Toronto Zoo If You Bought Toronto Zoo...

Plazas
Each of the gates would lead to covered plazas. The covered roof would be brightly coloured with the seven geographic zones the zoo has being represented by a painting of the terrain and the animals within it. This would provide an impressive first view of the zoo. The plaza would be mostly open, some benches, and picnic tables but its more of a gathering place surrounded by a market place. Though in this space one might find any one of a number of educational animals out and about with their keepers.

On one side of the gate will be the lost and found, restrooms, and baby care center. The baby care centers will offer parents a place to change and feed babies, and offer a cool spot for naps if necessary. older kids can play quietly in a kiddie play room viewable to parents in the nursery area through a giant glass wall but cut off so the kids don't disturb babies. Parents can check the older ones in with a staff member and collect them when they are ready to go. There will also be a small shop were mom and dad can get diapers, wipes, formula, soothers, bottles and other essentials.

On the opposite side will be guest services which will have lockers and rentals (strollers, wagons, wheelchairs and scooters). They will also be able to handle guest questions, sell memberships, parking and bus passes, tickets for rides and experiences and anything else needed. And because I am a gem strollers and wagons will be able to be deposited at various zoomobile stops and new ones picked up at the next stop. It would just be easier for parents to just dump the stroller off take their tag and go pick out a new one rather than being forced to skip the zoomobile if using a zoo stroller or dealing with the hassle of lugging theirs around with them.

The guest services at the north gate will serve as the meeting place for all backstage tours and book them for future dates because they can't be thrown together at the last minute. How most of them would pan out would depend on keepers, the animals needs and insurance issues. Ultimately I would like a tour to be available for each section of the zoo. Additionally the keeper for a day program could be booked here as well as online.

Market Place
The market place would encompass several shops and restaurants.

I think the gift shops would be better broken down into specialized shops. During the winter the big sellers can stay open and the others close. I'd like to see a clothing store, toy store, book store, souvenir shop (for all the trinkets), and jewelry store (not high end). I would like all of the stores to have a portion of its products be environmentally friendly or have a portion of the proceeds going to some good cause. I recognize not all will be able to do that or for a good price for the guests so flexibility is key. When it comes to the toy store for example I would like to partner with the World Wildlife Fund for their stuffed animals. Get them to reduce the cost to us a little more so its affordable and profit share with them. Their stuffed animals are for the most part some of the nicest available.

The shops would be joined by restaurants. Bigger restaurants would be saved for further into the zoo. No one wants to go all the way back to the gate for lunch. A nice little coffee shop selling baked goods and fresh sandwiches would give people a place to wait while their companions use the facilities or pick up a quick lunch for later. The shop would sell soft shelled coolers and ice packs for those who want to keep their lunch cool. There would also be a cool little ice cream shop that converts to selling beaver tails and cocoa in the winter. A nice little cool down or warm up place to pick up a snack before leaving.

Zoomobile Station
Both plazas will be home to main stops for the zoomobile. Unfortunately because of the snow the zoomobile will run spring through fall. The stations will look like safari outposts. Since the zoo is going to be going for a very natural feel

I think the best option for a zoomobile is a supersize safari Jeep. Depending on what's available I would like to hold as close to 50 people as possible. Not that there won't be a fleet of zoomobiles. Just want to get bang for buck.

Waits at the station could be long so more monitors will be installed with airing similar videos to the front gate with maybe a little more like features on popular species. I would also like the picnic tables near by so people can eat before getting on.

Plaza Differences
It would be boring if each plaza was completely identical so to provide some variety at one gate I would include a small museum and at the other side I would include an art gallery. Both will give people a nice cool space or warm space to get out of the weather on difficult days. The nice thing is both could be minimally staffed and they could be used as event venues for weddings, dinners, fundraisers, and special events.

The museum would be dedicated to zoo based exhibits. A wing would be dedicated to the history of Riverdale Zoo (Toronto’s first zoo), another to celebrate the history of the Toronto Zoo, and another to house things from this new zoos construction. It would be neat in the entry to include maps of all three zoos and have them to scale so that guests can appreciate how far zoos have come. Exhibits would include photos, skeletons, stuffed animals, touch tables, and the evolution of zoos. I would also like to include section for photographs and stories of some of the zoos iconic animals who have passed on. In the lower level of the museum (below ground) there will be a whole gallery dedicated to extinct animals. No dinos. Just animals humans are responsible for the extermination of, dodos, elephant birds, tasmanian tigers, ect. There will be life sized models in natural settings for the animals but people will be allowed to walk up to the models and take photos with them. Signs will be around explaining how we caused the extinction of the animals.

The art gallery will obviously not be as big as the museum and everything there will be for sale. Artists, photographers, sculptors and animal artists works will go on display. Anything sold in there will be on a commission basis. There are plenty of people out there who would love to display their work so it should be full all the time.

As you leave both plazas you will be greeted by a fun experience for kids surrounded by lush gardens and topiaries for mom and dad to enjoy. I would like the topiaries to be big animals. The goal throughout the zoo is to have everything be lush and beautiful looking so why not have it as your first view coming out into the sun. Most of the gardens will hopefully house perennial plants for the most part to cut back on cost associated with yearly plantings.

I will leave the featured entertainment for each plaza for the next installment.
 
Beyond the South Plaza
Since I've decided you have entered through the south entrance we will deal with life beyond its plaza. The northern stuff will be dealt with when we eventually reach there.

Paddle Boat Pond
As you walk out from the southern plaza you would see a huge pond surrounded by grassy areas, large trees, flowery bushes, benches and picnic tables. It would be a peaceful place to walk around or just sit to enjoy your day.

At the center of the pond would be a fountain feature that shoots water in the air in patterns. Something to ooh and aww over.

It would be very well manicured to discourage ducks, geese and swans from nesting there. This is for the safety of guests. It would be one of the most travelled places in the zoo and I don’t a child being attacked by an angry mother goose or swan just protecting their babies. The pond will be made unsuitable for swan nests and inspections will remove any hint of nests. Other areas will be built to encourage them to nest away from pedestrian paths. That’s not to say if a duck, swan, or goose wants to go for a swim there we will shoot it. They are more than welcome but I just don’t want them getting aggressive while protecting young. Canadian geese and swans can just be nasty when they are angry and that could ruin a persons day.

I would however have the pond stocked with native species of fish. Nothing fancy like koi because those are not native species. I dont want to be responsible for possibly introducing an invasive species. Some trout and bass is fine. Why not?

A feature of the pond would be paddle boats for rent. Nothing tacky like swan paddle boats. Just simple two and four seaters. I would prefer just two seaters because they are smaller but families need options. I think this could be a rare free option for guests because I really can’t charge them for everything at the zoo.

From there you have the option of going to the barnyard, urban jungle, South America or North America.

The Barnyard
Located just outside the southern gate would be the Barnyard. It would be home to domesticated animals. You would walk out onto a farmyard with a big red barn ,silo, windmill and farm house surrounded by yards for the animals. There would be coops for the birds and pony rides for the kids. Scattered throughout the yard there will also be tractors, models of horses and cows and other farm equipment for people to take photos with.

At center of the barnyard will be a small tractor themed ride that works along similar principles to the Mater's Junkyard Jamboree at Disneyland. Its not thrilling for the big kids but the little ones will love it. The big kids can get thrills elsewhere while their little brothers and sisters sit out. Its another minor pay option but just enough to cover the cost of operating it and get a small profit.

I think it would be ideal to have all of the animals in the barnyard be owned by a farmer or multiple farmers depending on what they can lend the zoo. I have two reasons for this. First is the issue of surplus animals. None of the species being kept here are endangered or part of a breeding program so why have to worry about birth control. If a farmer owns the animals and babies are born the farmer can come pick them up at maturity and take them home. No off exhibit surplus space would have to be wasted on them. The only hitch would be an agreement not to kill any animal kept at the zoo or born there just to keep animals right people off my back. Secondly the zoo will be mostly deserted in the winter… cannot avoid that Why house animals in the childrens zoo all winter when no one is around? Instead after Thanksgiving the farmer could bring them all home enabling the zoo to close the barnyard for the winter. Once the snow is gone the farmer could return all the animals and the females could come back pregnant with new babies to awww over. No males would ever have to come. Could work well and the farmer would get to enjoy free feedings for the animals more than half the year and free vet care while they are at the zoo. If they really want they could also have the barnyard named after their farm.

First up upon entering the barnyard are the bird exhibits. There will be a nice ocellated turkey exhibit with a tom and a couple of hens. I was going to for wild turkey but if breeding some ocellated helps the population the space is better used for them. Plus the ocellated are flashier and will make better display animals. Beside them will be a fenced off pond with various species of domestic ducks and geese. It might need to be an enclosed pen to keep out wild birds. Lastly would be the chicken coop filled with whatever kind of chickens the farmer can provide.

The coops would lead a vegetable garden and small orchard. It would be fenced off so people don't go eating things and then suing. It’s really just to be a model farm and orchard and to food produced will be collected by horticulture and given to the animals. if it passses muster with the nutritionist. Otherwise composted. In the middle of the garden will be a fake bee hive. I can't risk bees being able to sting guests so it would just be a prop completely sealed off but it would open up discussion about the role of bees in our world. During the fall once the crop is in I would like to have a hay bale maze built for the little ones. It won't be complex given the space available but the little ones will like it.

As an additional feature I would like to invite in representatives of various farming groups in to run workshops and such every weekend over the summer. If any want to partner with us thats fine. I could see weekends where people come and farmers are handing out fresh fruits or veggies. Unfortunately they can't bring in any animals but they could use ours as examples. If we can get that up and running a space would be given to them in a mock farmers market opposite the birds.

