Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo- Births, Deaths, Arrivals and Departures 2013

Has anyone heard anything about Nikita possibly being pregnant? I know its early for a birth (Hudsons October birth being a rarity) but do they have any idea if it might be a possiblity yet?

And arent we approaching penguin breeding season?

Anyone heard anything else about Ngozi's pregnancy other than the baby should arrive in January? Common baby gorilla I want a birthday buddy, January 17th!

Have Asha and Vishnu breed sometime in the last 2 years since the still birth of their first calf. I mean with a what 16 month pregnancy a calf could come soon if breeding happened right?

Wont hold out any hope on Abou and Harvey breeding.

Are there any other potential babies on the way?
 
TZFan said:
Anyone heard anything else about Ngozi's pregnancy other than the baby should arrive in January? Common baby gorilla I want a birthday buddy, January 17th!
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Hey, that's my birthday as well! I'll have my fingers crossed for a gorilla birthday buddy for us!
 
Thats cool Ebillan. Happy to have you as my birthday buddy! If the baby gorilla cant be our birthday buddy I have some nice alternatives from my family. Jan 1 would be a cousins, Jan 3 my great uncle, Jan 4 my grandfather, Jan 16 my brother or Jan 18 my mom and another cousin. All are acceptable but ours would be the best.
 
That's so sad. :(:(:( I had no idea that she passed away.

Now that the zoo has no clouded leopards, what will go in their exhibit? Without them, the Malayan Woods Pavilion will be missing its most popular animal.
 
That's really sad to hear about Merriweather. Although she was getting up there in age, sad to see her go.

There was talk about trying to acquire more clouded leopards. That was about two years ago now though so it's quite possible that plans have changed. It's not so easy getting clouded leopards in north america these days anyway. There are much more successful breeding pairs in Europe. I hope that we get more though.
 
It is sad about Merriweather but at 20 she has been able to enjoy a good long life. And with her passing the zoo can reconsider what to do with that space. A new pair of Clouded Leopards would be nice but it would be nice to update the exhibit and make it a little brighter so you could actually see the leopards. There is a need for more breeding spaces for clouded leopards so I dont think it would take too long to get a new pair once a compatiable male and female were born. However the zoo could look to switch things up and bring in a new species. Whatever they do they have plenty of time before the summer rush to decide. Considering how small the building is and the leopards were the only big draw in there they should look for a replacement by then so the building doesnt feel too empty.
 
Anyone else pissed that the elephants wont get out of the crates the entire trip? That means any breaks that are made will only benefit the people!
 
This has been nightmare since the beginning. I feel so bad for the girls. The trip will be long and hard on them. It would have been better to fly them but who knows when PAWS could have arranged that and the zoo would only be blamed for another winter in Toronto... which would be even worse if one of them died before the transfer. Sadly this is the best option left for the zoo. Let PAWS take them any way they want to and sit back and hope it turns out. Its horrible to say but if one of them died on the journey it would vindicate the zoo and show PAWS and Zoocheck for what they are. Unfortunately they seem to already have the press on their side so somehow if one of them dies during transport or soon after it will be the zoos fault. I dont wish harm on the elephants they are innocent pawns in a game of stupidity. But a big part of me thinks good they are gone. The zoo can move on. It can stop getting beaten from all sides. The anti zoo nuts got what they wanted so hopefully they will shut up for awhile and turn their attention on a real disgusting problem like Marineland. The pro keep the elephants will stop wrongly bashing the zoo for not fighting harder. The media will have nothing to focus on but what the zoo wants to announce. And hopefully city council will keep their big fat noses out of the zoos buisness... ok I hold out no hope for that one. Stupid politicians thinking they know better then the experts who have loved and cared for these intellegent gentle creatures for decades! I cant say I blame the anti zoo people its what they do and believe. This whole mess is 100% the fault of ignorant, self serving, politicians. Hope they enjoy the kickbacks they were probably paid. Ugh...

