Saskatoon Forestry Farm and Zoo Saskatoon Forestry Farm and Zoo

[Yi Qi]

Two news: one about the dingoes:
Saskatoon zoo goes to the dogs: Dingoes have new home

And the other about the zoo's master plan.
Saskatoon zoo plans larger, more natural habitats

 

[Yi Qi]

And the other about the zoo's master plan.
Saskatoon zoo plans larger, more natural habitats

Another article about the master plan, this one from CBC News and has more specifics.

'Cougar Mountain' and 9 other additions being planned for the Saskatoon zoo

Honestly I think the brown bear exhibit's a bit too big and waste of space. Personally, I'd use part of it to build a polar bear exhibit.

 

[TZFan]

@Yi Qi the cost of a polar bear exhibit would be enormous for such a small zoo. While building it strong enough to hold them is probably on par with a grizzly, the pool and filtration system needed and cooling systems are going to really drive up the cost. Yes a pool is included in the plans but what you need for a grizzly in terms of a good pool is different from the polar bear. It's a cost that has held back far bigger zoos in Canada. Calgary lacks a polar bear exhibit (though one is on the table for long down the line). Granby would probably be next in size and I dont think they have any future plans for that. Vancouver aquarium certainly has the pools that would make a polar bear very happy... yes a large land space would also be needed but again not something they have ever mentioned that I am aware of. Edmonton with its cool environment lacks polar bears but has seals. If those bigger places dont have the iconic species which in Canada are easy enough to come by I highly doubt a tiny zoo like this one could afford it.

They also mention 1,9 million being available for the first 3 years of the project. That would be a drop in the bucket. Toronto is spending $3-4 million alone for their orang's outdoor exhibit which is a fraction the size of what is needed for polar bears, does not require a pool or filtration systems, and that doesn't include housing and keeper space. I would assume a polar bear exhibit would be far more expensive. Given the budget they have to work with they are doing the best they can for as many species as they can instead of a very expensive single creature.

 

[Yi Qi]

Some people from private groups are claiming the zoo's new master plan is infringing on a historical site.

Saskatoon zoo plan sparks concern about preserving heritage

 

[Yi Qi]

Apparently at least one dingo the held in the 1970's was actually a crossbreed between a dingo and a dog-coyote hybrid according to documents.

Faux paw: 1970s zoo 'dingo' in Saskatoon was actually domestic dog crossbreed

The article also mentions the Golden Gate Animal Park/Farm, which closed early on.

 

[Yi Qi]

Ma, an elderly capuchin monkey, will be euthanized, fourty-five years after arriving at the zoo from University of Saskatchewan in 1974.

Saskatoon zoo to euthanize capuchin monkey

 

[Yi Qi]

Ma, an elderly capuchin monkey, will be euthanized, fourty-five years after arriving at the zoo from University of Saskatchewan in 1974.

Saskatoon zoo to euthanize capuchin monkey

According to this article also about the decision, Ma is [thought to be] 47 years old, making her one of if not the oldest in captiity, if simply Canada.

Saskatoon zoo saying goodbye to Ma the capuchin monkey

 

[Yi Qi]

According to this article also about the decision, Ma is [thought to be] 47 years old, making her one of if not the oldest in captiity, if simply Canada.

Saskatoon zoo saying goodbye to Ma the capuchin monkey

Seems Ma was indeed the oldest capuchin in captivity according the video.

Ma, Saskatoon’s ancient capuchin monkey, to be put down

 

[Chlidonias]

Seems Ma was indeed the oldest capuchin in captivity according the video.

Ma, Saskatoon’s ancient capuchin monkey, to be put down

Brooklands Zoo in New Zealand has (or had) a capuchin born in 1966 which was still alive in 2017 (that's 51 years). I can't find out whether she is still alive but if so will be 53.

The oldest capuchin in captivity was 55 years old.

 

[Yi Qi]

The black bears which arrived earlier are preparing for winter hibernation.

Orphaned bear cubs preparing for winter at Saskatoon Zoo

 

[Yi Qi]

Zoo manager Tim Sinclair-Smith will be leaving for Ningaloo Centre in his homeountry of Australia in November.

Saskatoon Zoo manager leaves for Australian opportunity

 

[TZFan]

Two mouflon lambs were born recently, a male and a female.

The zoo has a new manager as well.

Saskatoon zoo welcomes baby sheep, new manager

 

[TZFan]

Cougar, Jethro, has passed from heart disease.

Jethro the cougar dies from heart disease at the Saskatoon zoo

 

[Jungle Man]

A reindeer was born to mother Wind on May 14th and has been named Zippy in honor of Zeppelin.
Saskatoon zoo's newest caribou named in honour of Zeppelin the wolf | The Star Phoenix

Zeppelin the Wolf was euthanized on May 15th due to serious arthritis issues.
Long-time Forestry Farm resident Zeppelin the grey wolf euthanized | The Star Phoenix

A female Bighorn Sheep was born on May 19th and has been named Casey.

 

[TZFan]

The zoo has opened a new prairie dog exhibit.

Prairie dogs enjoying new digs at Saskatoon's zoo

 

[TZFan]

Cougar, Malcolm, has passed away. His decreased mobility and pain management issues were the reasons staff put him down. He was 12.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/cougar-malcolm-euthanized-12-years-zoo-1.6132117

 

[Zoofan15]

A Snow leopard has arrived:

Saskatoon Zoo welcomes Kazi the snow leopard

The zoo prepared for Kazi’s arrival back in August with renovations to the previous cougar exhibit at the Nutrien Ark, the release said. Kazi will be introduced to his new home at the Nutrien Ark in the coming days.

 

[TZFan]

The zoo has won two national awards from the CAZA.

The Thomas R. Baines Award for their prairie dog exhibit, which recognizes excellence in habitat design and development.

The Eleanore Oakes Award for Education Program Design to the Saskatoon Zoo Society for developing five virtual environmental education programs for kids.

Saskatoon Zoo wins 2 national awards - Saskatoon | Globalnews.ca

 

[TZFan]

For anyone interested here's a little article to let you meet some of the zoos animals.

Meet the resident animals of the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo | The Star Phoenix

 

[TZFan]

The zoo has two new bobcats, Sherlock and Watson. They arrived from Zoo Sauvage.