The farmhouse would be beyond that. In reality the farmhouse would just look like a house and house other domesticated animals… the pets. No dogs or cats would be at the zoo (unless the dog is being used as a cheetah companion or a nursery surrogate) there would be a display on the role they played and information on the Toronto Humane Society and other rescue organizations. In fact all of the animals housed in the farmhouse would be acquired through a rescue. There would be exhibits for hamsters, gerbils, rats, degus, guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets, and small birds (budgies, cockatiels, canaries, ect). No breeding will be allowed. They will be kept separate, in same sex groups or fixed groupings. There would be information provided on their wild counterparts and a basic care guide so people would know what they are getting into with each species. During the summer there would be a keeper in there several times a day to do talks and bring the animals out for people to see. The goal is to really make people think is this the right pet for me? Hopefully people think twice. These animals will be well suited for outreach programs as well. If the Humane Society or any other no kill rescue wants to do a weekend talk during the summer that would be encouraged so long as their animals stay home. Again ours can fill the role.

Twice a year I would like the zoo to hold an exotic animal amnesty day where a person can bring the zoo their unwanted exotic pets. Rescue groups would be on hand to take in their specialized animals but our vets will provide a quick health check. The large parrots in particular would be considered for integration into the bird show and outreach.

Obviously the most impressive feature will be the barn which will become the home to sheep, goats, pot bellied pigs, donkeys and ponies. The barn would serve as housing for the big animals overnight and in poor weather. If we have to keep the animals it would also be their winter home. Inside the barn there would be stalls just as they would on a farm. The barn would be extra wide and long to provide space for the animals to roam around free in the winter when it is too cold, wet or dangerous outside.

Other possible additions to the barn could be surplus llamas and alpacas from our South American exhibits. They too though I would prefer belong to a farmer allowing us to keep them onsite and who will deal with offspring.

A feature exhibit in the barn would be a family of barn owls. Their home would be a nice sized pen with floor to ceiling access. They would also have access to an outdoor pen. Across the barn from them will an exhibit of similar size for the endangered Loggerhead Shrike which would be behind glass so the birds could get live insect prey to impale on the thorny bushes, branches and barbed wire fencing in their exhibit. They will be part of the breeding centres breeding programs.

Just outside the barn would be a couple of yards for the animals. People would be able to enter the yards and pet the animals. No feeding will be allowed so that they won't get too aggressive with the kids. The animals will be allowed to intermingle in these yards in whatever manner the keepers feel works best.

Behind the barn would be the silo which would be the home to bathrooms and a sales location for pony ride tickets. The pony rides would be located right behind the barn. Again I would like the animals to be owned by someone else and probably have the ride be run by their owners. Let them take the risk, do the training, but still profit share.

Urban Jungle
On the opposite side of the pond near the southern gate will be the Urban Jungle, home to the creatures Torontonians share their neighbourhoods with. The goal in this section of the zoo is to show people that we do coexist with wild animals in our urban habitats and how we can do so peacefully.

The exhibits will be designed to reflect the city, complete with a small version of the CN Tower. Animals that would be on display here would be raccoons, skunks, squirrels, chipmunks, rats, mice, red foxes, possums, owls, bats, and various birds. All of the animals will be either orphants, unreleasable injured animals or nuisance animals that otherwise would have been killed. Various rehabilitation centers will be invited to talk to guests throughout the summer.

As you enter there first thing you would see is the playground. A really big playground with long and twisty slides, fire poles, bouncy bridges, tires to climb all over, swings, mini zip lines, ropes to swing on, tunnels to crawl through, sand to dig in, rope ladders, Teeter totters, a jungle gym, monkey bars, and anything else thats fun but safe.

To one side is a good sized rehabilitation center. There will be animals the zoo has rescued in there. Any animal coming in would be quarantined there to protect the zoo population. It would spend the first month minimum in there so it will need to have multiple rooms. All of the rooms will be viewable through one way glass. To help keep the animals wild they shouldn't become accustom to people.

There will be a nursery for the orphans because clearly they cannot be kept in the same nursery. Not only I want them to stay away from zoo animals incase of a disease but also because the wild babies would need different care from the keepers so they don't become overly attached to people. Critical if they are to be released in the future. Orphan city deer and black bear cubs will be taken in by the centre but shipped off to rehabilitation facilities as soon as possible if there is no space in the adult exhibits elsewhere. Baby squirrels and chipmunks will be reared there and sent to rehab as soon as they are ready to be trair release as there will be no exhibit for them beyond infancy.

There would also be an exam room to evaluate incoming animals, treat wounds and disease and anything else short of surgery. There would be a modest OR for them but behind scenes. If something major is needed they can be moved to the health unit. The only animals on display in the public viewable rooms will be the ones the vets view as most likely to survive.

At some point the staff will have to decide what to do with the rescued animal. If its a candidate for release then once its health is stabilized it will be shipped out to a rehabilitation facility for its specific species. However if the animal cannot be released a new home will be sought for the animal unless there is space within our collection for it. Should the animal be staying at the zoo it will complete its rehabilitation within the center and then move to the appropriate exhibit.

As part of the rehab center, simply because I need to offer them a controled winter environment, would be exhibits for rats and mice. To fit with the theming of the area their exhibits will need to look like a city environment. The rats will live in an really good sized exhibit designed to look like an overgrown yard. There will be tall grasses, broken objects someone just chucked outside (nothing harmful), and garbage cans (with more junk thats safe to chew or eat). I don't want wild rats in my zoo incase they are disease carriers so the rats filling the role of their wild cousins will be domestic rats adopted from the Humane Society.The males will all be fixed. The mice (also adopted fixed, domestics) will be in an exhibit to simulate a kitchen. Dirty dishes will be on the counter (dirty with their lunch), cracks will be in the walls (with tunnels running behind so the mice can travel around), food boxes will be on the counter for them to rip up, ect. The goal in both of the exhibits is to show people how they can prevent pests from coming into their homes. Information will be posted to show them how to avoid rats and mice.

Next door would be a colony of either little brown bats. They will all be rescues and males kept from females to prevent breeding… unless the babies can be released into the wild. They would live in a big two story house with a pitched roof and no real windows. You would enter through the front or back door to a glass or mesh tunnel leading straight through. The exhibit would be designed to look like the attic space of the house with black lighting to illuminate the bats. The males would be kept on one side of the roost, divided from the females by a wall hidden in the rafters. The outside of the house will show common ways bats get into homes and information will be posted on how to keep them out of the house. It will also have explanations on the benefits of bats and how you can help bats with bat houses (on sale in gift shops).

Beside that would be pens for rehabilitated owls, hawks and vultures. All would be non releasable animals. What species they would be depends largely on what is available. Four exhibit pens will be built around a central barn. Because there will be no need for chicks there will be no suitable spot for a nest. The exhibits will have to be decorated for whatever species inhabit them.

Across from the rehabilitation centre will be a predator exhibit. This will be temporary housing for any orphaned predator before its moved to either an adult exhibit, another zoo or rehab center. It would be designed to house orphans like coyotes, foxes, bobcats, lynx, or wolves. There would be three good sized yards which could be divided or combined depending on the needs of the zoo and inhabitants. These exhibits would be unique in the area as they would be the most natural looking. This is for the well being of the secretive and shy lynx fox and bobcats. Through the central exhibit I would like a small riverbed to demonstrate how animals like to use streams in our neighbourhoods as travel routes.

The next set of exhibits will be dedicated to the opossums, skunks and raccoons. They would share a nighthouse and their exhibits attached. First up would be a big exhibit for raccoons and skunks. The barn would be designed to look like a house and their exhibit would be made to look like a person's yard. There doors to the holding would be camouflaged to look like common points of entry raccoons and skunks commonly used to get onto houses. In the yard there would be garbage cans and recycling bins for enrichment and demonstrations of how clever both species are. The rest of the yard would be set up to look just like the average persons yard. And naturally all skunks will have their skink glands removed for the safety and pleasure of guests. Also occupying the house but having a separate yard would be the opossums. Information will again be provided to explain to people how they can reduce their chances of running into raccoons, skunks and opossums. Their yard will be very similar but there will be a number of very nice trees for them to enjoy too close to the house.

Last up in the urban jungle will be a very large free flight aviary for native bird species. Largely it would depend on what species were available and compatible. Naturally because most birds hate Blue Jays they couldn't be in the aviary but others will work. People will enter the aviary as see a very natural looking park surrounded by trees, shrubs and bird feeders. People can sit on a bench and enjoy the birds. They could even purchase small bags of bird see to feed the birds at certain times of the day. And if someone escaped at least they are native birds so they should do okay but will be leg banded so they can easily be watched as long as they stay on zoo grounds.

This section of the zoo will be ideal for school group tours. It can teach the kids so much about the animals in their own neighbourhoods and how they can do more to prevent conflicts with animals and share their environment in peace. Volunteers will be dedicated to this area of the zoo throughout the peak season to see that the message of peaceful cohabitation gets out there.

Next up we enter North America.
 
Great ideas TZFan! I think an urban jungle area is an interesting addition because I think it is important for people to learn about the animals living around them. I can't wait to read your plans for a North American area.

