Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo - Births, Deaths and Transfers 2015

I am so excited! Panda cubs not just cub is amazing. The first in Canada. Ok I know where I'm heading in March.

Now to anxiously await news of their genders and father or fathers. Really hope its Da Mao.
 
This is excellent news! I don't know why, but for some reason I thought the birth would be unsuccessful. I'm so glad I was wrong. The zoo put in a lot of work to have this birth, so I'm glad it payed off. I hope both cubs remain healthy and I can't wait to see them next year.
 
From the Toronto Zoo Facebook:
#CUBUPDATE: The giant panda team continues to closely monitor the two cubs and Er Shun around the clock. With the assistance of two giant panda experts from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China, the team continues to twin-swap the cubs. This not only enables Er Shun to nurse and bond with each cub, but also provides the Zoo's Wildlife Health Centre and Wildlife Care staff with the opportunity to weigh each cub and conduct regular health checks.

While there has been some weight fluctuations with both cubs, which is very common with newborns, both of them are currently stable. Yesterday, the cubs were observed nursing from Er Shun and if the team notices that one or both of the cubs are not suckling from her, the team is able to collect milk from Er Shun and give it to the cubs extremely carefully, by bottle.

We continue to communicate with our colleagues around the globe, who have been fortunate enough to have giant panda cubs, to share insights and best practices. We want to thank everyone for the ongoing support and encouragement during this critical time. We will continue to update you as information becomes available as the team continues to be very focused on the health and wellbeing of the cubs and Er Shun. #TOPandaCubs
 
That's so awesome! Thanks for all the updates on the panda cubs! I'll have to go check out their FB...It doesn't seem like the zoo is planning on installing any cams just yet.....Do you think they're waiting to see if the cubs make it out of the "critical" stage? Or is it simply not in the budget?

Heard that the white lion cubs are doing well. We still don't know the genders yet, but that's coming up soon. (Sorry, my memory is all scattered.) I think once they have their shots (at 6 weeks?) they will slowly be introduced to the outdoors in small doses. But I assume that will be off-exhibit? By the time they're ready to go on display, it'll be so cold!
 
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If the zoo had any plans for a webcam for the cubs they would be exploiting it by now. Just based on the millions of devoted panda fans San Diego Zoo, Zoo Atlanta and the National Zoo have due to their webcams it's not like the zoo doesn't know they could really exploit the enormous popularity of the twins long before they go on display.

Many zoos in the US have multiple webcams. Toronto has traditionally shied away from this. I believe the zoo had a webcam just once when a litter of Sumatran tigers was born years ago but that was webcams in their infancy. Since then nothing.

I have heard two points of view on webcams. I have heard from multiple people the zoo's higher ups believe that webcams could drive down visits because people can watch them at home. I think that's a misguided belief if it is true. Tons of people from around the world will view the webcam. Yes locals will view it but those locals are probably more likely to visit the animals they come to love and know on the cams. They become zoo celebs. People will want to see them more often. They will know the personality and habits of the animals better which does make visits more enjoyable. Plus there would be the added insentive for people from outside of Toronto to visit. Those in easy visiting distance might be more likely to make a road trip just to see Da Mao. Travellers to Toronto making bigger visits might be more likely to stop in just to see Er Shun and the twins who they watch from home. I think it would increase visits not decrease them. None of the other zoos have seen a drop in attendance due to webcams.

The second theory I have heard is money. The zoo would have to pay for the cam, operating it and staffing it. I'm fairly confident if they had asked the Mandarin or Fed Ex for the money to sponsor the cam when they built the exhibit it would have been easy to get done. Have their logos surround the cams picture and they would have advertising that millions would see. Even now with new food vendors moving in they would probably happily shell out the cash to be the webcam sponsor. Panda twins... come on how many people will be watching them? Guaranteed tons of advertising time in front of a huge audience. Those webcams cannot cost millions upon millions. And as to the staffing for webcam operation... well they could simply go with a fixed position cam. Or if they want to go fancy they could do as San Diego does and get webcam volunteers to staff shifts. If they can control it remotely from home when their shift begins then it would be pretty easy to staff with volunteers. People like myself who live far away could volunteer in that scenario. It wouldn't cost the zoo much in staffing. When no one is available to staff that shift the last operator can just position it at a home position. Not one staffer would be needed until its time to train a new batch of operators and even then an experienced volunteer could do the training.

