Edmonton Valley Zoo Edmonton Valley Zoo
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0.1 Amur Tiger Taiga has died at the age of 16 years.
https://dailyhive.com/edmonton/edmonton-valley-zoo-taiga
https://dailyhive.com/edmonton/edmonton-valley-zoo-taiga
Piece of August 2024 News Worth Mentioning:
On August 7th, the zoo announced the otters' sexes (1.3) and names, Russet, Bridget, Dakota Pearl, and Violet.
Edmonton Valley Zoo
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On October 19th, the zoo announced they started a complete renovation on the Linne's two-toed sloth exhibit, transitioning it from a nocturnal habitat to a durnial habitat, as well as adding a couple new unspecified species with the sloths.
Edmonton Valley Zoo
On August 7th, the zoo announced the otters' sexes (1.3) and names, Russet, Bridget, Dakota Pearl, and Violet.
Edmonton Valley Zoo
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On October 19th, the zoo announced they started a complete renovation on the Linne's two-toed sloth exhibit, transitioning it from a nocturnal habitat to a durnial habitat, as well as adding a couple new unspecified species with the sloths.
Edmonton Valley Zoo
On November 7th, the zoo announced they transferred a (1.0) red panda named Kalden to The Toronto Zoo in Ontario.
43K views · 633 reactions | Kalden's Vet Visit | Goodbye Alert! We’re saying goodbye to an Edmonton Valley Zoo icon: Kalden the red panda has packed his bags and is off on a new adventure.
... | By Edmonton Valley Zoo | Facebook
Edmonton Valley Zoo
43K views · 633 reactions | Kalden's Vet Visit | Goodbye Alert! We’re saying goodbye to an Edmonton Valley Zoo icon: Kalden the red panda has packed his bags and is off on a new adventure.
... | By Edmonton Valley Zoo | FacebookEdmonton Valley Zoo
On November 15th, the zoo announced that the red pandas were sexed as (2.0) and named Fred and George.
Edmonton Valley Zoo
On December 4th, the zoo announced that 2 independent experts assessed Lucy (both of whom had never assessed Lucy before) and her care, which Lucy is doing well on both the husbandry and health sides.
Lucy's 2024 Assessment | We are pleased to share the results of Lucy the elephant’s latest independent health assessment, which took place earlier this fall. Two independent... | By Edmonton Valley Zoo | Facebook
This article discusses the new Two-toed Sloth exhibit at the zoo and the link includes a video that showcases the lushness of the enclosure. Previously, the zoo's two sloths were kept in a nocturnal environment.
New habitat offers two-toed sloths a ‘better sense of being’ at Edmonton zoo
Up next for the zoo is the 'Arctic' Wolf exhibit, which is discussed at length in this almost 5-minute video from December.
Edmonton Valley Zoo looks to welcome Arctic wolves in new year | Watch News Videos Online
New habitat offers two-toed sloths a ‘better sense of being’ at Edmonton zoo
Up next for the zoo is the 'Arctic' Wolf exhibit, which is discussed at length in this almost 5-minute video from December.
Edmonton Valley Zoo looks to welcome Arctic wolves in new year | Watch News Videos Online
On February 4th, it was reported that the zoo acquired a (1.0 serval after it was confiscated from an illegal breeding situation and was later named Blade*.
Okotoks woman fined $15,000 for possession of wild cat | Calgary Herald
Alberta woman fined for illegally importing serval cats
On March 21st, the zoo opened the new Arctic wolf exhibit to the public.
Edmonton Valley Zoo
* Another news article from CTV says the zoo acquired a 2nd serval but I am not sure if the report is accurate.
Okotoks woman fined $15,000 for possession of wild cat | Calgary Herald
Alberta woman fined for illegally importing serval cats
On March 21st, the zoo opened the new Arctic wolf exhibit to the public.
Edmonton Valley Zoo
* Another news article from CTV says the zoo acquired a 2nd serval but I am not sure if the report is accurate.
