Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Births, Deaths and Transfers 2024

Nooooooooo!!! Augh this one really hurts, I loved Kilat. I'll always treasure the memory of the time I got to watch him get fed, for a reptile lover like me it was super cool (and definitely not for the faint of heart). I'm very glad I made a detour to Australasia on a recent visit so I got to see him one last time. He was definitely a Toronto icon, I'm gonna miss him a lot.

Now the question is what happens to Komodos at the zoo going forward. Obviously Kilat never found the girlfriend they wanted to give him so we're now without the species, and it's been questioned on here recently if this is it. My guess is we'll just go with an empty exhibit until we find someone willing to give us one, maybe a non-breeder. Or we'll get lucky and we'll finally get the female from Disney they were gonna give us before covid and we'll track down a male as well to restart the breeding program. Unlikely maybe but stranger things have happened.
 
I understand the collection is being downsized but I truly hope they do not get rid of the komodos. Such an iconic species and that pavilion will feel so empty without them.
 
It's such a shame Kilat is gone but he got to live his whole life with the keepers who adored him in a home where he was so beloved by his guests. Another species phased out (at least for now). What's worse that just loosing him is loosing his genetics. His mother, Draca, was a wildborn animal and she had just two offspring. Older brother Satu who was the first komodo to hatch in Canada and Kilat who followed a few months later. Neither of the boys ever sired a clutch. With Kilat gone the last hope is a late in life clutch from Satu who has been with female Ratu at San Diego Zoo since 2021 and no clutch.

As for the future of komodos in Toronto, well time will tell. I dont think the odds are great considering Toronto tried for years even before the pandemic to get Kilat one of the two most valuable komodos in North America a mate with zero success. But maybe they will eye getting a pair in from Europe. You never really know.

At least for now the zoo has a little more space to maybe put the roos or wallabies on display for the winter. Not a ton of space for the roos but the wallabies could be very happy in there.
 
@TZFan I feel like the zoo wants to keep going with the komodos and they'll put in an effort to get us a new one. When they updated the zoo iconography a few years back they made them the face of Australasia instead of the much more popular and recognizable roos, so they clearly have stock in the species. Of course it wouldn't take moving mountains to replace a few signs and update some maps but still, the fact that they're there means the zoo sees them as an essential part of Australasia. We might not get a breeding pair or anything but I don't think we'll lose the species unless they're well and truly out of our reach

It'd be fun if they let the wallaby trio spend the rest of this winter season in the komodo exhibit, it's definitely roomy enough for them
 
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@hyena142, I do think the zoo will try to get another komodo but the reality might be as much as they want more komodos they wont be able to get them. Right now it could go either way. One thing in our favor is Calgary has a pair of brothers so they might be willing to give us one as the boys are nearly mature. They are imports so it might encourage the SSP to send females up but the border is a bit of a problem. Honestly at this point its just a wait and see situation.

Using the komodo exhibit for the wallabies just would make so much sense. It would improve the space they have but also with them on exhibit, their stalls could be opened up to give the roos more space too.
 
I can't see them not at least trying to get new ones, frankly.

RIP tho, Kilat, I'm happy I got to see you one last time on my visit, as ill-fated as that trip may have been... ;w;/
 
I can't talk about the issues with imports, as everything is always more complicated for Canadian zoos, but from a mere acquisition program there should be no problem with Toronto getting a surplus Komodo. They've been breeding more and more often in US zoos, and as such have spread out quite aways, including I believe entering a few non-AZA collections. If Toronto is willing to go through with the logistical steps necessary for an import, there's no reason to believe that they wouldn't be able to acquire a dragon.
 
I agree that they should see if Disney's still willing to give their female Komodo to TZ, that'd be a good starting point.

Also, with the various major members of the zoo family passing away these past few months, I'm worried and need to check, how has Charles been doing lately?
 
AJ the TZ Guy said:
I agree that they should see if Disney's still willing to give their female Komodo to TZ, that'd be a good starting point.

Also, with the various major members of the zoo family passing away these past few months, I'm worried and need to check, how has Charles been doing lately?
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He looked pretty good yesterday and was very content munching on his food while the girls were running around. Still keeping an eye out to make sure they don’t get too rowdy
 
It's great that Charles has made it to such an age, most gorillas don't get as old as him. It's gonna be the saddest day whenever he happens to die, so I hope he keeps happily living as long as possible. <:'3
 
The baby white rhino has been named Kifaru by his keepers. Kifaru is the Swahili word for both tank and rhino, which fits the "tank puppy" nickname he had prior to this.

Kifaru will make his first public appearance on-exhibit when it gets warmer in the spring, and until then there are a few spots left for a limited edition Wildlife Encounter with him, and starting today Zoolife is introducing a white rhino cam that'll allow you to watch him and Sabi inside the rhino house.
 
I am genuinely surprised they didnt do a naming poll for the rhino calf. He didnt need a name until spring to create hype for his debut. Heck they could name him and just not tell us and surprise that name magically wins a poll we never see the results of. And if you wanna be honest just pick other names that are terrible and hard to pronounce names thus guaranteeing Kifaru wins. Not like they haven't done it before. Considering this is the 50th and he is the only huge draw baby that is a sure thing for the year it sees like a missed opportunity.
 
@TZFan It is a little weird we didn't get a vote but from what I could see the tank puppy nickname they gave him was pretty popular on the zoo's socials, so I guess in a way the public kind of chose the name in that they wanted to keep calling him tank puppy. Admittedly I would've liked a T name to keep him in line with dad Tom and older bro Theo or an S name to match mom Sabi since he might be her one and only calf with the trouble she's had with conceiving in the past, but I'm also a sucker for giving African Savanna animals Swahili names, so I'll happily take Kifaru.
 
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@hyena142, Theo was called tank puppy too. Im perfectly fine with the name. It's a good name. Just surprised they didnt go after the contest to drive up interest even further. I have no doubt Kifaru would have won regardless because of its meaning. I kinda liked people names for our male white rhinos but Theo does not make a tradition like naming the gorillas with the same initial as their moms name until they ruined it by naming Charlie after Charles. That one still bothers me. Yes I am nuts but you knew that already. Lol.
 
I hope the Toronto Zoo celebrates their 50th anniversary special with a lot of babies other than Kifaru maybe some snow leopard cubs fingers crossed we get them We should try breeding some other animals like the zebra breed jake with with any of the females. I am also interested in seeing if Toronto Zoo is going to bring back some old species like the tapir or the musk ox or even the wilderbeast for their special event.
 
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