Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo- Births, Deaths, Arrivals and Departures 2013

Sorry I accidentally insulted part of the zoo you love. I do like some of the aspects of it but to me its always been a skippable feature. Im a big... huge... mammal lover. To me a building with just one mammal thats always hard to spot is boring. Id like it if they flattened both buildings there and started again to do the animals justice by putting them in a beautiful lush building and outdoor habitats. Just one huge pavilion like africa. It should have elements that are immersive because that is the one awesome feature of the malayan woods. With just one old clouded leopard to entertain me, its kinda boring.

I did know the canadian section was up next. Another section which has always bored me. Havent been down there since the day of the monorail accident and usually skipped it even with the monorail. As a kid I love the more exotic species and well that area is just too remote. I am glad it is moving up the hill. But it still lacks a certain apeal to me now because if I want to see deer, moose, elk, bears, eagles ect I can look out my window. I live in the middle of a forest. Seeing everything but moose and bears has lost a lot of appeal to me. Though if they make the moose and bison a drive through that would be cool. And I like beavers and otters still so new exhibits for them will be nice. But at the end of the day I still feel bad the orangutans aren't higher up the list for renos. For such smart creatures their exhibit looks the most sterile and boring for them.

And again im sorry if my opinion on the malayan woods offended any of you or if I now did with the canadian section. To each their own right. If we all has the same vision for the zoo that would be rather dull.
 
TZFan said:
Sorry I accidentally insulted part of the zoo you love. I do like some of the aspects of it but to me its always been a skippable feature. Im a big... huge... mammal lover. To me a building with just one mammal thats always hard to spot is boring. Id like it if they flattened both buildings there and started again to do the animals justice by putting them in a beautiful lush building and outdoor habitats. Just one huge pavilion like africa. It should have elements that are immersive because that is the one awesome feature of the malayan woods. With just one old clouded leopard to entertain me, its kinda boring.

I did know the canadian section was up next. Another section which has always bored me. Havent been down there since the day of the monorail accident and usually skipped it even with the monorail. As a kid I love the more exotic species and well that area is just too remote. I am glad it is moving up the hill. But it still lacks a certain apeal to me now because if I want to see deer, moose, elk, bears, eagles ect I can look out my window. I live in the middle of a forest. Seeing everything but moose and bears has lost a lot of appeal to me. Though if they make the moose and bison a drive through that would be cool. And I like beavers and otters still so new exhibits for them will be nice. But at the end of the day I still feel bad the orangutans aren't higher up the list for renos. For such smart creatures their exhibit looks the most sterile and boring for them.

And again im sorry if my opinion on the malayan woods offended any of you or if I now did with the canadian section. To each their own right. If we all has the same vision for the zoo that would be rather dull.
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No offense taken!

I had heard a little bit that fundraising on orangutan expansions/renovations were in the early stages. While the current exhibit is all indoors and doesn't look very naturalistic... I have always admired the amount of vertical space that is provided to them, and it definitely doesn't fall through on enrichment opportunities. The outdoor exhibit will be an exciting addition!
 
I'd love to see the orangutans get a natural sort of exhibit. I do agree the amount of vertical space is nice for them but concrete and steel poles cant be too exciting for them. An outdoor exhibit will probably extremely stimulating for them. Fresh air, trees, grass, rain, sun, chipmunks and squirrels, and just another space will be so exciting for them to learn about. And Im guessing they probably wont bring in another breeding male until the reno is done so its unlikely we will get any cute babies to fawn over for awhile. But now that Budi, Kembali and Jingga are 8 or soon will be, the boys will have to go to new homes at some point so they can mature properly and start contributing to the gene pool. Jingga could stay on and replace Puppe as one of the breeding females, since Puppe is getting on in age. I hope the orangutans do get a high quality reno and expansion in the next several years.
 
I am going to carry over the discussion about current animals from the Future Development thread to this thread.

- there are 3 warthog piglets now on exhibit that were born sometime at the end of April

- there are now 3 third ring-tailed lemur babies (Lily had twins, not sure which female had the other one)

- there are a couple of baby capybaras (not sure how many)

- I heard the octopus died, which would explain why there is a lobster in that exhibit

- there is still just 1 new penguin chick on exhibit (my guess is that the rest of the december hatchings did not survive; if there are surviving chicks from the second clutch, they should be out within the next month or so)

- The Lake Malawi Tank (Cichlids) has been emptied. I heard that they are replacing the glass

arcticwolf said:
- one of the americas invertebrate exhibits was being filled with water. Does anyone know what species will go in it?
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Was it the tank next to the spiders and lubbers? If it was, it has been sitting with water and no animals for quite some time and I have no clue what is supposed to go in it. Did you notice if any of empty fish tanks were being filled (eels, piranha)? Those tanks have been empty for over a year now and I don't know what the delay is in refilling them (the tanks were replaced and the animals are in holding tanks)

TZFan- the red river hogs are relatively young (2 and 3 years old), so while babies might be possible this year, it may still be too early
 
Oh great to hear about the 3rd lemur baby and the capybaras. Any idea if last years capybara triplets are still at the zoo?

That would be sad if out of 7 possible penguin chicks just one survived. Hopefully they second batch will be more successful.

