Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Births, Deaths and Transfers 2021

TZFan

TZFan

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
On a Facebook live a few days ago the zoo announced they are breeding the tur again this year. Disappointing considering they have such an abysmal kid survival rate because they zoo does not step in to save the sick and abandoned kids. Plus the herd is somewhat inbreed.

That got me thinking about the year ahead with births and possible transfers (though covid probably has destroyed most of these prospects).

2021 Breeding Potential
Highly Likely Babies
Penguin - 3 potential pairs
Kudu- Rosalita
Golden Lion Tamarin
Saki
Southern Ground Hornbill
Grey Kangaroo
Bactrian Camel - Jozy
Przewalski’s Horse - Winona
Vancouver Island Marmot
Eastern Loggerhead Shrike
Massasauga Rattlesnake
Black Footed Ferret
Blanding's Turtle
Painted Terrapin
African Spoonbill
Sacred Ibis
Wood Turtle
Leaf Turtle - they have an egg that could hatch
Spider Tortoises - two eggs are incubating

Possible
White Rhino - Sabi or Zohari - they did have Tom in to breed occasionally over the summer so maybe late in the year.
Indian Rhino - if already pregnant.
Cheetah - Laini
Amur Tiger
Green Naped Pheasant Pigeon
Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Scarlet Ibis
Pygmy hippo - if Penelope leaves maybe depending on space
Crested Wood Partridge

Low Likelihood Babies
Otter - the zoo refuses to follow recommendations to separate them most of the year to increase breeding potential and Talise is now reaching the end of breeding potential.
Flamingos - we have 7 recommended to breed but I don’t recall any breeding ever.
Crested Porcupine - recommended but zoo not acting
Marabou Stork - recommended but nothing happening for years now.
Orang - Still not convinced it will happen but Budi is finally starting to look like a mature male so there is a chance they could take to him.
Wombat - I’m losing hope
Bennett’s Wallaby - given the ages likelihood is lower but possible.
Chuckwalla - they are elderly but genetically valuable

Only If Transfers Happen
Komodo - female arrives
Kookaburra - female swap

Possible Transfers In
Turquoise Tanager - Male from Winnipeg
Sumatran Tiger - Nisha from Jacksonville
Snow leopard - Pemba from Calgary
Spotted otter - female from Little Rock
Walrus - Lakina from Aquarium du Quebec if that even happens.
Giraffe - Zoey from Cincinnati though likely never going to happen thanks to covid.
Caracal - female from Little Rock
Kookaburra - female from Palm Beach
Komodo dragon - female from Disney's Animal Kingdom

Possible Transfers Out
Sumatran Tiger - Kemala to Montgomery
Snow Leopard - Mylo to John Ball, Kita to Winnipeg
Kookaburra - Karee to Palm Beach
Spotted otter - Lila to Omaha
Indian Rhino - Kiran to White Oaks
Tree Kangaroo - Puzzle
Bettong - all 3
Hippo - Perky and Petal
Arctic Wolves -Nuna and Inneq and potentially more
Polar bear - Hudson and Humphrey to Aquarium du Quebec
Hyena - Echo - Turtle Back Zoo
Red River Hog - Kevin and Dennis.
Pygmy hippo - Penelope - shes old enough
Giraffe - Amani to Calgary potentially
Orang - Jingga to Louisville

With all of the transfers these things will depend heavily on covid. Transfers in Canada are highly likely to happen but any to or from the US are far less likely to impossible. I really think we have lost the opportunity to get the female giraffe from Cincinnati because she is going to be a full year older and bigger than was planned when she was chosen for Toronto and she was on the older side for transfers that far even then.

Of note 2022's first highly likely baby will be a giraffe calf again because keepers said breeding occurred in Nov 2020 meaning baby would be due around February 2022. Kiko has shown no interest in her since then leading them to think it is likely she's pregnant.
 
To be honest, I'm quite excited to hear they've resumed breeding the Tur! I realize they aren't a program species, however putting that aside, they make for a dynamic, active, and charismatic exhibit, and are very, very unique, as they're basically the last herd of their species left in North America (at least in zoos). I realize the herd is somewhat inbred, but if Toronto really put their minds to it, I have no doubt they could grow the herd quite effectively, and possibly even turn it into a regional Canadian program! (Just off the top of my head, along with Toronto; Edmonton, Rockton, Winnipeg, Zoo Sauvage, Granby, Vancouver, Calgary, and Niagara could easily accommodate them).

I hope all goes well, and hopefully that year long break in breeding will equate to better kid survival this year.
 
@Hyak_II, I do agree they are a lively and unique species given their rarity but I completely with allowing breeding. I also agree with a regional program focus but I would rather an SSP species like markhor or takin. We will have somewhere to place calves. We will have places to get new bloodlines from. Or if as you suggest Canadian zoos wanted to build a regional program I would rather see the Canadian zoos support a Canadian species like bighorn, mountain goats, dall's sheep or caribou. If we are talking conservation value it needs to be the caribou.
 
