Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Future Developments 2014
- Thread starter TZFan
- Start date
I'm currently working on a drawing over the current enclosure (using Google Maps) so we can see a the enclosure without all lines and notes.
Also I was at the zoo recently, sorry this took so long to post my reading week was more hectic then my usual weeks, but I learned that our Chinese Giant Salamander came from a private collection in Germany and is 18 years old.
Also the new wombat has access to the holdings and side enclosure during the day. Arthur sits/stands at the gate between the two enclosures hoping to catch a glimpse, but she is really shy of people, she'd peak out of the sliding gate, check you out and then hides again. If you go towards the pythons though and watch from there, she'll come out and do her thing.
Also I was at the zoo recently, sorry this took so long to post my reading week was more hectic then my usual weeks, but I learned that our Chinese Giant Salamander came from a private collection in Germany and is 18 years old.
Also the new wombat has access to the holdings and side enclosure during the day. Arthur sits/stands at the gate between the two enclosures hoping to catch a glimpse, but she is really shy of people, she'd peak out of the sliding gate, check you out and then hides again. If you go towards the pythons though and watch from there, she'll come out and do her thing.
Oh thats so cool that you're able to do the sketch using google. It will be interesting to see.
I think someone already mentioned Hannibal, the salamander, was from Germany... sounds very farmilar.... and that hes older... Im not sure if 18 was mentioned.
When did you last visit the zoo? Others have seen Matilba, the new wombat, out with Arthur and in full public view. Seems shes fairly adjusted now.
I think someone already mentioned Hannibal, the salamander, was from Germany... sounds very farmilar.... and that hes older... Im not sure if 18 was mentioned.
When did you last visit the zoo? Others have seen Matilba, the new wombat, out with Arthur and in full public view. Seems shes fairly adjusted now.
It's just a print screen and paint, nothing truly special, but thanks.
I was there with school on the 18th of February. She was really shy, but I'm sure she and Arthur have been in contact through the screen at the bottom of the door or through their holding.
I thought I did to, but just to be safe I posted it and the volunteer seemed really happy to see other people when we walked in I thought I'd share it for her too.
I was there with school on the 18th of February. She was really shy, but I'm sure she and Arthur have been in contact through the screen at the bottom of the door or through their holding.
I thought I did to, but just to be safe I posted it and the volunteer seemed really happy to see other people when we walked in I thought I'd share it for her too.
Hey it doesnt matter if the giraffe map your creating is special or not. I wouldnt know where to start doing it... if I did I would have. Im just happy you have an idea, are willing to do the work and will share so we will get a better idea of where everything sits. Its truly appreciated.
They have some changes to their drawings for the giraffe yards and new drawings.
http://www.torontozoo.com/pdfs/rfp/Addendum-1-RFT-16.pdf
http://www.torontozoo.com/pdfs/rfp/Addendum-1-RFT-16.pdf
I don't know exactly what the Zoo is planning in terms of using this platform for public feedings, but since I've done a behind-the-scenes tour with the giraffes in their current exhibit, I do know that the current set-up the Zoo has for their giraffe behind-the-scenes has the giraffes bending down over a fence to be fed by either a keeper or individuals. People are kept a certain distance away from the fence/giraffes using a rope, but are allowed past the rope one at a time to feed the giraffes. This set-up has been used for at least the last 2 years primarily with Zoo Camp kids and Bush Camp groups (youth/school groups and families) and since it seems to be working, the Zoo may do something similar with their feeding platform (as seen in the diagram).
I was under the impression that the giant salamander came from a private collector in Montreal/Quebec. Did you hear that from a Volunteer or staff member?
I saw the new female wombat, Matilba, just the other day. She was out in the main part of the exhibit digging. As others have mentioned, she has quite a few scratches and fur missing in patches all over.
Thanks for renewing my hope Adams7. Maybe I will get to feed a giraffe at my home town zoo one day.
On another note I just learned that Toronto Zoo has one of the most prolific fresh water fish breeding programs in North America. Toronto is only second behind the Shedd Aquarium in terms of number of species bred, 31. We are beating the Vancouver Aquarium by 7 species (they are number 3) but the Shedd has bred 49 species creaming us. I do think thats still pretty amazing for a zoo. An aquarium should be successful in breeding fish thats their primary focus. Zoos have a very diversified focus. I would guess most of our success stems from the cichlids.