Be calm... ok... be positive... Ah Im better... now we can turn our attention to the future of the zoo. We have pandas and if we are lucky a cub next summer... The Eurasian Wilds will open next year and I can see my beloved red pandas and snow leopards again, plus I can finally see a sea eagle! I'll miss Kota though... With Merriweather's death we can look forward to either new leopards or a new species on that side of the zoo. The possiblity that Ngozi is pregnant... The giraffes will get a new home and we can finally have a breeding herd again... a new hoofed species in the giraffes area... One day far from now a new hippo exhibit... Ok I reached my happy place or as close as I can get without being at the zoo myself.
 
kingoffreaks said:
Anyone else pissed that the elephants wont get out of the crates the entire trip? That means any breaks that are made will only benefit the people!
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There is no reason to be pissed. It is "industry standard" that zoo elephants are never let out of the crate during a transport because it would be too dangerous and bring more stress then good. And of course all breaks will benefit the elephants because they will be checked, cleaned, fed and watered. And they can rest much better when the crate is not moving.

Elephants are moved over across-continent on land ALL THE TIME in both Europe and North America. Really. Just in the last few weeks, two transfers that are comparable in length were done - in Europe, African bull Kibo was moved from Sweden to Spain, and in North America, Asian bull Spike was moved from Calgary to a zoo in Florida. Both transfers were at least as difficult and potentially more dangerous because both bulls are fully adult and weight more then 6 tons, and like the Toronto elephants, neither animal was used to spend 3 days in a crate. In both cases NO ONE said a single word about the transfer being too risky or too hard on the animal. The Calgary Zoo publically explained that while a road trip is longer, it is less stressful (no take off and no landing, no problems with change in air pressure) and has the big advantage of being able to stop if something goes wrong. If an elephant starts to panic during a flight, it has to be sedated to the point where it calms down for security reasons, which is very dangerous for the animal. There is a very good reason why almost all elephant transports in western zoos are done by road trip!

There are many more examples of elephants as old or even a lot older then these three and also suffering from arthritis or foot problems being moved over big distances without issues. There is no reason why this should be any more problematic.
 
I can't believe that after so many years, the elephants are finally gone. :( I hope that they have a safe journey and really enjoy their new home.

Like TZFan said, with the elephants and bad publicity gone, we can all focus on the Zoo's exciting future. Hopefully we'll see the giraffes and hoofed animals move into their new exhibits sometime soon.
 
While I could say a lot about the elephant transfer, I think I am just going to keep those thoughts to myself and only say that I hope that Toka, Iringa and Thika arrive safely.

In other news (and I think you'll be excited TZFan), Mike Drolet of Global News is reporting on his twitter feed that a baby giraffe was born at the Zoo today.
https://twitter.com/MDroletGlobalTV
If this is true, then Twiga gave birth today and the breeding took place in last summer prior to Stripes' death. Hopefully, the baby is healthly and there are no issues due to Twiga's older age and the large gap between offspring.
 
adams7 said:
While I could say a lot about the elephant transfer, I think I am just going to keep those thoughts to myself and only say that I hope that Toka, Iringa and Thika arrive safely.

In other news (and I think you'll be excited TZFan), Mike Drolet of Global News is reporting on his twitter feed that a baby giraffe was born at the Zoo today.
https://twitter.com/MDroletGlobalTV
If this is true, then Twiga gave birth today and the breeding took place in last summer prior to Stripes' death. Hopefully, the baby is healthly and there are no issues due to Twiga's older age and the large gap between offspring.
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If this is true, all I have to say is :D:D:D:D:D:D!
 
Adams7 if this true what a great day at the zoo. Sure we are losing our elephants... sad... but a baby giraffe arriving the same day is freaking awesome. How fitting since the little one might get to move into the elephants exhibit.

A baby giraffe might be a very strong reason for me to come to the zoo in the cool weather even though its 6 hours of travel time... Just need to see if I can make time for it.