Here are my plans for the first two areas in my zoo:

ENTRANCE & PARKING

My zoo would have a large parking garage so that the old parking lot space can be used for new exhibits. The parking garage would be partly above and partly below ground. I don’t want it to be too high, because I think tall parking garages look really ugly. Each level would represent a different one of the zoo’s regions, except for the children’s farm. Large murals would be painted on the walls and parking spots would be grouped into different sections based on animal species from those regions. For example, Asia would have tiger, snow leopard, panda, orangutan and komodo dragon areas. Also in the parking garage would be places for people to plug in their electric cars. I saw this in a mall once and thought it was a great idea, because it encourages people to drive vehicles that are better for the environment. Next to the parking area would be a small drop off loop that would be used for both cars and buses.

Outside the entrance, I would keep the bridge going over the pond. In this area I would also have the giant globe remain and lots of new trees and flowers planted. The membership office would stay where it is, but would be renovated to match the new look of the rest of the entrance buildings. The actual ticket booths at the entrance would also be redesigned to look more modern. There would be quite a few more booths added that would be open in the summer to accommodate larger crowds. Additionally, a couple of members entrances would be open so they don’t have to wait in line with all of the people that have to pay to get in. Like in TZFan’s plan, I would have screens in the lines for the ticket booths so people don’t get as bored. These screens would be similar to the ones I saw at Canada’s Wonderland and would show some practical information such as admission prices, the zoo’s hours and the weather for the day, along with fun activities like trivia games. They would also show the keeper talk times and pictures of any new animal babies.

Inside the zoo, new buildings would be created for guest services, lockers, wheelchair/stroller rentals, washrooms, a volunteer centre and a giant gift shop. This gift shop would have 2 floors and be divided into 4 sections. The 4 sections would be toys, clothes, books and souvenirs. Many of the items sold in this shop would be eco friendly, like the panda poo paper that is currently sold at the zoo. Across from the gift shop, there would be a small restaurant selling breakfast foods and drinks like eggs, bagels, coffee and donuts for guests that get to the zoo early. Later in the day, it would sell light meals such as sandwiches, salads and wraps and desserts like fresh baked cookies and ice cream. The last building in this area would be the main zoomobile station. The zoomobile would get a new design with each vehicle being painted to represent a different animal pattern, including lizard scales, giraffe spots and tiger stripes. The entire entrance area would be nicely decorated with flowers, trees, shrubs, benches and a large fountain featuring different animal species.


CHILDREN’S FARM

The Children’s Farm would replace a large portion of the Kid’s Zoo and instead of showing random animals from around the world, it would focus on domesticated animals and other species that live in farms. In the centre of this area, there would be a large red barn that would include indoor exhibits for most of the animal species. There would be stalls for cows, goats, sheep and pigs, and exhibits for other species. A small pen would be home to domestic rabbits and rats would live in an exhibit next door. Barn owls would have a large aviary in the middle of the barn that would include lots of areas to perch on. There would also bee a live honey bee hive that would be similar to the one at the Royal Ontario Museum. It would be surrounded by signs with information about the importance of bees. The barn would have lots of educational activities in it, such as a fake cow to milk.

Outside the barn would be exhibits for the livestock species. Cows and pigs would have their own separate areas, while goats and sheep would be mixed together in an exhibit that visitors would be allowed to enter. I wouldn’t allow feeding in my barn, because I want the zoo to control how much food each animal is getting. Birds such as chickens, turkeys and pigeons would all have outdoor aviaries and koi and ducks would live in a small pond. Pony rides would be created, and they would follow a path going around the barn. The ponies would also have an off exhibit yard for when they’re not being used for rides. Other smaller attractions in this area such as a vegetable garden would be included. Finally there would be a massive farm themed playground for children with lots of fun activities, including a tractor to climb on, chicken eggs to crawl in and a very tall slide inside a silo.
 
Lol I love how your ripping off a bunch of my ideas. It's fine though because its just a compliment. And some of that stuff could easily be incorporated by the zoo. A new entrance is needed. The zoo could use some more space so a parking structure is a brilliant idea. Even if just half the space was taken for the zoo that would be massive. I'll stop myself on that thought or I will be replanning the zoo on site as well as off and I cant handle that now.

With all that money you have you just repainted those crummy old zoomobiles? Considering their age I dont think replacing them outright with better vehicles is unreasonable. I know the zoo lies and says the zoomobile came in and replaced the monorail but I remember riding on the zoomobile as a kid just as much as the monorail. They overlapped for quite awhile if not always. The zoo just wants to hide the monorail accident and the factors contributing to it as the major reason for the shut down. But thats a whole other argument. I do love that you are at least repainting them. They are so ugly and boring just white and green. Although the white is probably to keep the unused seats cooler. But you could paint the outside and leave the seats white or beige.

I agree with changing the kids zoo into a farm. Nothing really makes sense in there. Switching to a farm makes sense and kids could actually touch most of those animals. I like the fake cow to milk. A fake cow doesnt pose the threat a real one does if kids arent safe.

Like the playground.

Nice thing about your plan so far is that everything sounds like it would fit in nicely.
 
I actually wrote those plans a couple of weeks ago, so most of the ideas I came up with by myself. I've been editing for the past few weeks and I did add in a couple ideas from yours that I liked such as the screens in the ticket lines and different sections in the gift shop. You also took some ideas from my old plans like making each level of the parking garage themed around a different region of the world. That's what I love about this thread though, because it gives us both great ideas to use in our zoos.

I didn't think about changing the zoomobiles that much. I knew that I hated the colours, so I made them more animal themed, but other than that it didn't matter to me. The only other change I might make is having them be a little bigger to fit more people on them.
 
Now see with the zoomobiles I find the PA system to usually be crap. When Im on its usually static filled and hard to hear. That was a large part of the reason I wanted them gone. I wanted newer ones with good speakers. I also liked the idea of getting ones that could be at least partly electirc, even solar powered if possible. No one looks at the roof. Why not have solar panels? I also wanted the cooler look of a safari Jeep like thing. Something a little bigger and tougher, mostly because I want the zoomobile to go though a bunch of the exhibits with rhinos and buffalo who could be testy. I havent really got to my zoomobile plans but thats hard to do when I dont know what roughly half of the zoo looks like yet.

I keep getting stuck when I enter a new section and I have a blank slate. Currently Im staring at Indo Malaya thinking how do I achieve my goals in the space provided.
 
I am not very sad to announce that the plans that I made earlier today have now been scrapped. I've been doing a lot of thinking and realized that even though I think it's a cool idea to make the zoo similar to how it currently is, I am more happy making a completely new zoo.

My new plan has the zoo moving to a new area either in or very close to Toronto. I don't really care where it is as long as it is a flat, grassy space with tons of room.

The zoo would be divided into 7 sections based on geographic regions from around the world. The layout is very similar to a map of the world. Like many larger North American zoos, I have decided to include 2 entrances that would be at the top and bottom of the zoo. The bottom of the zoo would be an Antarctic region, and from there you can either go straight, left or right. If you go straight, it leads to an African area with sections for animals from the coast, Madagascar, Congo, Sahara and savanna. Australia is to the right and has New Zealand, Great Barrier Reef, Forest, Desert, Wetland and New Guinea regions. South America is to the left and has species from the coast, mountains, grasslands, Galapagos and Amazon. North America is right above South America and it would have areas with animals from the Caribbean, southern swamps, deserts, prairies, mountains and boreal forests. Next to North America and right above Africa is an Arctic region, where the second entrance would be located. Asia is on the other side of the Arctic and its regions would be Siberia, Himalayas, eastern forests, Mongolia, Arabia (also includes a second entrance to Africa), India and southeast Asia. Asia would also connect back to Australia.

This plan is probably going to take me a long time to make so it might be a while until my next post. It also might take me very quickly because I'm so excited! I drew up a quick plan of what I want my zoo to look like (with no animal species, just the different regions), and I couldn't stop smiling.
 
You sound very enthusiastic about this plan.

When it comes to location I would suggest plopping it down in the same area as mine. It is big open relatively flat farmland. But then again your rich you could just blow a section of down town Toronto... though the skyline wouldnt be pretty unless your going for being surrunded by buildings. Perhaps moving it to the other side of Toronto would work because you would have the massive populations of Mississauga and Brampton to draw from a little easier too. Part of me really likes that idea.

I like your global set up. It makes a ton of sense. I considered the same thing to start but changed my mind when I let the location I chose pick the entrance locations. If I could use the rail line south of the zoo it just made more sense for me to have the south entrance at the southeast corner. I wanted my big draws far from the entrances to pull guests deep into the zoo. My polar bears, seals and Walruses are as far from that south entrance as possible to achieve that. I have a feeling my African elephants will be far south to pull guests at the northern gate deep. Plus I couldnt figure out where to put my ocean pavilion when I tried something similar to you. I had briefly considered building continent shaped islands with rivers and separate oceans pavilions dividing things up. But as cool as that was only people flying over the zoo would appreciate that design.

It is a good idea to draw up plans. I did it myself and once I drew it up it was so much easier to write it all out. Sadly Im still stuck in Indo Malaya. I'm beginning to think I need to jump to another spot just to get the juices flowing again. Im dying to start Africa but thats my favourite zone and Im holding out on that so I have incentive to finish the other areas.

I'm looking forward to your first installment of the new zoo.
 
I am extremely excited about my new plan. If I take my time and add in lots of details, it could be great!

I don't really care where my zoo is located as long as there is lots of room. Any of your suggestions seem fine.

In this plan I decided not to have an Oceans pavilion because there won't be many marine animals. The only ones I can think of are penguins, Great Barrier Reef fish, Caribbean fish and probably a couple of Arctic and Pacific Northwest species. I made sure that there is a transition area between all of the regions such as Arabia dividing Africa and Asia and the Caribbean between North and South America. Also, both of my entrances have popular animals (polar bears & penguin), but that means for visitors to see all of the biggest attractions, they will have to walk to the other side of the zoo.
 