The red river hogs should be good to breed even at those ages. The zoos website says they reach maturity at 18-21 months. Both are over that, though one just barely. Babies could happen any time now if the website is correct.

Do the baboons have any little ones? And are their any kangaroo joey's this year?
 
That's great news about the warthog babies. They weren't on exhibit on my last two visits.

When I went to the zoo on Friday, I only saw one lemur baby. I also saw young capybaras but they looked more like last year's babies.

It's sad that the octopus passed away. Hopefully the zoo has plans to get a new one.

The tank with water was next to the lubbers but on my visit there was a hose in the exhibit filling it up.

The piranha and other Americas fish exhibits are still closed. In the summer when I was at zoo camp, I met the fish curator who said the exhibits would be open in October 2012, so I don't know what happened. I also got to see the new native fish species that would go in one of the tanks.
 
The tank with the water in it in the bug wing use to have a variety small water beatles and snails for the longest time (I'm talking a couple of years). The tank looks exactly the same as it did when those specimens were in it. There was never a sign for them, however.
 
URGENT!

- Does anybody know if there is a specific/exact date for the departure of the remaining African Elephants?
- And are the Elephants on exhibit/visible for the public at the moment (the info at Zoo Toronto website is a little confusing for me)?

I wrote "urgent" because I have the intention to come over the Atlantic and visit Toronto Zoo for the first time - and this should happen as long as Toronto has both, Giant Pandas and my beloved pachyderms (so I have to look for a flight immediately).
 
No offical announcement for their departure has been stated but one is expected soon. Either they will leave sometime in June or they will be here until the fall. They are just waiting on the Royal Canadian Air Force to pick a date.
 
Turns out the RCAF just announced they wont do anything until fall at the earliest. They say there are a number of important factors in that decision. Zoocheck is whinning that the RCAF wasnts them to ensure the plane which they say isnt realistic. Hello zoocheck the RCAF is the one with the plane you need, they can demand whatever they want. Their job is to keep the country safe not move elephants you demand be moved where you want, when you want, how you want. I hate their constant complaining. They are also complaining about the zoo yet again. I say get over it you won. They will go to PAWS but its their job to get them there. Supposedly they are going to look into ground transportation, which if im not wrong they complained would be safe for one fo the girls given a foot problem, so guess concern has gone out the window.

On the one hand I'm glad the girls will be around for one last visit for me. On the other the zoo is going to be attacked all summer, and oh man will they be in big trouble if one dies over the summer. I kind of wish they were just going so this can all be over with and if something happens to the girls then its going to be all PAWS fault.

Toronto Zoo elephants won’t fly south earlier than fall, says Canadian military | Toronto Star
 
I wish PAWS all the constant heavy breathing down their necks once the elephants have moved to California. I would like to see regular inspections of their site by elephant management authorities. Plus, direct access to those individuals that have ever seen these elephants elsewhere for a small fee (and not draconian charges) Plus, regular independent veterinary and animal welfare inspections of their elephants on site.
 
I don't know if they've been introduced to the males yet, but from pictures that I've seen, they are on exhibit and are doing quite well. The keepers seem to find them quite enjoyable as well.
 
Someone posted earlier the new male is named Tony and the females are named Sabi and Zohari. The girls are only a couple of years old.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Any info on their age and IDs?
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Tony (b Oct 3, 2002)- born at White Oak in Florida and moved with his borther KC to Granby Zoo in Quebec; apparently he wasn't getting along with his brother, which is why he was moved. He just recently went on exhibit for the first time

Sabi (b Nov 11, 2009) and Zohari (b July 12, 2010)- from Busch Gardens Tampa; I've seen them on exhibit and it looks like they have settled in. I don't know if any Toronto rhino in the past has done this, but they love swimming in the moat that separates the exhibit from the eating area.

I don't know what the plan is in terms of introducing the females to either of the males. The girls are quite a bit smaller than the males and may not be ready to breed yet.
 
They females arent ready to breed yet at basically 3 years old each. Female white rhinos dont become mature until they are 6-7 years old. So there will be a minimum 4 year weight for a calf to arrive. Tony however is just maturing so he will be ready for breeding when the girls get there. I cant remember how old Tom is but he will likely be ready too.
 
Thank you folks for your help. Now I have a few other questions and hope I can count of your support and your suggestions:

- I have planned to arrive at Toronto International Airport on Friday, June the 14th, at 12:55 h (noon). What is the quickest/fastest way to go to Toronto Zoo directly by public transport? (I found anything in the internet by tcc with 2 transfers and a total travel time of about 2 hours, but this is no option).

- According to a internet taxi fare calculator, the taxi fare from International Airport to Toronto Zoo would be a ripp-off of about 90 Canadian Dollars. Could that be true?

- Would it be a good idea to hire a car instead (although I will using it for only 3 days). And may I expect to be served quickly at the car rental desk at my time of arrival or must I expect long queues/lines there?

- What is the quickest way from the airport to the zoo with a rental car (which route shall I take) and is the zoo good signed/market along the roads? And how long it will take approximately?

- Depending on the time I will have, I am thinking to visit Buffalo Zoo too. Will I be able to enter USA (and re-enter Canada) with a hired car? And if so: How long does it approximately take to cross the border?

Thank you so much in advance for your replys and recommendations.
 
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