The animal plan seemed to suggest that they want to use that space plus the warthog exhibit to create a flex habitat where they can have the pygmy hippos, red river hogs and warthogs. But who knows what will really happen when the new Master plan drops and once the girls are actually gone. They are non breeders who are middle aged so it could be a turn off for possible adopting zoos. They wont get calves and they are going to be taking on hold age expenses for two hippos. I doubt the zoo would accept any home that plans to split the sisters up. They have been together nearly all their lives. But I could be wrong. What will ultimately happen to the exhibit is a wait and see thing.
 
A thought. Send Lobi from Calgary to Safari Niagara, they can become the new bachelor holding facility in Canada. Their hippo lake is HUGE compared to other Canadian exhibits, so lots of space for the bulls to spread out. Send the Toronto girls to Calgary. That way Calgary can have a nice group of three older cows, and they won't have to worry about birth control or accidenal pregnancies anymore. Boom, empty hippo exhibit for Toronto, and no international transfers.
 
I believe more transfers would be necessary. Your plan starts out well but you made a boo boo. Moving Lobi to Safari Niagara doesn't result in a bachelor herd. Safari Niagara has male Bobo and Gladys (both half siblings of Lobi and each other). If rebalancing to avoid oopsies is the goal then what needs to happen is a near total swap in Canada. Petal and Perky go from Toronto to Calgary to join Sparky (grandma and mom to most of the hippos in Canada). Lobi then goes to Safari Niagara to join half bro Bobo. Also joining them would need to be Haben (full bro to Lobi, half to Bobo) from Vancouver. Returning with Vancouver's keepers would be Gladys to join full sister Hazina. That though still leaves a problem in Granby with young bull Coumba who is with his parents. Either he stays with dad Kiboko and mom Polita goes to Calgary (where 4 cows might be too many) or Vancouver (who may or may not be able to handle 3) or depending on space he goes to Safari Niagara to be with his brothers (4 bulls might be a little much). I think at least one trip to the US will be needed.
 
I did just see something on Safari Niagara Instagram that they seemed to be working on there hippo exhibit not sure if expansion or just general up keep maintenance
 
I don't think it is a wise plan to get rid of river hippos this year, warthogs, red river hogs and pygmy hippos are not as attractive to visitors as river hippos, the Covid 19 have already caused the Zoo suffered huge economic loss, the Zoo should retain some popular species at least for one or two years.
 
I think it's very unlikely they would leave by spring for two reasons. Firstly Covid. We aren't even seeing a lot of transfers between Canadian zoos and I don't think there has been any movement to the states where they are most likely to go. It may be fall at the earliest before we start seeing any transfers, especially of such large animals that will require a lot of planning. Secondly as I mentioned before they aren't animals that I think most zoos would want to add. No benefit of babies and the cost of older animals. And I doubt the zoo will allow them to be split making it all the more difficult. I just don't think many, if any, zoos will be asking the SSP if they can have them. It could take quite some time to find a home for them. I would be shocked if they left this year and surprised if they left by spring 2022. I believe the zoo listed them as available now because they know it could take a great deal of time to place them.
 
That you so much for during a yearly update. I'm wondering if anyone knows why the 4 older male Kangaroo's passed? Was it old age and euthanized? Or something else? Thank you
 
First off welcome Amand2! Happy to have a new member!

All of the roos who died last year were elderly roos. A 5th roo Tully appears to have passed as well sometime between late fall and last weeks Facebook live. They were all in their late teens to early 20's. The zoo still has two elderly females, Alice and Mudgee, so there will probably be two more deaths in the next few years.
 
TZFan said:
First off welcome Amand2! Happy to have a new member!

All of the roos who died last year were elderly roos. A 5th roo Tully appears to have passed as well sometime between late fall and last weeks Facebook live. They were all in their late teens to early 20's. The zoo still has two elderly females, Alice and Mudgee, so there will probably be two more deaths in the next few years.
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Thank you. I have been making a book from the facebook lives since July 2020. You have helped so much to fill in some of the missing information. Again Thank you for answering. I knew they well older Kangaroos I just wondered if it was old age or something else with 4 so close together. Thank you again
 
I hear Pumpkin the female African Crested Porcupine passed away few days ago, Trt Zoo keeps losing animals in recent months
 
Pumpkin passing is unfortunate. She was only 12 when the median life expectancy is 14 and a half years old. Could go a good while longer. The oldest recorded female was 29.

When thinking of all the animals that have passed in the last while do remember a number were pretty old. I also personally feel like it feels like more because we are short on news of births, pregnancies, and transfers. Breeding opportunities have been hindered by covid. Before covid we were waiting on at least a dozen swaps that would create new breeding pairs or free up room for breeding. Not that breeding has stopped entirely but it seems to have slowed. The normal balance of good news and bad news has been a little more one sided the last year. Hopefully things will get back on track soon enough.
 