There are tons of marine animals. Aside from the whales, dolphins and porposes I assume you want to avoid there tons of species. Among the most common would be...

Seals - harbour, grey, fur, (I still like the idea of elephant and leopard seals as hard as it would be to get them)
Sea Lions - Californian and Stellar
Walruses
Sea otter
Manatees
Dugongs
Sea Turtles - Loggerhead, Green, Leatherback, Flatback, Hawksbill, Olive and Kemp's Riddley
Marine Iguana
Various sea snakes
Pelicans
Cormorants
Puffins - Atlantic, Horned, Tufted
Penguins - King, Emperor, African, Little, Humboldt, Magellanic, Macaroni, Rockhopper, Gentoo, Adelie, Chinstrap (plus more not kept in North America)
Auklets
Terns
Frigate Birds
Boobies

Plus the standard sharks, rays, eels, crustaceans, starfish, sea horses, sea cucumbers, snails, and oodles of fish species to keep you planning for years.

I can provide you with the list of animals I used to kickstart some of your ocean ideas if you want.
 
I wasn't clear in my previous post. I know a lot about ocean animals, but those were the only ones I can think of that will be in my zoo. Although I want to have a decent variety of marine species, I don't want a large pavilion focused only on them. Instead I would rather have the species in their correct geographic areas. I specifically chose my regions so that there would be just enough ocean animals that people would be happy, but not enough that it would be a competition for the Ripley's aquarium which only focuses on marine animals.
 
Oh sorry I thought you had hit a mental road block and could think of things... not that you arent aware of them. I had a mental block in North America once I made a list of the basics. Had to look things up to go oh ya I want this. Still if you want the lists they are available to you.

Im all for destroying Ripley's. No competition for my zoo. Lets just say my pavilion will be much much larger that the Georgia Aquarium because why not I have the space. Im open to whale sharks if they can be sourced just to give you an idea of size.
 
North America
After passing through the southern plaza there are three options available to you. First you could head directly west after visiting the urban jungle and find yourself in South America. Second you could take the main pathway northwest to the oceans pavilion. Lastly after passing through the barnyard you could proceed to North America. Feeling patriotic you decide to head north.

North America is one of the two biggest sections of the zoo, comprising roughly a quarter of the space. Only Africa will be larger. Here you will find exhibits relating to animals from the prairies, wetlands, desert, forest, mountains and tundra. The there will be two pavilions, one for the desert and another for the wetlands. Most of the animals here will be on display outside in their exhibits year round and only a handful will have indoor exhibits during the winter.

Throughout North America there will be extra emphasis placed on keeping and breeding animals that are endangered or threatened in Ontario. Even if other places have stable populations if a program can be worked out with the Ontario ministry of natural resources to release captive born animals into the wild then we will breed. If not we can house orphans.

Peaceful Prairies
Immediately after departing The Barnyard you would enter the Peaceful Prairies, a zone devoted to animals of the great plains. Many of the animals on display here are threatened in at least one of the Canadian provinces.

Along the most eastern edge of the zoo will be a large, expansive complex of field exhibits with drive thru options for the zoomobile. These exhibits will house the herd animals who need space and if possible I would like to let them intermingle. All of them will have be given quick growing grasses and left natural, except along the zoomobile paths for safety. A specialist needs to decide the best method for keeping the animals in but I would like it if a deep stream wide enough to keep them from jumping it was the main barrier. If that doesn't work then my experts can figure out something to make the barriers seem invisible. I don't want chainlink. All three exhibits will share the same massive barn designed to meet their needs, off exhibit.

To make the transition from The Barnyard, the first exhibit will be home to a herd of rescued wild mustangs. Are they native species? Nope but they have become part of Canada and when a cull happens we have an opportunity to save them. The males will all be neutered to ensure no babies are born and there is space for the maximum number of rescues. The herd would be as large as can be peacefully maintained.

The mustang's neighbours will be pronghorns in a slightly more shrub friendly environment. Endangered in Canada the zoo will be actively breeding them with goal being to eventually release captive born animals into wild herds. Much like what has been done with the reintroduction of Wood Bison, the animals living in the third exhibit.

The bison will be cohabitating with elk. The bison will be a breeding herd participating in the reintroduction program but the elk will be orphan rescues with males given vasectomies if possible, neuter only if necessary because I want the antlers. I have a feeling that the bison might prove to be dangerous to the zoomobile so that issue will need to be dealt with. I think it would either be hot wires serving as barriers that won't obstruct views or a raised road near the back of the exhibit with a tunnel underneath for the animals to travel through. Both would give me two distinct exhibits enabling easier management of males.

I would be willing to combine all three of these exhibits into a massive mixed species exhibit which some off exhibit housing available for surplus males.

A small gift shop and snack stand called the General Store will be tucked in here near the bison. It will be clearly divided into two parts. The gift shop will sell a variety of regular gift shop items. The snack shop will offer ice cream, popsicles, freezies, drinks, and beaver tails.

There will also be a play area called Dino Dig. It is being placed here to show kids that Alberta’s Badlands were once home to dinosaurs.The dino dig will feature two areas. First it will have a giant sandbox with various dinosaurs buried below the sand and kids will be offered shovels and brushes to clear the skeletons below. There will be shade structures giving little ones some cover. The second area will feature a dino play area. Kids will climb a ladder concealed in a tree to slid down a Apatosaurus. A small baby slide will be beside it for the toddlers. Kids can swing on pterodactyls. Stegosauruses can be bridges between platforms on the play structure. They can climb up the sail on a Dimetrodon to get up onto the play structure much like a ladder. An Albertosaurus (likely to be called a T-Rex by kids) will be guarding a pile of bones that will form a climbing structure. Kids will also be able to ride bouncy dinosaurs on springs. There will be big dino eggs kids can crawl into for great photo ops for parents. The monkey bars will be the rib cage of a dead dino. All around the play area will be shaded benches for parents.

Across the pathway from the field exhibits will at first be a bird complex featuring the prairies most endangered birds, Ferruginous Hawks,Northern Burrowing Owls,Greater Sage Grouse and Greater Prairie Chickens, who will all be part of extensive breeding programs both on exhibit and in the breeding center.

The first up would be the Greater Prairie Chicken. I would import a substantial genetically diverse flock from areas all over their US range. Being extinct in Canada it is important for us to reestablish a health population in the prairies and we could do so with the help of the provincial governments who might help fund the project. They would have a pen that would house a male and female and be left to grow naturally with tall grasses to simulate the prairies. The exhibit would be on the larger side. Chicks would be reared in the pen but be removed following fledging.

Sharing the same barn covered in vines, would be the Greater Sage Grouse who is under the same threats that killed off our prairie chickens. Their exhibit will also house a mating pair plus any chicks but their exhibit will need to be filled with Sagebrush which fills the majority of their diet. However if it is deemed in the best interest of breeding that females with chicks been in the breeding center than males alone will be displayed. I would like to offer females to one male during breeding season so that he will really show off.

Along the path leading away from the prairies to the wetlands will be the second bird complex featuring the Ferruginous Hawk and Northern Burrowing Owl.

The burrowing owl would be next to the grouse in a large exhibit to foster the owls living in a small colony. If the owls don’t like it we will maintain a breeding pair and try to keep offspring with the parents until maturity. The exhibit will be somewhat flat with man made burrows through out under the ground and a deep concrete base with walls to prevent the owls from digging to freedom. Several perches will be offered to encourage natural behaviours. If they can catch insects to eat so be it. A squirrel makes a mistake, oh well. An important feature of this exhibit will be a pair of TV screens featuring live shots of the burrows so people can watch them scurry from one place to another. it would be neat if it could be rigged to allow the guests to switch cams being watched because they won't always be in one place. They are such interesting creatures that a keeper talk here would do nicely. If they aren't visible the talk could move to one of the other birds.

As an animal that inhabit a variety of habitats the last bird up would be the Ferruginous Hawks. A pair would be kept in a large grassy pen with the barn in back disguised as a rock wall with ledges and caves. There will also be trees for them to perch in. Breeding will strongly be encouraged with other hawks in the breeding centre so if the pair out on display isn't comfortable breeding it will be alright.

Tucked into the path here I would like to place a circle of covered wagons to represent our pioneer days. There will be a whole left in the circle so that people can go inside where there will be logs to sit on around a fire pit thats purely for decoration. This would be a good spot for groups to hold talks during a tour or for people to just rest in the shade. Both of the wagons near the entrance will be open to look in. It will give people some idea what early settlers of the prairies carried with them on their journeys.

Across from the mustangs and prairie chickens will be the hilly complex featuring black tailed prairie dogs and black footed ferrets. The hill will be divided into two exhibits with three tunnels running under the hill. A central tunnel will be lit with glass all around so you can hopefully see the animals under the ground. Under each exhibit will be a small lit glass crawl through tunnel for kids that empties into the main tunnel. These little tunnels will also feature two bubbles up into the exhibits so the kids can come face to face with the animals.

The ferret exhibit will be facing the mustangs. Their hill will be broken into several smaller exhibits due to the solitary nature of the ferrets. I would like to try retired breeders or surplus males (neutered if necessary) in small groupings or pairs to make things look as interesting as possible for guests and provide mental stimulation to the ferrets. However if doesnt work then single animals in the exhibits will work. They exhibits will feature grasses and some close ground shrubs.