On June 17th, the zoo announced they bred and released 250 Rocky Mountain leopard frog tadpoles into the wilds of British Columbia.
7.6K views · 143 reactions | Ribbiting Release! Thank you so much to our remarkable Zookeepers Makayla and Renee for releasing more than 200 Rocky Mountain leopard frog tadpoles into the protected wetlands of Cherry-Meadows, B.C. The Edmonton Valley Zoo is very proud to be a part of the Northern Leopard Frog breeding program and know this would not have been possible without the full team of zookeepers and conservation staff from three Canadian zoological facilities who have cared for, raised, and released these tadpoles. By releasing tadpoles into new wetlands in B.C., they play an essential role in strengthening the existing population of wild northern leopard frogs that are holding on within one last remaining wetland in the area. Our zookeepers met up with some of the Vancouver Aquarium staff who are also releasing their tadpoles today! Edmonton Valley Zoo is only one of the three facilities participating in the northern leopard frog breeding program, along with our friends from the Vancouver Aquarium and the Wilder Institute in Calgary. | Edmonton Valley Zoo
7.6K views · 143 reactions | Ribbiting Release! Thank you so much to our remarkable Zookeepers Makayla and Renee for releasing more than 200 Rocky Mountain leopard frog tadpoles into the protected wetlands of Cherry-Meadows, B.C. The Edmonton Valley Zoo is very proud to be a part of the Northern Leopard Frog breeding program and know this would not have been possible without the full team of zookeepers and conservation staff from three Canadian zoological facilities who have cared for, raised, and released these tadpoles. By releasing tadpoles into new wetlands in B.C., they play an essential role in strengthening the existing population of wild northern leopard frogs that are holding on within one last remaining wetland in the area. Our zookeepers met up with some of the Vancouver Aquarium staff who are also releasing their tadpoles today! Edmonton Valley Zoo is only one of the three facilities participating in the northern leopard frog breeding program, along with our friends from the Vancouver Aquarium and the Wilder Institute in Calgary. | Edmonton Valley Zoo
On May 8th, it was announced that the zoo transferred (0.3) Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep named Ava, Madison, and Sophia to BC Wildlife Park in British Columbia.
BC Wildlife Park
On July 1st, it was reported their female (0.1) Asian elephant Lucy celebrated its 50th birthday.
Edmonton's Lucy the elephant turns the big 5-0 on Canada Day | Edmonton Journal
On July 18th, the zoo announced they moved their peregrine falcons to a renovated exhibit inside the Bird of Prey area.
Valley Zoo Development Society
On August 19th, it was reported that 2 people were arrested following a protest inside the zoo demanding the zoo send Lucy to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.
2 people facing charges for protest at Edmonton Valley Zoo
On August 27th, the zoo announced they acquired a female (0.1) lar gibbon named Salju from Assiniboine Park & Zoo in Manitoba, which is now on exhibit.
Edmonton Valley Zoo
Do they hold purebred Arctic/polar wolves (in Europe most if not all the Arctics are basically of mixed origins...)?
Their current wolves are all from Europe, and as such are of the "mixed ssp but arctic phenotype" variety.
The Valley Zoo Development Society has announced a few future plans in an email. Here you go:
RED PANDA YARD PROJECT
Budget: $50,000 | Beginning: 2025
The Red Panda Yard Landscape Project will bring fresh life and adventure to the Edmonton Valley Zoo’s red panda habitat. This initiative will design and install new plantings, boulders, and climbing features—carefully planned to minimize disturbance to the existing environment—while creating a dynamic, enriching space for these charismatic animals.
CARNIVORE MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Budget: $7 million | Beginning: 2025
The Carnivore Modernization Project is transforming life at the Edmonton Valley Zoo for some of our most charismatic residents — the serval, lynx, snow leopard, and foxes. These new habitats are designed to mirror the wild spaces they call home while providing the highest standards of care and welfare. For visitors, the upgrades mean barrier-free sightlines, seasonally adaptable viewing areas, and new training walls where they can watch animal care in action.