On another note I just learned that Toronto Zoo has one of the most prolific fresh water fish breeding programs in North America. Toronto is only second behind the Shedd Aquarium in terms of number of species bred, 31. We are beating the Vancouver Aquarium by 7 species (they are number 3) but the Shedd has bred 49 species creaming us. I do think thats still pretty amazing for a zoo. An aquarium should be successful in breeding fish thats their primary focus. Zoos have a very diversified focus. I would guess most of our success stems from the cichlids.
arcticwolf
Well-Known Member
I'm not surprised about Toronto's fish breeding. The Toronto Zoo has a very large fish collection, which is amazing since the zoo doesn't even have an aquarium. I know that some of the fish breeding programs are for Madagascan fish, seahorses, Lake Victoria cichlids, and native species such as Atlantic salmon.
I would be really interested to learn a little more about the freshwater fish breeding and what species they hold!
ZoologicGod99
New Member
I hear that in 2017-2018 that they are converting the Americas Pavilion to "Tropical Americas" possibly they will add new animals and definitely renovate the place up a bit.
arcticwolf
Well-Known Member
I highly doubt this will happen in 2017-2018 because there are many other projects that the zoo plans to do before it. For example Eurasia, the giraffes, the animal health centre, orangutan outdoors, and the Canadian Wilderness.
Here is the drawing I did for the Giraffe enclosure. I also included a possible extension to the hippo enclosure.
If they do put anything in with the Giraffes I feel it will be either the Ostriches, or some other bird. Maybe the cranes that have been living with the lemurs, or maybe move the Secretary bird from the Children's zoo in with the Giraffes.
Colour Key:
Black: Fence, varying kinds, existing or new (chain link, wire and post)
Orange: Hot wire, existing
Dark Grey (North Paddock): Retaining Walls
Red: Gates, sliding and keeper
Green: Viewing platform and platform extension (green box)
Grey (Between South 2 and 3): Storm drain
Brown: Path change (for Hippo Expansion)
Blue: Water area (Hippo Expansion)
Light Grey: Underwater Viewing (Hippo Expansion)
Any questions, please feel free to ask. The drawing makes sense to me, but it may not to others so I'm open to questions.
If they do put anything in with the Giraffes I feel it will be either the Ostriches, or some other bird. Maybe the cranes that have been living with the lemurs, or maybe move the Secretary bird from the Children's zoo in with the Giraffes.
Colour Key:
Black: Fence, varying kinds, existing or new (chain link, wire and post)
Orange: Hot wire, existing
Dark Grey (North Paddock): Retaining Walls
Red: Gates, sliding and keeper
Green: Viewing platform and platform extension (green box)
Grey (Between South 2 and 3): Storm drain
Brown: Path change (for Hippo Expansion)
Blue: Water area (Hippo Expansion)
Light Grey: Underwater Viewing (Hippo Expansion)
Any questions, please feel free to ask. The drawing makes sense to me, but it may not to others so I'm open to questions.
Attachments
First off welcome ZoologicGod99. Always nice to have a new member.
I have to agree with Arcticwolf. Even starting the project in 2018 would be pushing it. The Eurasian Wilds opens this spring so thats really not in the way much. The giraffes move to the old elephant exhibit should be completed sometime this year. The Health Center is schedualled to begin construction soon. A new hoofstock exhibit is to be built in the old giraffe exhibit space by the end of the year but reality is likely spring 2015. Thats a ton on the zoos plate at the moment. The orangutans outdoor exhibit and a revamp of their indoor exhibit are to be done as soon as outside funding can be secured.
Then there is the Canadain Wilderness which is to move the Canadian Domain animals up onto the main zoo level between the Eurasian Wilds and Tundra Trek. This is the next major project which will likely aim to be completed for the summer of 2019 to coincide with the departure of the giant pandas Da Mao, Er Shun and any cubs born here. They will need that big draw factor to help make up for the pandas leaving.