The prairie dog exhibit will be escape proofed using concrete much like the owls but they will have 6ft below the ground available to dig down to help with winter weather. Starter tunnels will be offered to the prairie dogs but then they can build from there. It will provide them with something stimulating and fun to do. Every couple of years the animals could be removed and the exhibit dug up to encourage new work. I don’t know the risk of predators over both the prairie dog and ferret exhibits. If necessary they will be netted to keep them safe. The prairie dogs will live in a natural colony but younger animals will be sterilized as necessary to prevent breeding and inbreeding. I would like keepers to work with the colony to train the animals to potentially come out and visit with guests as ambassadors. A scheduled keeper talk wouldn't be necessary just time out with the little ones feeding and handling them. If people want to talk to the keeper thats fine.

Beside the hill will be a complex of five exhibits. In the closest exhibit to the hill will be a pair of breeding American Badgers. While the badgers are not considered endangered as a species they are endangered in Ontario which makes them important to the zoo. We will breed with the goal of releasing animals into the wild when we have enough. The male and female will be kept together if possible until babies are due and repaired with the babies are grown. The babies who have left mom will spend the next season in the pen next to their parents before being moved to the breeding centre for training for release. While we breed to possibly release they will not be in the breeding centre as there are robust populations elsewhere. Both exhibits will be badger proofed and feature tunnels, shrubs and grasses.

The other three exhibits will feature two pairs of swift foxes, with a spare exhibit for additional space or handling maturing pups. The zoo will have additional swift foxes breeding in the breeding centre. All three exhibits will be fairly similar. The exhibits will have shrubs, small hills, several tunnels with dens under the ground in case a female wishes to give birth on exhibit and lots of room for the family. All of the dens will have hatches hidden under false rocks so keepers can get in to check on newborns if they are born on exhibit. Like the burrowing owls I would like to have cams but focused only on dens with pups. It would be more temporary.

This will bring you to the end of the prairies.
 
Desert Delight
North of the plains smaller exhibits and across from the pronghorns and bison will be the Desert Delight. It will feature a few outdoor exhibits for the larger animals, as well as a small pavilion.

Outside exhibits will feature animals that can live in the desert as well as other habitats which is fitting because the pronghorns, mustangs, burrowing owls and badgers can also live in the deserts. They all nicely tie together those zones. There will be homes for bobcats, coyotes and kit foxes. All of the exhibits will skirt the outside of the pavilion with housing contained inside.

First up would be the coyotes which would have two exhibits wrapping around the south end of the pavilion. The coyotes would be kept in small neutered packs of orphaned or nuisance Ontario born animals. Their exhibit will be kept scruffy looking. Minimal short grasses, small sparse shrubs, big boulders for them to climb on and rest under in the shade, fallen logs and a small watering hole. If the animals get along both pens could be open to everyone. If they cannot get along they will be kept in two groups. The coyote pack will only have the outdoor exhibit space because they can handle winter.

On either side of the coyote will be entrances to the pavilion. Moving further north and on the east side of the pavilion will be an exhibit for the bobcats. It will house a rescued grouping, whether an orphan sibling set or an unrelated pair. Breeding would only occur if requested by the SSP. Now Ontario animals are not the right subspecies for the desert but why import animals when we should be able to get our own stock. Their exhibit will be decorated similarly to the coyotes with a few sparse trees, rocky ledges and caves available. They will also receive an indoor exhibit with sand, rocks, ledges, fallen hollow logs, shrubs, cacti and a small pool. Hopefully the bobcats will want to spend their winter mostly outside.

Beside them will be an exhibit for kit foxes. They would have both an indoor and outdoor exhibit to help them through the winter. They will be given the daily choice to go inside or out year round. Outside their exhibit will be sandy, with rocks, burrows, and shrubs. Inside they will be offered a soft sandy open air exhibit with rocks, cacti, shrubs, fallen logs and tunnels. If the bobcats have decided to spend the day outside the kit foxes will be offered access to that indoor exhibit as well while the bobcats will be given access to the kit foxes outdoor exhibit. It’s a great way to increase both animals space.

The pavilion itself I would it to be mostly glass to let as much light in as possible but again its up to the designers. The feel inside though should be like a deserted desert mining site. The mine is being reclaimed by the desert and its animals. Lots of brown rock work at the back of exhibits and as the boundaries, cacti throughout. I would love to gets some saguaro cacti in particular growing. The footpaths will be done to look like wooden planks.

Having entered the pavilion by the Kit Foxes along the northern edge will be a dark tunnel with caves on either side. The tunnel will be done to look like a mine shaft. These two caves will be the homes of my desert bat species California Leaf Nosed Bats and Mexican Long Tongued Bats. The caves will be decorated to match the mine shaft with rail tracks, carts, pick axes, miners hats and broken timbers. In the California Leaf Nosed Bat exhibit I would like it specially fitted so that keepers can release the various insects they feed on alive so that natural bat behaviours are encouraged. In the Mexican Long Tongued Bat exhibit there will be fake flowers and cacti that will offer them nectar because the dark probably won't allow live plants to do well. To add variety to the exhibit I would also like to include Cave Swallows, lizards, snakes, and turtles who wouldn't pose a threat to the bats or have the bats be a threat to them. Obviously keepers will have to help make those decisions.

At the center of the pavilion I would like to have a pair of huge open air exhibits featuring Collared Peccary, Antelope Jackrabbits, Harris's Antelope Squirrel, and Gambel's Quails, provided everyone can live nicely together. The peccaries will be kept in a group consisting of one male and two females with whatever young that are born. The other animals will be kept together in the second exhibit. The jackrabbits and squirrels don't need to be breeding so they can be kept as single gendered sets. The squirrels will be offered burrows and plenty of hiding spots. Unless we need more quails the eggs will be either reduced in number or completely removed. I would like both groups of animals to be able to rotate exhibits for stimulation so possibly I would let the squirrel tunnels freely run under the whole space. It would depend on their safety with the peccaries.

As well as housing the mammal exhibit in the central portion of the exhibit will be a free flight aviary. The cacti, and bushes will provide homes and cover for the smaller birds. They will also be provided with rock ledges and small crevices in which to nest. Birds will include Hooded Orioles, Lesser Goldfinches, Vermilion Flycatchers, Black Phoebes, Ash-throated Flycatchers, Purple Martins, Black-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Western Tanagers, Ladder Backed Woodpeckers, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Cactus Wrens.
At the southern end of the pavillion you would find an abandoned mining camp. It would be decorated with all kinds of mining tools and accessories, pick axes, mining hats with lanterns, lanterns, shovels, mining pans, ect. The walls here will be made to look like old timber planks. The animals will be in natural looking exhibits behind class boxed in by wood. It should have a very rustic, rusty feel.

In this section of the pavilion you will find the exhibits of the reptiles and insects. All of the exhibits will be natural settings with sand, appropriate plants, rocks, wood, and special mining touches like maybe a fake piece of gold, skulls, and tools. All exhibits will be large for their species. Whenever possible these animals will be kept in multiple animal groupings. So what will live here in the camp? Gila Monsters, Bearded Lizards, Diamond Back Rattlesnake, Collared Lizard, Desert Grassland Whiptail Lizard, Zebra Tailed Lizard San Esteban Chuckwalla, Desert Tortoise, Desert Iguana, Desert Horned Lizard, Eastern glass lizard, Sonoran Green Toad, Red Spotted Toad, Canyon Tree Frog, Sonoran Mud Turtle, Western Banded Gecko, Common Kingsnake, Western Hognosed Snake, Sonoran Shovelnose Snake, Hairy Desert Scorpion, Tail Less Whip Scorpion, Arizona Blond Tarantula, Mexican Red-kneed Tarantula and butterflies. I’m sure there are other animals that would do well in here too. Keepers could help fill it up and make sure the mixed species exhibits are safe for all of the animals. I could really see a ton more bugs provided they are big enough to see.

Also in this area will be a large exhibit for the Giant Kangaroo Rat. Yes Ord’s Kangaroo Rats are endangered in Alberta but Giant Kangaroo Rats are endangered everywhere. We would have a colony of them with just females on exhibit. A males will be kept behind scenes and when we need more a female will be removed to breed and rear young then returned to the exhibit. We dont need a million kangaroo rats. The exhibit will be unique here in that there will be an above ground space available but also underground viewing of their tunnels. I want the exhibit to be big so people can see them really hopping around.
Along the west side of the pavilion will be the predatory birds. For the safety of the free flight birds all of these birds will be kept in enclosures that are cut out of the rock with glass windows for viewing.

First up would be a pair of Elf Owls. Their exhibit will be interesting. I would like to have two big fake saguaro cacti growing out of the corners of the exhibit. At a reasonable height there will be hollows in the cactus for them to nest in with one way mirrors for guest while giving the birds privacy. Inside the exhibit will be more cacti and wooden perches, hopefully with a big cactus in the middle of the exhibit. They will also have an outdoor flight pen. Obviously the cacti wouldn't survive our winters so instead they will get lots of wood structures to perch on.

Next door there will be an enclosure for Greater Roadrunners. They will have sand, rocks, shrubs, cacti, tall grasses and fallen logs. I would keep a pair of them but breeding isn’t necessary. It would also be a good exhibit to house extra adult tortoises, and jackrabbits in. They will also have access to their neighbours exhibit during the summer when the owls and eagles are out in their flight pen.

Lastly there would be a decent sized indoor pen for a pair of Golden Eagles. The eagles will be animals who were injured in the wild but are not releasable. Their indoor exhibit will be much smaller than their outdoor flight pen but that is because I would expect the eagles to be outside a fair bit of the winter. Inside they will have a desert themed exhibit complete with cacti, wooden timbers, and nesting platform. Outside they will have a huge enclosure that would be decorated to fit more with the wetlands exhibits to the west of the pavilion. It would feature tall trees, grasses, bushes, a big platform for a nest, rocks, and a small pool near the visitors fencing.
 
