I think they were born around the end of April and just went on display recently.
Regarding the Giant Salamander.
Negotiations are still underway with the Government of China.
IMO the Panda Interpretive Centre is great as are the exhibits. I do agree however, that the black fencing is an eye sore. However, it will make a great exhibit for the tigers in 5 years!
Negotiations are still underway with the Government of China.
IMO the Panda Interpretive Centre is great as are the exhibits. I do agree however, that the black fencing is an eye sore. However, it will make a great exhibit for the tigers in 5 years!
arcticwolf
Well-Known Member
Hopefully the zoo gets the salamander soon. I really want to see one.
I agree that in 5 years, the tigers will have a great exhibit. It seems odd though that the cold hardy Amur tigers will have two indoor exhibits. Do other zoos have indoor tiger exhibits?
uszoo
Well-Known Member
- Thats what I thought, it seems like it would fit malayan or sumatran tiger better.
Thats a very interesting thought about the tigers. I dont think they would move the sumatrans in 5 years considering the whole area and all of the animals in it being from northern Asia. They wouldnt fit the theming. However there is another consideration. Perhaps the zoo is looking to move the tigers in 5 years to free their outdoor exhibit space up for another certain orange animal. Maybe they are looking at the tiger space as a possible home for the orangutans. The exhibit probably could be converted fairly easily into an orangutan home, depending on their ability to transfer the orangutans between the spaces. It might be far easier than building something brand new in the guars area once they are phased out. Its an interesting possiblity. Would be cheaper to keep just one tiger species.
But could the indoor space at the panda exhibit be used for a second animal? Could they house a breeding pair of tigers and cubs and still use the indoor exhibits for another species that is often kept inside but still lives in that region of the world. Or could they share the indoor and outdoor space with tigers. Maybe move the dholes? Or a brand new species?
Love the questions that this has raised.
The deal with the giant salamanders must be fairly certain or why would they have built their exhibit and put up signage? It would be a real waste of money if they didnt think the deal was all but done or if they were just waiting on paperwork and the animals. How many other things could they put in an exhibit that size designed for that specific animal? Plus they would need to be able to get that animal fairly quickly. Hopefully the salamander will be here shortly.
But could the indoor space at the panda exhibit be used for a second animal? Could they house a breeding pair of tigers and cubs and still use the indoor exhibits for another species that is often kept inside but still lives in that region of the world. Or could they share the indoor and outdoor space with tigers. Maybe move the dholes? Or a brand new species?
Love the questions that this has raised.
The deal with the giant salamanders must be fairly certain or why would they have built their exhibit and put up signage? It would be a real waste of money if they didnt think the deal was all but done or if they were just waiting on paperwork and the animals. How many other things could they put in an exhibit that size designed for that specific animal? Plus they would need to be able to get that animal fairly quickly. Hopefully the salamander will be here shortly.
arcticwolf
Well-Known Member
I don't know if the zoo would remove the Sumatran tigers, especially since they just brought in a new breeding pair. Since there are five panda exhibits (3 outdoor, 2 indoor), maybe the zoo could keep a pair of each subspecies in that area. I would love to see the current Sumatran tiger exhibit be turned into a new outdoor mixed species exhibit for the orangutans, gibbons, and a breeding pair of Malayan tapirs. Maybe they could even throw small clawed otters into that mix. Sadly I don't think we're going to find out until the pandas leave.
If the zoo didn't get giant salamanders, I could see their exhibit being used for baby chinese alligators (maybe an adult could live in the old false gharial exhibit in indomalaya), Chinese fish, turtles, or any other small Chinese animal species. I would still like to see the salamanders though.
If the zoo didn't get giant salamanders, I could see their exhibit being used for baby chinese alligators (maybe an adult could live in the old false gharial exhibit in indomalaya), Chinese fish, turtles, or any other small Chinese animal species. I would still like to see the salamanders though.
Oh I wasnt suggesting getting rid of the Sumatrans. I was thinking they just might not replace the Amurs. Is there really enough space for the exhbit to hold two breeding pairs of tigers? I was thinking one kind of tiger and another smaller species or two, since there are two indoor exhibits. But like you said we likely wont find out what the zoo is thinking until the pandas are gone or in their last few months. All of that cub dependant.
It would be awesome to see the orangutans outside first of all. But a mixed exhibit would be so cool for them. I dont know if the current gibbons would work since they hated the babirusa but its worth a try. Do any zoos exhibit orangutans with tapirs and clawed otters? Ok now im thinking about the Guar building, could they move the tapirs out there with some other animals? Or the babirusa?
It would be awesome to see the orangutans outside first of all. But a mixed exhibit would be so cool for them. I dont know if the current gibbons would work since they hated the babirusa but its worth a try. Do any zoos exhibit orangutans with tapirs and clawed otters? Ok now im thinking about the Guar building, could they move the tapirs out there with some other animals? Or the babirusa?
uszoo
Well-Known Member
- Is there any possible way the current panda exhibit could have climbing sructures added to hold orangutans as they will do in calgary after the pandas?
arcticwolf
Well-Known Member
I don't think it would be a good idea to move the orangutans. First of all, the pandas in the Eurasian area so the orangutans wouldn't really fit in. Also the orangutans will spend most of the time indoors because of the cold Canadian climate and their current indoor exhibit is much larger than both of the panda's combined.