ASPEN PARKLAND REFORESTATION PROJECT
Budget: $988,000 | Beginning: 2025
Moving beyond the City’s standard turf-based design, this initiative will re-naturalize 9,000 square meters with native plants from Alberta’s Fescue and Mixed Grass prairie types, enrich an open exhibit space with up to 55 trees and shrubs representing Boreal and Foothills forest ecosystems, and breathe new life into the ten-year-old green roof of the Arctic Shores exhibit.
RED PANDA YARD PROJECT
Budget: $50,000 | Beginning: 2025
The Red Panda Yard Landscape Project will bring fresh life and adventure to the Edmonton Valley Zoo’s red panda habitat. This initiative will design and install new plantings, boulders, and climbing features—carefully planned to minimize disturbance to the existing environment—while creating a dynamic, enriching space for these charismatic animals.
CARNIVORE MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Budget: $7 million | Beginning: 2025
The Carnivore Modernization Project is transforming life at the Edmonton Valley Zoo for some of our most charismatic residents — the serval, lynx, snow leopard, and foxes. These new habitats are designed to mirror the wild spaces they call home while providing the highest standards of care and welfare. For visitors, the upgrades mean barrier-free sightlines, seasonally adaptable viewing areas, and new training walls where they can watch animal care in action.
ASPEN PARKLAND REFORESTATION PROJECT
Budget: $988,000 | Beginning: 2025
Moving beyond the City’s standard turf-based design, this initiative will re-naturalize 9,000 square meters with native plants from Alberta’s Fescue and Mixed Grass prairie types, enrich an open exhibit space with up to 55 trees and shrubs representing Boreal and Foothills forest ecosystems, and breathe new life into the ten-year-old green roof of the Arctic Shores exhibit.
On October 15th, the zoo announced they closed the outdoor red panda exhibit temporarily for the next 2 weeks to renovate the yard.
Edmonton Valley Zoo
In late 2022, it was mentioned in several news articles that there were some deficiencies with the Grevy's Zebra exhibit, specifically the indoor holding stalls. On that note, here is today's Facebook post from the zoo:
"Big news from the Edmonton Valley Zoo!
After decades of housing zebras, our
dazzle of Grevy's zebras
is moving to other accredited facilities in Canada. Your last chance to see our male black and white striped friends is this Saturday, November 1. But don’t worry - our female zebras will be here just a little bit longer!
This move is an important step as we prepare for a new construction project which will be announced at a later date!
The #yegzoo has a long history with Grevy's zebras, and we're proud to have contributed to the Species Survival Plan (SSP) with four births here. Moving our zebras ensures their continued protection within the SSP and Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) programs. Grevy's zebras are an endangered species, with fewer than 2,500 individuals left in the wild. We've also been a proud partner with the Grevy's Zebra Trust in their conservation efforts.
We're excited for this new chapter for our zebras! Stop by this weekend to wish Cody and Tufani bon voyage!
"
"Big news from the Edmonton Valley Zoo!
After decades of housing zebras, our
This move is an important step as we prepare for a new construction project which will be announced at a later date!
The #yegzoo has a long history with Grevy's zebras, and we're proud to have contributed to the Species Survival Plan (SSP) with four births here. Moving our zebras ensures their continued protection within the SSP and Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) programs. Grevy's zebras are an endangered species, with fewer than 2,500 individuals left in the wild. We've also been a proud partner with the Grevy's Zebra Trust in their conservation efforts.
We're excited for this new chapter for our zebras! Stop by this weekend to wish Cody and Tufani bon voyage!