I'm loving your ideas so far. The species lists are great because I love knowing the exact animals you want in your zoo.

One of my favourite ideas of yours is adding a dinosaur dig area in the prairies. At most zoos, they don't really fit in, but in your's it seems like a perfect fit. I also really like that you put mustangs in because you often forget that they're a North American animal, even if they're introduced. I'm still debating whether or not they'll be in my zoo.

It still might be another week until my first plans are up because I have a lot of details to go through.
 
Take your time Arcticwolf.

I love knowing exactly what I want. I actually have master lists for each area. I used AZA TAGs to make sure I was picking animals that would be part of a larger breeding program or were at least accessible. If it was on phase out I tried to ignore it... some I said screw that to because I just want it and know I can get it from Europe. North America is a little more flexible because I can acquire rescues. The rest is more reasonable... except when I hit Australia. I will beg, borrow and buy up the most unique collection of Australian animals outside of Australia itself. For animals like the devils I am willing to buy an entire North American foundation stock. Others like the platypus I will just return the young to Australia or give them away to other zoos who will have to fight their own battle for mates. Frankly they are so hard to breed offspring probably wont be a problem.

I thought the dino dig was fitting. I know kids love dinos. I like going to the Drumheller when I was a teen and going on a dino dig so I thought it was a good spot to place a little dino delight.

With the mustangs I dont like to hear that they are being culled and that it often means death for the horses. Its not their fault people let them go and they have become a wild population. I understand their impact on their ecosystem needs to be considered because essentially they are an invasive species. I just figured if we could take in some and prevent deaths, maybe get others who love horses to buy mustangs who would be culled instead of normal horses maybe a few more could be save. Im not saying we rebel against the culls. Just help a few more live. They are very much intertwined with North American history.

I will be interested to see what you think when I post the wetlands maybe later tonight. I think I came up with a very interesting way to house the fish, reptiles, amphibians and bugs.

Oh and I got rid of the mental block on Indo Malaya. Its planned, just not written up yet but I have time if I post one section a day Im still about 13 days away from it. At least Im already done the oceans and penguins to help get me ahead.
 
Wild Wetlands
To the west of the desert and prairies will be Wild Wetlands an area devoted to animals who inhabit our wetlands, lakes and rivers. The whole area will be built up around a central lake with natural vegetation surrounded by a wood fence with chicken wire filling in the wooden frame. I’m fencing it off to discourage people from coming too close. I would like it to go natural. Wild geese, mallards and trumpeter swans will be encouraged to live here. Rafts will exist to help the swans build nests. Some turtles, frogs and toads will be released here to help establish the lake.

The lake itself will be a habitat for Ontario fish. The lake being man made will have underground viewing. Around the entire circumference of the lake will be an underground, heated pavilion. The pavilion will be more like a very wide tunnel that surrounds the lake but it will be bright and spacious feeling. Around the lake there will be tons of windows looking into the pond. One will never know exactly what they will see in any given window at any time. However if this is unfeasible I have a second plan. The lake will still exist but false tanks will be built into the tunnel system to make it appear like you’re looking into the lake but they will really be self contained exhibits.

Living in the lake, or tanks if necessary, would be Large Mouth Bass, Small Mouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Walleye, Pike, Green Sunfish and any other fish the experts think belong.

The overall feel of the pavilion will be a lakeside cottage. The walls and floors will be done to look like a log cabin. The exhibits will look like they are holes in the wall cut out for windows. Muskoka chairs and benches will be placed at various spots to give people a break from the elements and a chance to rest and relax. Overhead lighting will use panels that look like the sky to replicate a skylight. I would put in skylights but from the ground I don’t want to break up the wetland feel. A sound track will be added to the pavilion so that people feel immersed in a wetland habitat with the cries of loons, the songs of various songbirds, the call of moose, ect. There will be four exits from the tunnel that will put people out near either the desert pavilion, the prairies, the coastal, or the forest.

Inside the pavilion there will be tons of other tanks for the endangered and threatened fish of Ontario. Not being a fish person and wanting as many offspring to survive as possible to give over to the Ministry of Natural Resources for restocking efforts I would let experts determine the designs of the exhibits and what sorts of mixed exhibits will work. There will be tons of space so many of the tanks could go pretty much floor to ceiling and as deep and wide as necessary to make the fish happy and provide a dynamic exhibit. The fish being kept in here would be Spotted Gar, American Ee, Bowfin, Black Redhorse, Blackstripe Topminnow, Bridle Shiner, Channel Darter, Cutlip Minnow, Eastern Sand Darter, Grass Pickerel, Gravel Chub, Lake Chubsucker, Pugnose Minnow, Pugnose Shiner, Redside Dace, River Redhorse, Silver Chub, Silver Shiner, Spotted Mudsucker, and Warmouth. All of these exhibits would be kept in the same area to utilize the same life support systems.

Also in the underground pavilion would be the zoo’s collection of endangered and threatened Ontario reptiles and amphibians. Again we would be working with the ministry to help rebuild wild populations. They would have their own section of the tunnels. Depending on my ability to get the animals I would try to get, Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamanders, Jefferson’s Salamanders, Northern Dusky Salamanders, Small Mouthed Salamanders, Blanchard’s Cricket Frogs, Blue Racers, Butler’s Garter Snakes, Eastern Fox Snakes, Eastern Hognosed Snakes, Grey Ratsnakes, Lake Erie Water Snakes, Massasauga Rattlesnakes, Queensnakes, Common Five Lined Skinks, Blanding’s Turtles, Eastern Musk Turtles, Northern Map Turtles, Snapping Turtles, Spiny Softshells, Spotted Turtles and Wood Turtles. I would like as much mixing in the exhibits as possible. Each exhibit would be built to best replicate the animals natural environment so that breeding is encouraged. Working with officials I would like to see a majority of the offspring born at the zoo be released into the wild.

The frogs, salamanders and snakes would end up in fairly traditional looking exhibits. The turtles I would like to have in a variety of settings. I would like to have an indoor pond for them with rock work, a waterfall, several leveled pools, water lilies and other vegetation, surrounded by a glass fence to keep the turtles in and people out. I would probably pick smaller turtles for that. At either end of the reptile and amphibian area leading out of the building I would like the exits to be flanked by large turtle exhibits. They would look a lot like the current turtle exhibit in the Americas Pavilion where there would be a large space for underwater viewing sloping up with the stairs leading out to the dry land for the turtles. I just would like it supersized with ideal nesting sites for all of the turtles in the four exhibits.

I would like a dedicated bug wing too. What goes in it is anyones guess. I will leave that up to my bug expert. I’m sure some dragonflies, butterflies, ants, spiders, beetles, and snails will be present.

Turning to the northern end of the pavilion would be the star attractions, the North American Beaver and North American River Otter exhibits. The pavilion would provide the necessary underwater viewing for the exhibits because what fun is an otter and beaver exhibits if you cant see them swim. These would be huge exhibits providing them with tons of space. There will be fallen logs, and rocks in the pool which I would like kept sort of clean so they can be seen easily.

Before going into great detail about the beaver and otter exhibits I would like to return you to the surface. You have just looped around the inside of the wetland pavilion and pop back out by the Golden Eagle exhibit. Looping around the lake above ground is now your goal. By the outside of the desert exhibits there will be a picnic ground under a large wooden shade structure. The area will provide a great view of the lake.

Heading south to the Ferruginous Hawk exhibit at the edge of the North American zone you will find the Osprey exhibit. The zoo will take in a pair of rescued osprey who will be allowed to breed if they want. To encourage natural fishing behaviour from the osprey they will have an enormous flight pen with a good sized fish pond in the center. It will be a very natural exhibit with full grown trees, a rock cliff disguising their barn. Lots of places offered for nesting and perching. The pond will be stocked with live fish every morning with a portion of their daily diet. They still need to be fed dead fish to deliver medication and supplements if necessary. A second smaller flight pen will be available to house offspring and allow for easier shifting for cleaning and maintenance. Ultimately their pen will take up the entire southeastern section of the wetlands.

A pathway will be beside the Ospreys leading south out of the North American zone and leading back to the paddle boat pond along the back of the Barnyard. From there you could go south to the plaza, west to South America or northwest to the Oceans pavilion.

Across the pathway will be the water bird exhibits. First up will be the first non Canadian animal in this section of the zoo, Wood Storks. Being the only stork in North America I want to display it. There will be a good sized fully covered exhibit featuring a small flock of eight adults. Up close to the guests will be a pond with natural vegetation growing around the edges. They will have several nice trees to perch and nest in. Unfortunately we can't provide them the mangrove trees they prefer outside but there will be a very natural indoor exhibit laid out in a similar fashion in their barn. The barn will be visible in the winter through a glass wall. In the spring and summer the barn space can be used to rear any stork chicks that might fail to thrive under their parents care or just to provide additional space.

Next door will be a flock of Sandhill Cranes. The cranes will be juvenile cranes from the previous seasons chicks. As the they reach maturity they will be shifted to the breeding centre where they will be paired with their future mate or sent off to a reintroduction facility. The juveniles will live in a marshy exhibit with a large water area filled with grasses, reeds, and other plant life. Perches will be in the form of fallen trees and trees. During the winter they will be off exhibit in the barn.

Next up will be the Whooping Cranes. The exhibit would only ever house surplus males and retired breeders. All breeding aged animals the zoo kept would be in the breeding centre along with their offspring. Their exhibit will be very similar to the sandhill crane’s exhibit. They will have a large marshy exhibit with trees and shrubs. They too will be held off exhibit during the winter to keep them safe.
Beside their exhibit will be a nonfunctioning ultralight plane. Here kids can get in and pretend to fly but the message posted around here will be how the ultralights are being used to help restore wild crane populations.