It is only when this is done that the zoo is schedualled to focus on the Americas Pavillion and the Mayan Temple. They are newer areas of the zoo and can wait for an overhaul in comparison to other areas. And by newer I mean in comparison to the origional facilities down in the Domain and the whole Indo Malayan section. Most other things have had full renos or updating.
However that has to be taken with a grain of salt because the zoo is about to develope a new Master Plan this year. It will guide all the construction on the zoo for the next 25 years. Other than the current projects that started or will start this year the priorities could change. I do think the Canadain Wilderness will stay priority number 1 as phase 3 of the North Site redevelopement. A South American section might stay the next priority but they could shift focus to IndoMalaya because of the physical and spacial needs of the animals there and the condition of the buildings. Also under consideration in the next 10 years is to be the Hippo exhibit... the only exhibit that once the elephant house is converted and the giraffe house knocked down wasnt included in the 1998 Savannah revamp. I would guess the next 25 years will focus on tackling these three areas and the hippos. What the order is remains to be determined.
Again welcome to our happy little group. Hope you enjoy learning from us and sharing with us in the future. If your a big Toronto Zoo fan I suggest you go back and read some of the really old threads. They are gold mines when it comes to information about the zoos past.
I have to agree with Arcticwolf. Even starting the project in 2018 would be pushing it. The Eurasian Wilds opens this spring so thats really not in the way much. The giraffes move to the old elephant exhibit should be completed sometime this year. The Health Center is schedualled to begin construction soon. A new hoofstock exhibit is to be built in the old giraffe exhibit space by the end of the year but reality is likely spring 2015. Thats a ton on the zoos plate at the moment. The orangutans outdoor exhibit and a revamp of their indoor exhibit are to be done as soon as outside funding can be secured.
Then there is the Canadain Wilderness which is to move the Canadian Domain animals up onto the main zoo level between the Eurasian Wilds and Tundra Trek. This is the next major project which will likely aim to be completed for the summer of 2019 to coincide with the departure of the giant pandas Da Mao, Er Shun and any cubs born here. They will need that big draw factor to help make up for the pandas leaving.
It is only when this is done that the zoo is schedualled to focus on the Americas Pavillion and the Mayan Temple. They are newer areas of the zoo and can wait for an overhaul in comparison to other areas. And by newer I mean in comparison to the origional facilities down in the Domain and the whole Indo Malayan section. Most other things have had full renos or updating.
However that has to be taken with a grain of salt because the zoo is about to develope a new Master Plan this year. It will guide all the construction on the zoo for the next 25 years. Other than the current projects that started or will start this year the priorities could change. I do think the Canadain Wilderness will stay priority number 1 as phase 3 of the North Site redevelopement. A South American section might stay the next priority but they could shift focus to IndoMalaya because of the physical and spacial needs of the animals there and the condition of the buildings. Also under consideration in the next 10 years is to be the Hippo exhibit... the only exhibit that once the elephant house is converted and the giraffe house knocked down wasnt included in the 1998 Savannah revamp. I would guess the next 25 years will focus on tackling these three areas and the hippos. What the order is remains to be determined.
Again welcome to our happy little group. Hope you enjoy learning from us and sharing with us in the future. If your a big Toronto Zoo fan I suggest you go back and read some of the really old threads. They are gold mines when it comes to information about the zoos past.
arcticwolf
Well-Known Member
I completely forgot to welcome ZoologicGod99 to Zoochat. It's always nice to have someone else to talk about the Toronto Zoo with.
Also I really like the drawing Sealife357 made. I had no trouble understanding it.
Also I really like the drawing Sealife357 made. I had no trouble understanding it.
Wow Sealife that is amazing. It suddenly makes sense to me. Like the ramp isnt for the giraffes its for the staff to get to the hippo house.
The hippo expansion could go the way you have it. It could also fill the field next door to giraffe yard three and have tons of space especially if you alter paths. Their old exhibit could be used for something else... Maybe move the warthogs there and shift the red river hogs into the warthog exhibit and make the red river hog outdoor into a meerkat outdoor. Or just bring in a new species.