The zoo has unveiled its 2025 Master Plan, and it lays out the next 15 years. That means everything from a revamped parking lot, a Nature Learn and Play zone (badgers, porcupines, prairie dogs, owls), an Insect Pavilion, a walk-through tamarin/sloth exhibit, Amur River Taiga (Amur Tiger, Amur Leopard, Brown Bear, Sichuan Takin), Boreal Forest with lots of "W" animals (Wood Bison, Woodland Caribou, Wolf, Wolverine, Whooping Crane) and...Polar Bears and Sea Otters in Coastal Arctic! We shall see how much of this plan actually becomes a reality, but it's definitely an exciting announcement.
Shaping the Future: The Edmonton Valley Zoo Master Plan | City of Edmonton
There's a ton of information on the link above, as for example just the Facilities and Infrastructure section is 48 pages.
Shaping the Future: The Edmonton Valley Zoo Master Plan | City of Edmonton
There's a ton of information on the link above, as for example just the Facilities and Infrastructure section is 48 pages.
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Ah, I've been waiting and hoping to see the Edmonton Valley Zoo's 2025 Master Plan, so I'm excited that they made most of it accessible!
My overall impressions are it's a good master plan. I fully support the short term push to increase husbandry and living spaces for their existing animals, transfer other animals out, and obtain AZA accreditation in September 2027! That's the most important thing that I was hoping to see from them.
I agree with the tightened focus on colder climate regions and their animals. The Edmonton Valley Zoo does not have the existing infrastructure nor the means to make substantial investments in less winter hardy animals. They should be able to build good homes for the select few small tropical animals that were identified in the Master Plan.
What surprised and impressed me the most are the extremely high standards for animal enclosure sizes! The exhibits for some of the smaller and medium animals are particularly high. They plan on providing over 20,000 square feet of exhibit space for arctic foxes! Many polar bear exhibits built within the past 25 years in the USA aren't that big!
The drawback of all those exceptionally large exhibits and tight focus on cold hardy species is a very limited animal collection plan. I counted less than 30 species of mammals (excluding a few domestics and ambassador animals), less than 15 birds, 1 reptile, 1 amphibian, an aquarium for arctic fish, and some invertebrates. Some of the species they selected will be difficult to obtain and only a few are managed by SSP programs. Notable cold hardy Asian animal species that aren't part of the Master Plan include snow leopard, manul, Przewalski's horse, Bactrian camel, markhor, Japanese macaque, and pheasants. It reminds me of recent Zoochat conversations about the limited species in AZA zoos and phase-outs. The Edmonton Valley Zoo is much more focused on cold hardy species than the vast majority of AZA facilities. If they don't have the space and resources for some of the more common and interesting cold-hardy animal species, then what hope is there for the future of animal species diversity in AZA zoos and aquariums?
My overall impressions are it's a good master plan. I fully support the short term push to increase husbandry and living spaces for their existing animals, transfer other animals out, and obtain AZA accreditation in September 2027! That's the most important thing that I was hoping to see from them.
I agree with the tightened focus on colder climate regions and their animals. The Edmonton Valley Zoo does not have the existing infrastructure nor the means to make substantial investments in less winter hardy animals. They should be able to build good homes for the select few small tropical animals that were identified in the Master Plan.
What surprised and impressed me the most are the extremely high standards for animal enclosure sizes! The exhibits for some of the smaller and medium animals are particularly high. They plan on providing over 20,000 square feet of exhibit space for arctic foxes! Many polar bear exhibits built within the past 25 years in the USA aren't that big!
The drawback of all those exceptionally large exhibits and tight focus on cold hardy species is a very limited animal collection plan. I counted less than 30 species of mammals (excluding a few domestics and ambassador animals), less than 15 birds, 1 reptile, 1 amphibian, an aquarium for arctic fish, and some invertebrates. Some of the species they selected will be difficult to obtain and only a few are managed by SSP programs. Notable cold hardy Asian animal species that aren't part of the Master Plan include snow leopard, manul, Przewalski's horse, Bactrian camel, markhor, Japanese macaque, and pheasants. It reminds me of recent Zoochat conversations about the limited species in AZA zoos and phase-outs. The Edmonton Valley Zoo is much more focused on cold hardy species than the vast majority of AZA facilities. If they don't have the space and resources for some of the more common and interesting cold-hardy animal species, then what hope is there for the future of animal species diversity in AZA zoos and aquariums?