Next would be a large covered lake exhibit that depending on the needs of the inhabitants could be sectioned off. Ideally it will be a single large exhibit dedicated to water fowl that city dwellers rarely see. Hopefully all of the animals in here will be unreleasable rescues.
First up I would like to see a pair of Great Blue Herons. They breed better in a heronry but I would like to discourage breeding so having too many birds might have the wrong effect. If the exhibit needs to be subdivided Great White Egrets could be added. Joining the herons and possibly egrets would be pairs of Wood Ducks, Bufflehead Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Long Tailed Ducks, Ruddy Ducks, Cinnamon Teals, and Northern Shovelers. If breeding occurs I would like to look into releasing the offspring into the wild with wild flocks. The exhibit would provide for all of the birds with trees, shrubs, lilies, grasses, reeds and flowers. The birds would all have off exhibit housing for the winter but they would have the choice to go outside to their heated lake.

Tucked in by the pathway leading to the west and the coastal exhibits would be another great pay experience, a tree top walk. Guests could check in at a forestry station and get hooked up for a tree top walk along the forested section of the zoo running along the Little Rouge. The course would zig zag aback and forth along the river. There would be a second station towards the outer edge of the zoo in the Eurasian section.

Across another pathway leading towards the forest would be the last of the lakes exhibits, the above ground portions of the the beaver and otter exhibits. At the northern edge of the lake a big fake beaver dam will be constructed with a small stream of exhibit water running gently under a wooden bridge. The idea here is to create the idea that our beavers have build their own beaver pond and demonstrate how beavers shape the landscape. The water will run into the first of two beaver exhibits. The water in the exhibit will be as close to the path level as is deemed safe with the otters. The wall would be made of rocks. In the eastern corner of the exhibit will be the beaver lodge with pavilion level viewing via a one way mirror or a cam streaming live video to a life size monitor. There will be fallen logs, rocks, shrubs and lots of trees protected by metal skirts. Daily I would like to have already cut trees brought in and slid into preset holes in the ground so the beavers can naturally chop down trees, just not the exhibit dressings. None of the trees would be huge just something for them to snack on or improve their lodge with. It would provide the beavers with some good stimulation and encourage natural behaviours which might lead to breeding. The second beaver exhibit would loop in behind and be home to either a second set of beavers or house grown offspring waiting for new homes. At times one set of beavers could have access to both exhibits. The second exhibit however would not feature an underground viewing and the lodge could be placed in a more convenient place for keepers. In both exhibits there would also be bass, trout and young snapping turtles who will be removed if the beavers have kits. I would like to have one animal or one of the pairs trained to be an education animal. They would come out daily to meet and greet before the otter feeding. It would be a great way to really show off the size and special adaptations of a beaver.

The otters will also have two exhibits each sporting a breeding pair. As male otters do not rear their young the males will either be off exhibit together or off in the beaver ponds if the individuals do well with the beavers while the females rear young. The second exhibit will loop behind the first. Their exhibits will be big with a waterfall cascading down into both exhibits. The waterfalls will be gentle slopes to encourage the otters to slide down them. There will also be plenty of logs and rocks for them to climb on and under. They will have trees and shrubs as well but they won't need the protection the beavers did. A fun feature would be the release of lunch. During the keeper talk keepers would release a few live fish or crayfish for the otters to catch and eat. Humane for the fish… not really but very entertaining for the guests and more importantly the otters.
 
Canadian Coasts
Just to tie in the animals that live along our countries shores we will make a brief stop at the oceans pavilion, well outside it, at Canadian Coasts. As previously stated there will be no dolphins, whales and porpoises despite the clear excess of space. And despite my desire to have manatees I think I will pass on them as well because I would only like to house animals in need of rehabilitation and it would likely be a nightmare to bring up and get back across the border. All of the exhibits here will feature exhibit space both inside the pavilion and outside. The winters might be too harsh for the the seals, sea lions and otters kept here.

The first thing you would come upon is lighthouse and pier that would serve as the zoos first major restaurant. The lighthouse will serve as a look out for people with stairs inside and an observation deck on the outside. It will provide some impressive views of the coastal and wetland exhibits and perhaps further. At the base of the lighthouse will be the kitchen for the restaurant, Victoria Harbour. The peir will have umbrella covered tables. Underneath the restaurant will be a second dining area that will feature an enormous glass wall that allows diners to view the seals and sea lions swimming in their exhibit. The restaurant would serve traditional American food as well as seafood dishes. All prices would be kept in the affordable range. The restaurant could also serve as an events venue.

Along the southern edge of the pavilion will be a massive exhibit for Harbour Seals and California Sea Lions. I would like Stellar Sea Lions but they could be difficult to source and probably harder to place offspring. However if they fall in my lap I wont say no. Rescues would be ideal to provide new genetics to both breeding programs. The exhibit would be home to 6 sea lions (a male and 5 females) and 3 harbour seals (a male and 2 females) and a pair of American White Pelicans. There will be tons of space for offspring to live as part of the group until a new home is found.

I’m sure guest would love a show but I do not want to be accused of exploiting them for entertainment so no shows. They will get regular training on exhibit and if you get lucky and see training so be it. There will be keeper talks and feedings.

The outdoor exhibit will feature an enormous pool that wraps around the southeastern corner of the pavilion. The pool will be pretty deep to provide everyone with tons of space to swim to helpfully curb stereotypical behaviors. Guests will be able to look down on the animals swimming and sunning from above. The backdrop and haul outs will be rock work. There will be boulders in and out of the water, drift wood, a raft for hopping out of the water and nesting sites for the pelicans.

The indoor exhibit will have a good sized pool and wide haul outs. The land will look like a rocky beach littered with driftwood and rocks. They will be provided with plenty of heated and cooled patches.

Under the water there will be a long glass tunnel for guests to travel through and enjoy watching the sea lions and seals swimming all around them. The tunnel would start at the southwestern edge of the exhibit and loop along under the northern coastal exhibits as well.

The northern exhibits would be homes for Northern Fur Seals and Northern Sea Otters. They would be kept in separate exhibits. Like the seals and sea lions they will have keeper talks and feedings.

First up would be the sea otter exhibit. It will be the smallest of the three exhibits but still a great size for the otters. The land portion will be look like a small rocky beach with various sized rocks, driftwood and a few small trees. In the pool the ground will be rocky and their food will be dropped in alive so they must hunt for their meal.

The indoor exhibit will be a little more dynamic. The land space will be very much the same but in the pool there will be kelp and other plant life to further encourage natural behaviour. Their prey would be added to the exhibit daily as well. The zoo would aim to hold a male and two females plus young but whatever animals we can get from rescue groups will be fine.

To the north would be a Northern Fur Seal exhibit. Their exhibit will be almost as large a the sea lion exhibit but with the size of the otter exhibit taken off. Why the smaller exhibit for the bigger animal? I will have fewer fur seals than the combined exhibit. Plus I would like the indoor and outdoor exhibits with the sea otters to be connected. If the otters are outside the seals could have their outdoor exhibit plus both indoor exhibits. If the otter are inside they cul have both pools while the otters get the inside pools. Both their indoor and outdoor exhibits will look very much like the sea lion exhibits. It will be home to a family group with a male and three or four adult females plus pups.

Before leaving the coast there will be one last stop, the Splash Zone, a water play area for the kids. By the time someone has made it this far into the zoo their little ones might need a break from the summer heat so it’s a great place for a refreshing play area. It will also be a fantastic way to draw people into the zoo. A nice large waterpark at the heart of the zoo free to all guests.

Splash Zone will be themed with ocean animals to tie into the area. Looping around the entire zone will be a wide lazy river to keep older kids and adults cool. At the tube center borrowing tubes will be free and you can continue to go around as long as you would like so long as there is not someone waiting in line to take their turn.

Inside the river will be a big splash pad available to everyone but probably more fun for those 12 and under. The pad will be painted tan to resemble sand and a soft blue to look like water. In the centre of the splash pad will be a big ship that looks like it crashed on the rocks. Kids can climb the deck using stairs or ropes (for the older ones). On the other side of the deck will be a wide but short and straight water slide into a small pool just big and deep enough for landing safely. Inside the ship there will be rows of water cannons the kids can aim at others and shoot. Around the ship will be all kinds of sea life determined to get the kids wet. All of the animals will be built life sized so kids can make comparisons of themselves to the animals. I know most are just there to get wet but if they learn something by accident great. Leaping out of the water will be arching killer whales that spray water in an arch. There will be dolphins almost done leaping out of the water who also spay water. A big humpback whale tail will be rising out of the water and around it water will shoot up from the ground to simulate the spash of the tail. A pod of belugas will be popping their heads up and shooting water in the air at each other from their mouths. A big jelly fish will have water raining down from its dome. A gliding mantaray will have water pouring off its back and wings perched high in the air. Sea turtles will be throughout shooting water out of their shells. On a high rock will be an octopus spraying water from its waving and spinning tentacles. There might be a couple of them. A tall pier will jut out into the water and have pelicans standing on posts tipping water from their full bills much on the tipping bucket principle. A big clam (not to scale) will open and close at random and shoot water from the pearl. It won't close completely so little hands can't get caught.

Part of the space will also be devoted to big waterslides for the older siblings to enjoy. There will be at least 5 tall and wild slides zigzagging all over the place and dumping into a central pool supervised by lifeguards. To get into this fenced off zone kids will need to be over a certain height.

