Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Births, Deaths and Transfers 2021
- Thread starter TZFan
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Makepeace the Tawny Frogmouth, Ira the Fairy Blue Bird, Electric Eel, and the Mata Mata Turtle passed away, so sad the Zoo lost 4 more species.
No not Makepeace! It was always a goal of mine to find him... never did. Man I miss Edge of the Night because I did see him then. He was super old. The zoo may choose to replace him with a new pair. They hadn't got him a mate a long time ago because he was so old.
Too bad about Ira as well. Such a pretty species. At least he had a long life. Sadly there are no plans to replace him.
Which electric eel? Don't we have one kind in the Americas and another one in the Rainforest? Either one there is a good chance they will replace it.
Were we down to one last mata mata? I know we had 3 at one point and one died a year or two back. I would like to see them replaced because they are a neat looking turtle but given we just moved up to 3 caiman I have my doubts it will happen.
Too bad about Ira as well. Such a pretty species. At least he had a long life. Sadly there are no plans to replace him.
Which electric eel? Don't we have one kind in the Americas and another one in the Rainforest? Either one there is a good chance they will replace it.
Were we down to one last mata mata? I know we had 3 at one point and one died a year or two back. I would like to see them replaced because they are a neat looking turtle but given we just moved up to 3 caiman I have my doubts it will happen.
Makepeace just passed away about two weeks ago, I often saw him in autumn and winter times when sunlight was not strong in the day. One of the keepers said the Zoo might introduce a new pair of Tawny Frogmouths in the future but everything depends on the Bird Coordinator's decision and the availability of Forgmouths from other North American zoos
Additionally, the female Beaver (June) also passed away, only one male (Ward) is left now. If Ward is down, the Zoo will bring in a new pair of Beavers.
The African Burrow & Cave is still closed so I don't have news about Aba Aba.
I mean the Electric eel in the Americas, it is killed by cancer. The Electric Eel's tank is used for Butterfly Goodeid now. One keeper said the Zoo is going to get two Electric Eels, but no more Mata Mata turtle.
Additionally, the female Beaver (June) also passed away, only one male (Ward) is left now. If Ward is down, the Zoo will bring in a new pair of Beavers. The African Burrow & Cave is still closed so I don't have news about Aba Aba.
With the frogmouths there is a large and healthy population well over 200 so getting new ones shouldnt be hard. Captive breeding has been going very well. It will be a choice to get new birds not a lack of options.
Thanks for clarifying which eel it was. Im indifferent to both but if Im keeping track of former species for us best to know which one.
Shame about the mata mata not making a return. They are cool and wouldnt be hard to get from private hands.
Oh that stinks to loose June. But upside is a replacement pair should be easy enough to get. There is now an SSP. Zoo Sauvage breeds them like bunnies if the SSP couldnt give us a pair and there is the very simple possibility of orphans. Man I would love to see the zoo finally get in a pair and breed them.
Thanks for clarifying which eel it was. Im indifferent to both but if Im keeping track of former species for us best to know which one.
Shame about the mata mata not making a return. They are cool and wouldnt be hard to get from private hands.
Oh that stinks to loose June. But upside is a replacement pair should be easy enough to get. There is now an SSP. Zoo Sauvage breeds them like bunnies if the SSP couldnt give us a pair and there is the very simple possibility of orphans. Man I would love to see the zoo finally get in a pair and breed them.
African Lion Safari has at least one Tawny Frogmouth, the Bird Kingdom might have them as well.
Hate to see the zoo losing species wish they would say least bring in a new South American turtle and South East Asian bird.
Hate to see the zoo losing species wish they would say least bring in a new South American turtle and South East Asian bird.
@TZFan the important fact is how many available Frogmouths in other Canadian zoological institutions, especially in Ontario. Since the Covid brings hardship to cross-border transfer.
One keeper said the Zoo is going to focus on Cuvier's Dwarf Caimans and Yellow-Spotted River Turtles, but I don't think keeping Mata Mata spends huge labor and money costs. Never mind, I know that Trt Zoo is bothering by the serious financial shortage, reducing species collections is inevitable. So cherish every sight of the animals in the zoo.
@StellarChaser, I do understand currently the border is an issue but hopefully we are rounding the bend and the border will open up for transfers again, hopefully by the end of the year or early next year. We are talking a bird not hoofstock or primate so it is not a species that the zoo has traditionally had issues bringing up. The tawny frogmouth just died. The zoo wouldn't be replacing him immediately. Its a long process to get a new animal when one dies and it could be months if not a year or more before the new animal arrives if the zoo even wants a replacement. Where we sit with covid by then could be vastly different then today.
As well I mentioned the whole SSP population size because you didn't know if there would be the possibility of getting replacements from within North America. The answer to that is yes because its a robust population with little issue producing new animals. You didn't mention just Canada. In that case I cannot speak to the non SSP holders like African Lion Safari or Bird Kingdom. The only SSP participant in Canada is Winnipeg and there is no way we can get a chick from them. Their pair is ancient and wont be bred. If we want breeding stock its very likely we should look to the SSP. If just display birds are all that are needed then any surplus bird from anyone else in Canada would do.