I agree with you fully lets move the ostriches in with the giraffes at least to start. Its the safest bet with biggest reward. Clearly the species can get along because others have them paired. We only have two so we arent disturbing many animals or overwhelming either species... especially with 3 yards. They arent breeders so you arent risking young with skittish giraffes. And if either species finds it competely intolerable to live together theres a perfectly suited yard just across the savannah ready and able to take them back. If all goes well however theres a free exhibit for 2015 to add a new species and make the summer about hoofstock in Africa when the new hoofstock yard and species are set to go anyway. That summer a third animal could also be added to the giraffes if they are adjusting to the ostriches well.
The hippo expansion could go the way you have it. It could also fill the field next door to giraffe yard three and have tons of space especially if you alter paths. Their old exhibit could be used for something else... Maybe move the warthogs there and shift the red river hogs into the warthog exhibit and make the red river hog outdoor into a meerkat outdoor. Or just bring in a new species.
I agree with you fully lets move the ostriches in with the giraffes at least to start. Its the safest bet with biggest reward. Clearly the species can get along because others have them paired. We only have two so we arent disturbing many animals or overwhelming either species... especially with 3 yards. They arent breeders so you arent risking young with skittish giraffes. And if either species finds it competely intolerable to live together theres a perfectly suited yard just across the savannah ready and able to take them back. If all goes well however theres a free exhibit for 2015 to add a new species and make the summer about hoofstock in Africa when the new hoofstock yard and species are set to go anyway. That summer a third animal could also be added to the giraffes if they are adjusting to the ostriches well.
I got so excited about a new member and the giraffe plans I forgot to address the fish issue.
I know we have a large and varied fresh water fish population but I honestly was surprised to see we beat out other aquariums... especially Vancouver! I mean we were being compared to all zoos and aquariums in the AZA. I would have assumed we would be further back with just aquariums in front of us forget some of the bigger US zoos like San Diego, Columbus, Cincinnati, the Smithsonian National Zoo to name a few.
I would love to be able to tell you what we were successful with but cant. It didnt list what we had bred. It was just a list of the zoos with the most success in terms of number of species. And not being a fish fan I couldnt even tell you the names of a handful of the fish the zoo keeps. Unless they are colourful I tend to move right on by in favour of mammals, birds and some reptiles.
I wish the zoo would tell people about its success with fresh water fish. Its something to be celebrated.
I know we have a large and varied fresh water fish population but I honestly was surprised to see we beat out other aquariums... especially Vancouver! I mean we were being compared to all zoos and aquariums in the AZA. I would have assumed we would be further back with just aquariums in front of us forget some of the bigger US zoos like San Diego, Columbus, Cincinnati, the Smithsonian National Zoo to name a few.
I would love to be able to tell you what we were successful with but cant. It didnt list what we had bred. It was just a list of the zoos with the most success in terms of number of species. And not being a fish fan I couldnt even tell you the names of a handful of the fish the zoo keeps. Unless they are colourful I tend to move right on by in favour of mammals, birds and some reptiles.
I wish the zoo would tell people about its success with fresh water fish. Its something to be celebrated.
Heres another revision of their giraffe plans... Looks likey they just added instructions to the last one. I dont think there is anything new but someone else might notice something Im not seeing so I will post it.
http://www.torontozoo.com/pdfs/rfp/Addendum 2 RFT 16.pdf
http://www.torontozoo.com/pdfs/rfp/Addendum 2 RFT 16.pdf
arcticwolf
Well-Known Member
I had a great trip to the zoo today. All of the polar bears were having a great time rolling around in the snow and swimming close to the underwater viewing window.
The red billed blue magpie and wrinkled hornbill have swapped exhibits. The magpie is in the Malayan Woods Pavilion and the hornbill is next to the orangutans.
Also the sugar gliders are still on exhibit and were very active today. I wonder when they will be replaced by the feathertail gliders.
The red billed blue magpie and wrinkled hornbill have swapped exhibits. The magpie is in the Malayan Woods Pavilion and the hornbill is next to the orangutans.
Also the sugar gliders are still on exhibit and were very active today. I wonder when they will be replaced by the feathertail gliders.