But so many not-old animals die in Trt Zoo within the year, Ila the mother Red Panda and two Arctic Foxes are quite young, the Canadian lynxes couples are also not old at all. I suspect that there is problem on the nutrition and Vet team. May the shortage of funds bring the impact?
 
Young animals die too. Disease and injury are a problem as well. There is a reason there are median life expectancies. Half will die before then. Half will die after it.

Ila had ulcerative colitis. As someone who has a family member who had it I know how touch and go that can be. And that is with a human who can tell doctors whats going on. Animals hide illness and disease. Sometimes they are so good at it by the time keepers realize something is off and raise the alarm with vets its already too late.

I cant defend the arctic foxes. I do think something is wrong there. But I'm not sure if its staff not noticing or an exhibit or environmental or problem. I lean away from staff because I do not think the same keepers have been in charge for 12 years. There has to have been some staff turn over in the area. Then again Tundra Trek has seen more than its fair share of death. Note worthy is that most of the more recent foxes have been from Parc Safari so maybe there is something in their genetics that has led to weaker animals. This is the species I would love to learn more about the passings and see what conclusions the zoo has reached. Their survival rate has to be one of the worst at the zoo.

The lynx is different too. Tilly was fine one day, throwing up the next and then found dead the following day in the health center. She went down so fast. There was no death announcement and no real answer as to what went wrong. I have heard nothing about Ryan's passing other than what's been posted here. I doubt its exhibit related since has been in the old wolf enclosure since Hamilton's birth.

The slew of babies dying was just bad luck. First year survival rates vary wildly by species. Some its extremely high. Others like the other red panda cub its pretty low. If they are sick or rejected their chances do drop even with intervention. Normally newborn deaths are spread out over years. We just had a bad cluster.

There may be a little bit of a problem in the health center. They have been searching for a new head vet for nearly a year with no luck. Though there is still a perfectly capable team under a head vet who even without one can still function. They could easily consult with other zoos vet teams for guidance if they need more experienced knowledge. But maybe the head vet didn't build the strongest team.

I did compare 2020 with previous years and the numbers I had weren't that far off each other. 2020 was a little higher but not outrageously so.
 
Will Toronto Zoo get new Arctic Foxes in the future? If will, still receive from Parc Safari or somewhere else.
 
@StellarChaser, I don't think the animal plan called for new foxes. I could be mistaken. I wouldn't be sad though if they did bring them back. They are a lively fun species and their changes from winter to summer coats and back are such great examples of colouration to match ones environment. However I would much prefer if the zoo did get them they try another source. Just eliminate that bloodline just to be sure its not a genetic problem in their lines. If we got new ones and they died of the same thing its time to carefully consider the exhibit. Maybe they need to remove all of the soil, rip out the trees maybe even demo the house and start again. Sometimes you need to go to extreme lengths.
 
TZFan said:
Young animals die too. Disease and injury are a problem as well. There is a reason there are median life expectancies. Half will die before then. Half will die after it.

Ila had ulcerative colitis. As someone who has a family member who had it I know how touch and go that can be. And that is with a human who can tell doctors whats going on. Animals hide illness and disease. Sometimes they are so good at it by the time keepers realize something is off and raise the alarm with vets its already too late.

I cant defend the arctic foxes. I do think something is wrong there. But I'm not sure if its staff not noticing or an exhibit or environmental or problem. I lean away from staff because I do not think the same keepers have been in charge for 12 years. There has to have been some staff turn over in the area. Then again Tundra Trek has seen more than its fair share of death. Note worthy is that most of the more recent foxes have been from Parc Safari so maybe there is something in their genetics that has led to weaker animals. This is the species I would love to learn more about the passings and see what conclusions the zoo has reached. Their survival rate has to be one of the worst at the zoo.

The lynx is different too. Tilly was fine one day, throwing up the next and then found dead the following day in the health center. She went down so fast. There was no death announcement and no real answer as to what went wrong. I have heard nothing about Ryan's passing other than what's been posted here. I doubt its exhibit related since has been in the old wolf enclosure since Hamilton's birth.

The slew of babies dying was just bad luck. First year survival rates vary wildly by species. Some its extremely high. Others like the other red panda cub its pretty low. If they are sick or rejected their chances do drop even with intervention. Normally newborn deaths are spread out over years. We just had a bad cluster.

There may be a little bit of a problem in the health center. They have been searching for a new head vet for nearly a year with no luck. Though there is still a perfectly capable team under a head vet who even without one can still function. They could easily consult with other zoos vet teams for guidance if they need more experienced knowledge. But maybe the head vet didn't build the strongest team.

I did compare 2020 with previous years and the numbers I had weren't that far off each other. 2020 was a little higher but not outrageously so.
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Does that mean they only have Hamilton still? Or no Lynx? I'm very said to hear of their passing. I often would only go down part of the hill just to see them.
 
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