I'm extremely curious to see how they plan to obtain AZA accreditation within less than 2 years, when they currently hold a singleton female elephant in free contact (with a guide to boot) that they take on walks around zoo grounds/in public proximity, with no plans of action (as far as I'm aware) to change that so long as Lucy is alive - both of which are a huge no no by today's AZA standards.
I suppose they'd get grandfathered in very specially? I can't see a lot of other facilities who've made drastic changes to their programs in order to comply with standards be all to happy with that if it does come to pass.
That said - I totally think Edmonton is AZA material! And are totally deserving, especially given these changes to come.
I would never advocate for a 50-year old lone Asiatic elephant move to another facility and bring forward her remise because what any transfer would entail and impact upon the general healthy of an end-of-life care individual. Further, I do not think that changing a routine this individual elephant Lucy has known for the past few decades needs changing in relation to current AZA policy with elephant housing and husbandry. Lucy, for all intense purposes - I do hope -, will stay put ..., no matter what AZA defines policy nor AW-activists in their tunnelvision rides would advocate. Thank goodness that is so ...
Anyhow, what I am now hearing from Edmonton Valley Zoo in their current masterplan looks great and is a quite realistic approach to the future path for the zoo. I do however hope that they may get a wider diversity of birds, reptiles and amphibians from the more temperate climes.
BTW: Would be nice if they might at some point have an aquarium with freshwater fish fauna and invertebrates.... (well just dreaming ...)!
Yeah, I'm not advocating for a change either. I'll just be a bit surprised if AZA goes along with this, given how rigid they can be.
If AZA TAG are than they have lost slightly a sight on realities on the ground. AZA will have to deal with odd ones out elderly elephants that are not adaptable or even outright anti-social to natural herd structure. To think of animal welfare and animal wellbeing IS part and parcel of AZA Elephant AW Guidelines and Protocols, so a move down south or one of these dead end Elephant Sanctuaries.
(really if these are one thing ..., it is condemning elephants to a real life in captivity away from any natural herd dynamics or the opportunity to breed naturally ....! I guess you all know full well my stance on this as no solution to an inherent animal husbandry and management issue for within any ex situ (elephant) conservation breeding program....!)
From my initial looks the visitor parking in the 2025 Master Plan seemed low. A deeper look into parking spaces has intensified my concerns. That's coming from somebody who has used walking and public transportation to visit most of the zoos that I've visited in the USA.
All of the visitor parking in the Master Plan is relegated to a lot on the east end of the Zoo with a little more than 300 total stalls. Visitor parking includes: 10 accessible stalls, 17 priority stalls (6 compact, 11 large), 291 more standard stalls (45 compact, 246 large), 10 spaces for buses, and a small area for overflow and oversized vehicles. In the Facilities and Infrastructure section of the Master Plan they acknowledge that this will accommodate daily attendance of 2,350 people which already occurs 10 days a year with current attendance under 400,000 visitors a year. With projected attendance increases from new developments demand may exceed available parking spaces for 70 days of the year.
The two largest zoos in Canada, the Calgary Zoo and Toronto Zoo, have several multiples more parking spaces available for visitors. I am not sure how many parking spaces the Toronto Zoo has, but they have about three times the area for parking in their primary parking alone compared to the Edmonton Valley Zoo, and then have a overflow parking lot that's about as big on it's own as the proposed parking lot in Edmonton. Using Parkopedia as a reference, the Calgary Zoo has 2150 visitor parking spaces available in the North parking lots and West lot combined, which is about 7 times the visitor parking spaces as the Edmonton Valley Zoo will have. The primary entrance to the Calgary Zoo is shared with a c-train station that makes visiting the Zoo using public transportation relatively easy. Public transportation is a far worse option to get to the Edmonton Valley Zoo. The limited visitor parking spaces at Edmonton Valley Zoo means that they can support only a fraction of the visitors that the Calgary Zoo and Toronto Zoo can.