@TZFan, I think I actually posted in one thread saying that if the gaur were phased out, I would love to see the tapir move there. I know that there is at least one European zoo that mixes orangutans with otters and the Minnesota zoo is planning on mixing them with tapirs in their master plan. This conversation is really interesting and now I'm even more curious about what will happen once the pandas leave.
I knew the guar are being phased out. I probably got the idea of moving them there from you.
It is tantalizing to think of what could be in 5 years. What really made me wonder about the sumatrans moving in is their greater need to keep warm all winter than the Amurs. But should the indoor space be available think of the endless possiblities. Now I havent been... heres to june... so I dont know the space available but perhaps the dholes like I said could move, but so could the clouded leopard, not Merriweather naturally given her declining health and the unlikeliness of her surviving that long but a new breeding age pair. They could venture out into the exhibits while the tigers are using other yards. Or perhaps new species could come in. What about sun bears or sloth bears? Personally I like suns better, Im not a fan of excessive hair. It would be cool to house 3 bear species. Or maybe get in binturongs, any number of the smaller cat species native to asia, pangolin, raccoon dog or a smaller species of monkey? One could go with a reptile or bird grouping too. I do love my cute and fuzzies most of all though. Otters would be cool but I think if they were to go in they need to be part of a major reno of indomalaya because otters just arent cool enough unless you can watch them underwater some of the time. It would be a waste of money to do that kind of reno on an essentially brand new building. Ill take additional otter species in any of the future renos be it indomalaya or the americas or if im lucky both! I however am not lucky, and rather realisitic and know new otter species is likely just a fond dream.
Oh the possiblities if only we could decide the fate of the zoo ourselves, with keepers knowledgeable input and advice, and unlimited funds. If only right?
It is tantalizing to think of what could be in 5 years. What really made me wonder about the sumatrans moving in is their greater need to keep warm all winter than the Amurs. But should the indoor space be available think of the endless possiblities. Now I havent been... heres to june... so I dont know the space available but perhaps the dholes like I said could move, but so could the clouded leopard, not Merriweather naturally given her declining health and the unlikeliness of her surviving that long but a new breeding age pair. They could venture out into the exhibits while the tigers are using other yards. Or perhaps new species could come in. What about sun bears or sloth bears? Personally I like suns better, Im not a fan of excessive hair. It would be cool to house 3 bear species. Or maybe get in binturongs, any number of the smaller cat species native to asia, pangolin, raccoon dog or a smaller species of monkey? One could go with a reptile or bird grouping too. I do love my cute and fuzzies most of all though. Otters would be cool but I think if they were to go in they need to be part of a major reno of indomalaya because otters just arent cool enough unless you can watch them underwater some of the time. It would be a waste of money to do that kind of reno on an essentially brand new building. Ill take additional otter species in any of the future renos be it indomalaya or the americas or if im lucky both! I however am not lucky, and rather realisitic and know new otter species is likely just a fond dream.
Oh the possiblities if only we could decide the fate of the zoo ourselves, with keepers knowledgeable input and advice, and unlimited funds. If only right?
Oh as another plan, Id gladly keep Er Shun and Da Mao indefinitely. Pandas do add a certain amount of prestiege to a zoo and after all the muck TZ has been through lately they can definitely use every ounce of it. And panda cubs would certainly enhance that further. Oh to be half as lucky as San Diego Zoo is with the breeding champs, Gao Gao and Bai Yun. Given that we only have four breeding seasons to produce cubs, we will be lucky with one, maybe.... maybe two. Oh for a ten year deal with no sharing and a chance to extend the contract. Let Calgary get their own bears.
Zoogoer2000
Well-Known Member
The current panda exhibit will probably be returned to amur tigers upon their departure. The indoor exhibits would work perfectly as a maternity type exhibit (year round!) and the outdoor exhibits look perfectly suitable. They also do very well in our climate.
I think the current plan for the orangutans is to not only revamp their indoor area and create an outdoor exhibit, but also to keep the current holding area. It was renovated quite nicely during the early 90's, and still holds up well.
I think the current plan for the orangutans is to not only revamp their indoor area and create an outdoor exhibit, but also to keep the current holding area. It was renovated quite nicely during the early 90's, and still holds up well.
Would the conversion of the America's pavillion to the tropical America's pavillion happen around the same time as the Canadian Wilderness? I was wondering this because there would be quite a few empty exhibits once some of the animals are moved. Also, what will happen to some of the animals that aren't exactly "tropical" but also aren't "canadian" such as American alligator, Gila monsters and Florida Gar? Would they stop being displayed?
Excellent question GorillaFan15. What would happen to those species who arent canadian but not tropical? How many species would really fall into that category though? Probably phased out in favour of tropical animals. Who knows though. We probably need to wait until the Canadian Wilderness is on the go and we can see what they exactly plan to do there in detail. I dont think they will tackle both projects at once. Too much of the zoo would be closed off at once to do both.