There will be picnic tables that are big sea turtles or starfish. Benches for parents will be large eels. Garbage cans made to look like anemones. The whole place will be monitored by lifeguards.
 
Forest Frontier
Heading east again from the coast you will encounter the Forest Frontier, home to various forest dwelling creatures.

First up across the pathway leading to the coast just north of the ducks will be Moose as they are a natural transition animal from the wetlands to the forest. It will be home to a bull and two cows plus calves. The exhibit will feature two or three yards that can be combined. It will allow the bull to be separated if necessary and assist in separating calves from mothers. The barn will be in the northwestern corner and serve as a barn for white tailed deer and elk. Along the eastern edge of the exhibits will be a large pond where the moose can wade in amongst reeds, grasses and other water plants to feed. The middle stretch of the exhibit will be mostly open field while the back of the exhibit will feature trees and shrubs to give the moose privacy if they want it. The third yard will be off exhibit and could house and rear orphaned moose if necessary after quarantine.

North of the moose would be a large White Tailed Deer and elk exhibit holding rescued animals. Elks are already with the bison but this would enable males to be physically separated from females or allow for social flexibility. With the deer the bucks will be given vasectomies to prevent breeding but not inhibit antler growth. They will have a large treed exhibit with a small pond up close to guests and feeding stations nearby. The terrain will be varied and down the center of the exhibit will be a mock road to visually demonstrate the dangers of animals crossing the road. The exhibit can also have several yards.

Just outside their exhibit I would like to have several cars that have been in crashes with wildlife. We wouldn't buy a car that had resulted in a human fatality but I want the wrecked cars to show people that they need to be aware in forested areas. The cars will have been in accidents with deer, bears, moose, wolves or coyotes and a large bird. Plaques will be on the ground near them explaining what animal it hit and give people tips on avoiding animal collisions. Not a terribly animal friendly exhibit but if it convinces people to drive a little more carefully it will be well worth it.
To the east of the deer across there will be a pathway leading to the Asian zone.

Across the pathway will be a pair of exhibits for black bears. The bears will either be orphaned cubs, young nuisance bears or former pets needing sanctuary. All of them will be sterilized and kept in small social settings if possible. The first exhibit will be set up to look like a camp site set up near a lake. The bears will have access to a nice deep pool to swim in. At the side of their pool will be a camp site making all of the classic mistakes that lead to bear encounters. There will be a large open tent structure. Not a real tent but some kind of material that can stand up to the bears so they could use the tent as a den. Around the fire pit (obviously without a fire) the keepers will leave pots and pans with food in them and around them. A non bear proof garbage can will be provided so they can rip it open. Artificial fish bones will be embedded in the rockwork close to the glass as if discarded by a camper. Winding through the camp will be an obvious looking animal trail. And by the lake will be wild berry bushes for the bears to enjoy. Both exhibits will be well treed except at its perimeter. The second exhibit will be a natural looking river exhibit to mimic their natural environment. A flowing stream will run from the back corner of the exhibit and wind through it. The stream will be wide enough they can't just jump it and deep enough they will get wet up to their shoulders. In the winter the river can be made dry saving on energy while the bears sleep. Like the other exhibit wild berries will grow throughout the summer. Their river will be stocked with fish occasionally to provide enrichment. Caves and fallen logs will give them a place to rest while cooled rocks will bring them towards the glass in the summer.

To the south of the second bear exhibit would be an ideal campsite demonstrating all of the things campers, fishermen, hunters and hikers can do to avoid bears and if necessary protect themselves. The camp would show exactly how to store food, cook safely, dispose of waste, protect garbage, avoid bear areas, and explain how to defend yourself. The displays will be paired with plaques explaining everything. And several times over the course of the summer ministry officials will be invited in to give bear and wildlife talks located a the camp or the cabin if its rainy. During these demonstration weekends the bears will be given even more chance to wreck a campsite. Real tents will be brought in. Food improperly secured in trees, encouraging the bears to climb. Coolers ripped apart. And anything else we can do wrong to prove a point.

Beside the bears will be four lynx exhibits housing two pairs or sibling sets of Canadian Lynx. As they are part of a SSP breeding program breeding will be done at their request. For this purpose there will be the off exhibit yards for the males or maturing young if necessary. The exhibit space will be made to be flexible so either of the pairs could use one or more of the yards at once. Both exhibits will have tons of trees and bushes, rocky ledges to perch on and caves to rest in.

The lynx and bear enclosures will be interconnected so that on any given day you could see a lynx or bear in any of the exhibits. It will be more likely they will be in their own exhibits but the keepers need flexibility to switch things up to provide enrichment.

To the south and along the eastern edge of the forest will be a fox complex that would house Red and Grey Foxes in four exhibits. Their barn will be covered in rockwork and they will be visible through glass and mesh. All of the fox exhibits will feature trees, shrubs, caves, tunnels, rocks, and varied terrain. Trees in the exhibits will need to be carefully monitored to prevent the grey foxes from climbing out of the exhibit. Both species of fox will be given access to each of the exhibits on a rotating basis. Sometimes they will have access to multiple exhibits. The red foxes will be grown orphans and be either a pair or sibling set. The males will be neutered to avoid unnecessary kits. The grey foxes will be two mating pair and their offspring. While endangered in Ontario breeding will only be done on the recommendation of the SSP and only one pair at a time because we don’t have space for two grown litters unless they head to the Urban Zoo’s predator holding.

From the fox exhibit guests will have visual access to the golden eagles being held in the desert but who also fit in with the desert and wetland habitats.

At the centre of this area will be a big log cottage, called Conservation Station, that will be home to an education centre, perfect for school groups and zoo camps. The upper story will house two classrooms decorated with large photos of Ontario Wildlife, log stools, long wooden tables and a projector screen with projector for presentations. The lessons taught in these rooms will be varied and interactive. On the ground floor will be a big interactive room. During the peak season it will be open to guests but in the winter it will provide some space for school classes to blow off steam. Activities down here will all be educational and fun. There will be an animal tracks station with a touch pad game where students must match the animal to its foot print. Kids could play on easy (fairly simple guesses to Ontario wildlife), intermediate (a mix of prints where you could have to distinguish between similar foot prints and using more varied Canadian wildlife) and hard (where you could have to match foot prints of animals from all over the world which could be very similar). There would be 8 of these animal tracks pads around a central table. There would be an activity called Turtle Tip where kids get inside an upsidedown turtle shell and have to try to right themselves. At beaver dam a water table will be set up with a running river and kids and they will be challenged to build a beaver dam to block a flowing stream using to scale sticks and small paddles to replicate beaver’s tails. It will hopefully show them how hard it can be to build the dam. Rutt Ruckus will be a game where kids will strap on helmets and get to engage in wrestling using soft moose antlers. There will be a sled pull where kids can slid into a harness and try to pull a sled loaded down. Other interactive activities will be offered. Additionally there will be an Ontario animal touch table with all kinds of pelts, antlers, feathers, hides, skulls, claws, talons, and other things.

Outside of the station will be a spider web obstacle course made of criss crossing ropes. It will be another good spot for kids to just let loose and play.

Surrounded by the station to the north, the moose to the west and otters and beavers to the south would be another large free flight aviary. It would be home to some of the smaller birds who are at risk in Ontario. We will breed them and with any luck release the offspring into the wild or swap them for the eggs of wild parents to provide genetic diversity to our populations. There will be multiple pairs in the exhibit provided they get along. The forested exhibit will be home to Acadian Flycatchers, Canada Warblers, Cerulean Warblers, Golden-winged Warblers, Prothonotary Warblers, Henslow’s Sparrows, Yellow Breasted Chats, and Red Headed Woodpeckers. Along the pathways will be benches so people could sit and just enjoy the sights and sounds of the birds.

The aviary will be surrounded by several smaller exhibits for birds who could get stepped on or be a danger being startled from the ground. In these smaller exhibits there would be Eastern Whip-poor-wills and Northern Bobwhites who will be bred actively to bolster Ontario populations. It will also see homes for rescued Spruce Grouse, Crows, Ravens, Blue Jays and any species of woodpecker. These pens could also be opened up to allow the aviary birds more space and privacy to rear young if necessary.

Passing back by the golden eagle and foxes, along the northern edge of the Desert Pavilion will be owl exhibits for the Great Horned Owl and the Great Grey Owl. Both species will be animals that cannot be released. The work well here because they can live in the forests, deserts and mountains which we are just about to enter. The housing for the owls will be in the pavilion but they are expected to be on display year round. They will be allowed to rotate exhibits if they can be safely transferred. Both exhibits will feature trees, limbs, nesting platforms, fallen timber, ledges, and perches.

Now there is one more thing I would add to this section. Every year I would love to host a butterfly event where people can adopt a butterfly and release it into the wild right there at the zoo. The adoption fee would go directly to butterfly conservation. They would be available for adoption at the station. The majority of people will likely want to release the iconic monarch but we will also offer, Mourning Cloaks, Red-Spotted Purples, Viceroys, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Great Spangled Fritillaries, Question Marks, and Red Admirals. As an added bonus we will also release moths, pretty ones that won’t creep out little ones. Luna Moths, Polyphemus Moths, and Cecropia Moths. The zoo grounds will be planted with flowers that will help sustain those we release and their descendants.

Next up the Rockies.
 
I'm loving your North American region so far! All of the different sections seem very well thought out and I enjoy reading the species lists for the smaller animals in your zoo.

My favourite thing that I've seen so far are all of the forest animal activities in the Conservation Station. Some of your ideas were really creative.

My entrance, Antarctica and African regions will hopefully be done soon!
 
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