Thanks for that fantastic news.
 
Ok I was reading another elephant article and I need to say Bob Barker is well Im not allowed to curse on here but you can insert your own insults. He has this to say about the keepers.

“The zookeepers are not very worried about the elephants or they would never have behaved the way they had over all of these months trying to keep the elephants there in the zoo where they are utterly miserable,” Barker said

Read more: Toronto Zoo elephants finally headed south after long delays | CTV Toronto News

You can question the keepers delaying the move but how dare he doubt for a second that they wanted anything but the best for their beloved elephants. Who does he think he is? He thinks just because he believes PAWS is the right home that the keepers are not entitled to have their own wished for the elephants. Whatever our opinions are of PAWS, the decision to move, the insuing fight, it is dead wrong of anyone to accuse these keepers of not wanting what they think is best for them. You can disagree with their choice but never doubt their pure motives. Bob Barker and zoocheck (because they have said some rotten things too about the keepers) disgust me. Im so freaking thankful this is all over with now that the elephants have left the zoo grounds and are now PAWS problem.

Now I just have to return to my happy place. Giraffe calf... all cute and spotted. Ok lets have a baby pool. Who says boy? Who says girl? I kinda want a boy we name Stripes Jr. Or maybe Spots because his father was Stripes... Nah I like Stripes. Though with the prospect of a new male arriving... thats probably out with a 3rd giraffe... a female would be better to help rebuild the herd then a male. She would be a legacy giraffe. A tie back to the original herd which her mother and Aunt descend from. Ok I like a girl better now. And we name her Stripes. Yep Im going to hope girl. We need to rebuild and she can be our foundation.
 
The 50-hour drive to the sanctuary near Sacramento is expected to take between four and five days depending on weather and other variables, McKenzie said.
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So they will spend in the crates 5 days. Can elephants go without sleep for 5 days?

PAWS staff had demanded that any Toronto zookeeper making the days-long trip sign a non-disclosure agreement. The union refused.


“We are trying to be amicable and co-operative with PAWS,” said union president Christine McKenzie, who declined to elaborate on the details of the deal. The union had initially been critical of the request for secrecy.


The Toronto elephant keepers will not be allowed to document the trip with photos or video, but will be permitted to discuss it freely when they return home, McKenzie said.


As for why the handlers would be prevented from documenting the trip, McKenzie said, “I don’t know. That’s the question we’re all asking.”
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Does it implicate that the zoo keepers are allowed to stay with the elephants during the journey, but they won´t be allowed to stay with then even few days after the arrival at PAWS?
 
TZFan said:
Ok I was reading another elephant article and I need to say Bob Barker is well Im not allowed to curse on here but you can insert your own insults. He has this to say about the keepers.

“The zookeepers are not very worried about the elephants or they would never have behaved the way they had over all of these months trying to keep the elephants there in the zoo where they are utterly miserable,” Barker said

Read more: Toronto Zoo elephants finally headed south after long delays | CTV Toronto News

You can question the keepers delaying the move but how dare he doubt for a second that they wanted anything but the best for their beloved elephants. Who does he think he is? He thinks just because he believes PAWS is the right home that the keepers are not entitled to have their own wished for the elephants. Whatever our opinions are of PAWS, the decision to move, the insuing fight, it is dead wrong of anyone to accuse these keepers of not wanting what they think is best for them. You can disagree with their choice but never doubt their pure motives. Bob Barker and zoocheck (because they have said some rotten things too about the keepers) disgust me. Im so freaking thankful this is all over with now that the elephants have left the zoo grounds and are now PAWS problem.
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Agree with you completely about Bob Barker, TZFan. Barker isn't either one of the girls- he doesn't know if they're happy or not. And how can he doubt the keepers? The keepers were just trying to set things perfectly so that the elephants can have a safe and comfortable trip. But Barker makes it seem like the keepers were keeping them there to torture them in misery. :mad:
 
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