Design for the Dr Schofield Memorial Garden

Toronto Zoo visitors miss Eurasia which has been closed for two long years for renovation, so I am posting a few pictures, some quite old, some from the Zoomobile drive-through that opened last spring, some from Red Panda Day, and of course one of the Giant Pandas who arrived last year.

Can someone remind me what the purpose of the Dr. Schofield Memorial Garden is?

TZFan said:

Can someone remind me what the purpose of the Dr. Schofield Memorial Garden is?

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To keep the memory of Dr. Schofield alive.

Google anyone?

Senator Yonah Martin

The Garden was financed by The Federal and Provincial Governments and the Republic of Korea, as well as Toronto's Korean community, and is on land donated by the City within the Zoo, to honour a Korean and Canadian hero. The statue and some other elements are in place and it will continue to be developed - I think it was projected over five years.

Ok sure have a memorial garden for the guy but why the zoo? Surely there were other areas that would have been just as suitable if not more throughout the city. Was he some great animal lover? I dont see the connection.

And what purprose does it serve for the zoo? Will there be animal habitats in it? Could the land not have been better used for an exhibit for an animal and just have the exhibit named after him? Some unique Korean animal or collection of Korean animals?

I know its been in the works years. When will it ever be done if its is continuing to be developed?

I believe there was a connection with the chair of the board at the time, Councillor Raymond Cho, who is Korean.

Wasn't a pheasant aviary supposed to go in this area?

I am ok with the memorial garden in the zoo as long as there is a good reason for it.

TZFan said:

Ok sure have a memorial garden for the guy but why the zoo? Surely there were other areas that would have been just as suitable if not more throughout the city. Was he some great animal lover? I dont see the connection.

And what purprose does it serve for the zoo? Will there be animal habitats in it? Could the land not have been better used for an exhibit for an animal and just have the exhibit named after him? Some unique Korean animal or collection of Korean animals?

I know its been in the works years. When will it ever be done if its is continuing to be developed?

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From the zoo's press release:
"typical Korean trees and shrubs, and a Korean Tea House. Beautiful, but endangered, Asian pheasants and other animals native to Korea will be on display there"

It was planned to be developed in stages over a number of years and that is happening.

Also, there will be income from functions held there and it is not financed by the zoo.

It seems a quite suitable location to me, adding to the Eurasian animal and horticultural collection.

I'm glad that pheasants will be included in this area. I wonder what other animal species will go in here?

Thanks for the additional info everyone.

So basically there is no point in putting it in the zoo over any other location. OK. I see no problem putting it there especially if the zoo doesnt have to spend a penny and we get additional animals to boot.

It would be nice for it to have been completed to match with the opening of the Eurasian Wilds. Obviously outside funding means the zoo cant push it through with the rest and will just have to wait on the memorials partners.

I wonder too what else will be in the exhibits around it. Based on a quick search of Korean mammals the only viable option there based on the AZA guide I think would be Amur Leopards or if the zoo could get their hands on them Dholes. I'm guessing the better bet is a great avairy for birds. Theres a wide variety of choices there and the Eurasian Wilds really doesnt have any birds other than the eagles and eagle owls.