As well I mentioned the whole SSP population size because you didn't know if there would be the possibility of getting replacements from within North America. The answer to that is yes because its a robust population with little issue producing new animals. You didn't mention just Canada. In that case I cannot speak to the non SSP holders like African Lion Safari or Bird Kingdom. The only SSP participant in Canada is Winnipeg and there is no way we can get a chick from them. Their pair is ancient and wont be bred. If we want breeding stock its very likely we should look to the SSP. If just display birds are all that are needed then any surplus bird from anyone else in Canada would do.
What are the regulations vis a vis Europe?
@Kifaru Bwana, I dont know what kinds of regulations there are to transport any animal to and from Europe but I do know throughout covid Toronto has been sending animals to Europe. There were a couple large shipments of various frogs and I think a handful of snakes. I can't recall all of the species. It's also possible wrinkled hornbill, Henry, might have left for Europe if no one has seen him since reopening.
Toronto usually doesn't do a lot of trading with Europe. Happens from time to time but not a ton. The reason for that would just be me guessing.
Toronto usually doesn't do a lot of trading with Europe. Happens from time to time but not a ton. The reason for that would just be me guessing.
@hyena142, if snow leopard Pemba doesnt arrive before the end of the year I think 2022 cubs would be less likely should the zoo decide spring cubs or nothing. However Ena is getting older and is extremely valuable as a founder so breeding her as many times as possible should be the priority. It's 5 months from breeding to the cubs going on display so ideally for cubs ready for debut in June you need to breed by probably before the end of December. They seem somewhat cool with July so that means breeding by the end of January at the latest for well timed cubs. He would need to arrive a bare minimum of one month prior but I think ideally you would want to give him several weeks to settle in. And all that is assuming its successful on the first try. For chances to be good that we will have breeding and cubs for spring I think he needs to arrive in September or October. So we should know if hes arriving within the next few months. If he hasnt arrived by the end of November I think we can safely rule it out.
@Akula, a camel calf arriving soon is a relative term. If she got pregnant today the calf is 12-14 1/2 months away. That's not even taking into account the zoo usually needs several attempts to get a successful pregnancy. They were fairly sure when Suria was pregnant with Zuri that Josie was pregnant as well. It wasnt until just the last few months before the calf would have been due that they began to doubt it as she wasnt filling out. She could have been pregnant and had a miscarriage. The previous females were notorious for that. They would see a fetus in an ultrasound early on and then nothing would happen. They were older girls at that time though. If they arent successful by September they will stop breeding as they will not risk a winter birth. They want the calf arriving from April to October so that it has its best chance. I hope they tried with Tilly and Suria too and maybe we will get two calves at once. Josie loved it when Suria was brought in around their first birthdays. I wont hope for 3.
@Akula, a camel calf arriving soon is a relative term. If she got pregnant today the calf is 12-14 1/2 months away. That's not even taking into account the zoo usually needs several attempts to get a successful pregnancy. They were fairly sure when Suria was pregnant with Zuri that Josie was pregnant as well. It wasnt until just the last few months before the calf would have been due that they began to doubt it as she wasnt filling out. She could have been pregnant and had a miscarriage. The previous females were notorious for that. They would see a fetus in an ultrasound early on and then nothing would happen. They were older girls at that time though. If they arent successful by September they will stop breeding as they will not risk a winter birth. They want the calf arriving from April to October so that it has its best chance. I hope they tried with Tilly and Suria too and maybe we will get two calves at once. Josie loved it when Suria was brought in around their first birthdays. I wont hope for 3.
56 Blanding's turtles have been hatched as part of the zoo's head start program. 40% were incubated to be male, while the rest were to become females. Only 2 additional eggs did not hatch. All were collected from nests in the Rouge and in 2 years will be returned to the Rouge in hopes they will one day breed as well.
The zoo's caribou herd is down to 8 since the last time they named them off during a facebook live. The missing three members of the herd are Mimi, Rowan and Henna. I don't know what's happened to them. The herd was a mix of mothers and daughter so maybe they died or they have been sent elsewhere. There was also no mention on the new live of the last reindeer Snowy. She is likely dead given her age. I counted the herd that was feeding and there was only 8 animals. We probably have a new former species.
Interestingly the keeper said they are not trying to breed them at all due to a lack of space. If thats the case what was the big announcement about them working on breeding research. I know you can learn about them cycling without producing a calf and all but why even bother announcing that. It would be like saying we are going to research breeding in Chinese giant salamanders but we only have male Hannibal. I would think breeding itself would be helpful for the research. Try AI and because its not really been done my guess is you will fail for awhile and maybe only get a calf here and there much like their work with the bison which only sometimes produces a calf. The exhibit can clearly house 13 adults because thats what we started with when the herd arrived (12 caribou and one reindeer). If thats your max never try to breed more than that without a home already chosen regardless of gender. I really got the impression from their announcement they were doing AI work. Maybe I just read it all wrong.
Interestingly the keeper said they are not trying to breed them at all due to a lack of space. If thats the case what was the big announcement about them working on breeding research. I know you can learn about them cycling without producing a calf and all but why even bother announcing that. It would be like saying we are going to research breeding in Chinese giant salamanders but we only have male Hannibal. I would think breeding itself would be helpful for the research. Try AI and because its not really been done my guess is you will fail for awhile and maybe only get a calf here and there much like their work with the bison which only sometimes produces a calf. The exhibit can clearly house 13 adults because thats what we started with when the herd arrived (12 caribou and one reindeer). If thats your max never try to breed more than that without a home already chosen regardless of gender. I really got the impression from their announcement they were doing AI work. Maybe I just read it all wrong.