Most of the developments in the Edmonton Valley Zoo's 2025 Master Plan are quite realistic and modest, excluding the Coastal Arctic. Those plans look considerably more ambitious then the polar bear exhibits that opened in December 2023 at the Calgary Zoo as part of the revamped Wild Canada. I would not be surprised if there was a purposeful push in Edmonton to surpass what the Calgary Zoo has done. Calgary and Edmonton have a (mostly) friendly rivalry. The 2025 Master Plan rightfully identifies Coastal Arctic as the preeminent project of the Master Plan and an attendance booster. If these attendance increases are realized they will put a considerable strain on the parking capabilities of the Edmonton Valley Zoo and result in visitors parking throughout the surrounding communities.
There is some open land potentially available for parking north of Buena Vista Road that could help accommodate increased visitation to the Edmonton Valley Zoo. I think this should have been more fully explored and developed in the Master Plan. It won't be as easy to develop that land as it will be to redevelop exhibits within the existing Zoo grounds. Until that's done, I have some doubts about the scale and sustainability of the Coastal Arctic development, which looks like the most exciting part of the 2025 Master Plan.
All of the visitor parking in the Master Plan is relegated to a lot on the east end of the Zoo with a little more than 300 total stalls. Visitor parking includes: 10 accessible stalls, 17 priority stalls (6 compact, 11 large), 291 more standard stalls (45 compact, 246 large), 10 spaces for buses, and a small area for overflow and oversized vehicles. In the Facilities and Infrastructure section of the Master Plan they acknowledge that this will accommodate daily attendance of 2,350 people which already occurs 10 days a year with current attendance under 400,000 visitors a year. With projected attendance increases from new developments demand may exceed available parking spaces for 70 days of the year.
The two largest zoos in Canada, the Calgary Zoo and Toronto Zoo, have several multiples more parking spaces available for visitors. I am not sure how many parking spaces the Toronto Zoo has, but they have about three times the area for parking in their primary parking alone compared to the Edmonton Valley Zoo, and then have a overflow parking lot that's about as big on it's own as the proposed parking lot in Edmonton. Using Parkopedia as a reference, the Calgary Zoo has 2150 visitor parking spaces available in the North parking lots and West lot combined, which is about 7 times the visitor parking spaces as the Edmonton Valley Zoo will have. The primary entrance to the Calgary Zoo is shared with a c-train station that makes visiting the Zoo using public transportation relatively easy. Public transportation is a far worse option to get to the Edmonton Valley Zoo. The limited visitor parking spaces at Edmonton Valley Zoo means that they can support only a fraction of the visitors that the Calgary Zoo and Toronto Zoo can.
Most of the developments in the Edmonton Valley Zoo's 2025 Master Plan are quite realistic and modest, excluding the Coastal Arctic. Those plans look considerably more ambitious then the polar bear exhibits that opened in December 2023 at the Calgary Zoo as part of the revamped Wild Canada. I would not be surprised if there was a purposeful push in Edmonton to surpass what the Calgary Zoo has done. Calgary and Edmonton have a (mostly) friendly rivalry. The 2025 Master Plan rightfully identifies Coastal Arctic as the preeminent project of the Master Plan and an attendance booster. If these attendance increases are realized they will put a considerable strain on the parking capabilities of the Edmonton Valley Zoo and result in visitors parking throughout the surrounding communities.
There is some open land potentially available for parking north of Buena Vista Road that could help accommodate increased visitation to the Edmonton Valley Zoo. I think this should have been more fully explored and developed in the Master Plan. It won't be as easy to develop that land as it will be to redevelop exhibits within the existing Zoo grounds. Until that's done, I have some doubts about the scale and sustainability of the Coastal Arctic development, which looks like the most exciting part of the 2025 Master Plan.