As much as we would all like to see a webcam for the panda twins, I highly doubt we will. It is a pity because they are loosing out on so much good, free publicity.
 
Web cams are actually really good for encouraging visits. Look what Kiko did for Greenville! There are Kiko fans who went to Greenville specifically to see him and the zoo made more money from the pricier behind the scenes visits.
Houston has cams on not only the giraffes, but the rhinos, elephants and a couple other species. It has not hurt attendance at all.
 
Happy Birthday M'Stari and Kiko! There have been wonderful Instagram pictures of them. I think they are getting along well.
 
That's too bad. I agree with you and zeynep - They're really missing out on a good opportunity to get people more engaged with the twins...especially considering this time of year, when most people probably wouldn't visit the zoo, anyway! Brrrr!
 
I've been pretty quiet on the message board because there hasn't been a lot of good things to say about the management of the zoo and all the things that I would otherwise say I've said before and didn't really want to engage in the I told you so game. But I've still been reading the posts and of course following the TZ's news.

I am beyond thrilled to see that the TZ decided to announce the panda pregnancy before they were born and even more thrilled with the Facebook updates. This seems like such a major departure from the way the TZ has handled announcing pregnancies, births and deaths in the past. While I have not agreed with the approach of keeping quiet in fear of a still birth or a death shortly after birth because it could generate bad publicity, I have understood the need for fear. I believe celebrating the TZ's successes, and that includes Er Shun getting pregnant even if both twins died, is super important. The TZ keepers do amazing work and whether nature interferes and a baby dies, that is not their fault and the lesson everyone learns is that like the wild not all babies live. It is also amazing to see that the TZ is wanting to generate excitement re the panda twins by updating on Facebook. Questions are being asked and TZ are responding - showing an unprecedented level of commitment and understanding for the TZ visitors.

I too would like to see a webcam. I agree that the Mandarin and FedEx would pony up the money in a heartbeat. Every day at work I put on the San Diego Zoo's webcams of the koalas hoping for a glimpse of the joey. I leave it on all day and it only increases my desire to go back for another visit. I've also been on the National Zoo's website and watched their panda cam and read the answers to the FAQs. I've learned quite a lot and am grateful for their efforts! It is a shame TZ won't have one for the pandas, the lions or any of the other babies and animals. They are missing out on a great opportunity. But I certainly think the TZ's progress is amazing and hopefully with the success they see from the pandas will translate into more public acknowledgements of other pregnancies and babies! Fingers crossed.
 
Kknudsen you are very right. The zoo has come a long way in recent years in celebrating its successes. Hopefully those in charge of the big decisions will see the benefit of the good work their PR department is doing by embracing social media. Maybe in time they will see the benefit of a webcam. All we can do as loyal zoo goers and supporters is hope.

Like you I pop in and view my favourite webcams from various zoos and enjoy zoos with blogs or just lots of good updates. All they do is convince me more and more that I want to go.

We might see if the panda effect pays off in acknowledgements of other births and pregnancies in the near future. With polar bear denning season upon us hopefully we will begin to see that by the end of the year. More penguins may be on the way if breeding happens again this year, so that's December or January announcements. By Feb or Mar we will hopefully have a rhino calf as well which should be a major announcement considering how long it has been since there has been a rhino birth of any species at the zoo. Some big news should be coming in the next 6 months. Hopefully all will be announced and celebrated.

Speaking of news on the twins... More updates and photos...

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/10/19/toronto-zoo-encouraged-by-panda-cubs-progress

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/10/19/toronto-zoo-panda-twins_n_8330812.html
 
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The zoo has announced that Twiga the giraffe has passed away. Necropsy results pending. She was 25, and getting up there in years.
 
RIP Twiga. :(:(:(

I wasn't expecting this at all. I knew she was getting older, but I still thought she would be with us at least a little longer. Thank god the zoo got Kiko when it did so Mstari won't be alone. I feel so bad for her though and also for all of the keepers who were very close to Twiga. I still remember being able to feed Twiga when I was at zoo camp and getting to spend time with her on my zookeeper for a day. She was such a great animal and I am so sad to see her go.
 
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