Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo - Canada's Largest Zoo
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Zoogoer2000
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wasn't flower born at the zoo back in 2005 or 2006?
MARK
Well-Known Member
[QUOTE
The rhino house always feels big and a bit cavernous to me, although the Mandarin ducks do help fill it out. Having natural substrate (like in the pygmy hippo exhibits in Africa) would probably be good for the rhinos, but the smell would be even stronger!
I think the current trend is to increase the variety of surfaces available, and there is now some soft flooring in the holding stalls in the back. Having plants grow inside is almost impossible when you have heavy animals like rhinos walking around ... it is hard enough to get grass to establish in the outdoor exhibits! I would like to see the garden between the rhino and tapir get more attention - it kind of gets lost behind the walls instead of bursting forth. In the back, there are three large rhino stalls which run longways along the building (you can see the three doors into the pens at the back of the rhino exhibit). There are two tapir stalls, which run "into" the building, i.e., perpendicular to the rhino pens. The first one has the door leading to the outdoor exhibit. The hope is to be able to breed both the rhinos and tapirs ... we just have to wait for the rhinos to be old enough, and for Tanuck's girlfriend to arrive!
[/QUOTE]
There are some photos in the gallery of the inside of Torontos Indian rhino house and also the off exhbit rhinos stalls, plus the back keepers ally linking all the pens and Tapir exhibit
The rhino house always feels big and a bit cavernous to me, although the Mandarin ducks do help fill it out. Having natural substrate (like in the pygmy hippo exhibits in Africa) would probably be good for the rhinos, but the smell would be even stronger!
I think the current trend is to increase the variety of surfaces available, and there is now some soft flooring in the holding stalls in the back. Having plants grow inside is almost impossible when you have heavy animals like rhinos walking around ... it is hard enough to get grass to establish in the outdoor exhibits! I would like to see the garden between the rhino and tapir get more attention - it kind of gets lost behind the walls instead of bursting forth. In the back, there are three large rhino stalls which run longways along the building (you can see the three doors into the pens at the back of the rhino exhibit). There are two tapir stalls, which run "into" the building, i.e., perpendicular to the rhino pens. The first one has the door leading to the outdoor exhibit. The hope is to be able to breed both the rhinos and tapirs ... we just have to wait for the rhinos to be old enough, and for Tanuck's girlfriend to arrive![/QUOTE]
There are some photos in the gallery of the inside of Torontos Indian rhino house and also the off exhbit rhinos stalls, plus the back keepers ally linking all the pens and Tapir exhibit
IndoMalaya Pavilion
I am not sure when the new tapir is supposed to arrive ... we've been hearing about her coming for probably two years now! There is lots of paperwork involved for both zoos (I believe she is coming from the Bronx Zoo - and crossing an international border is always a bit complicated!).
Thanks for the reminder about your photos MARK!
Female Indian rhino (off exhibit) @ Toronto zoo Canada - Photo Gallery
This photo is looking down behind the rhino stalls - the indoor exhibit would be on the right side of the pens (hallway > pens > exhibit). Looking down the hallway, the door in the larger stall at the end leads to the main outdoor paddock. There is also another door from that pen exiting to the left that leads to a smaller (now off-exhibit) yard.
Now on to my thoughts on the Pavilion itself ...
As Zoogoer wrote, the pavilion has only two major exhibits at its centre: the gibbons and orangutans. The public pathway more-or-less circles the orangutan exhibit, and there is public viewing to it from lots of different angles, including an elevated platform through glass, glass at ground level, and across a water moat. Keeping trees alive with orangutans indoors would be pretty tough - the only way would be if the orangs couldn't get to them! While the current climbing structures (green poles : on Flickr - Photo Sharing!) don't look that natural, they are very functional, and use the vertical space in the exhibit very well (they reach at least three storeys high in the centre of the exhibit). I agree that the exhibit could use some more landscaping (hills), but they are trying to grow some grass on the ground (the soil isn't that great, though). An outdoor exhibit has been talked about for some time, but other projects have taken priority.
Compared to the orang exhibit, the gibbon enclosure is very natural. There are the same green pipe climbing structures, but they are surrounded by trees (Ficus among others) and kind of "disappear". There IS actually a glass viewing area, ZooGoer, just before the hornbill aviary. The gibbons' names are Holly (female) and Lenny (male). The holding consists of two large pens set up so that the gibbons must pass through one to get to the other from the exhibit. The shift doors are located high up (you can see the one from the exhibit), which works really well for arboreal primates! The exhibit used to house Malayan tapirs as well, and so there are two other holding stalls beside the gibbon off-exhibit enclosures, with ground-level access to the exhibit (if the babirusa arrive, this is where they will be living).
Around the edge of the pavilion are several walk-through aviaries and smaller exhibits, including a small exhibit for false gharial and Malaysian painted river turtles complete with underwater viewing (the gharial is now too large for the exhibit), an enclosure for Prevost's squirrels (tucked away beside the upper orang viewing, and often missed). The "big tank" is one of my favourite fish exhibits at the zoo - it is relatively "thin" for the fish, but is very long and is curved into a semicircle, so that you are surrounded by fish from the viewing area. Originally, this tank housed lots of smaller fish, but last year most of the jumbo gouramis were moved into the tank. There is also a large reticulated python, and several small (fairly standard) reptile exhibits.
The gaur building is open to the public on most days (you can try the doors even when they are outside - sometimes they are open. HINT: try the "Exit" door). It is the only "barn-style" viewing at the zoo, where the public can actually see the holding stalls for the animals. The building is shaped like a short and broad wedge (~1/3 of a pie), with the public area at the "hub", and the gaur stalls along the longer arc. The stalls have a barrier of several cables at their front, then are separated from the public by a dry moat. Here's a photo from Flickr: on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Right now, we have three gaur: the male Hercules, the female Flower, and a little male born this year who has tentatively been named "Forrest" (good job Quartz!). Flower and Hercules were both born at the Henry Doorly Zoo's "ranch" in Omaha Nebraska, and arrived in Toronto a couple of years ago. Their calf from last year was "Lilly" - she just moved to Parc Safari in Quebec.
The gaur exhibit is okay from my perspective ... I really liked it a few years ago (before Flower and Herc arrived), because the reduced number of animals meant the vegetation really got a chance to GROW ... it was nice and lush and thick and tall! Recently, though, some trees were planted, and then surrounded by big boulders to try and keep the gaur back (although I've seen them get between them!) ... the result is a bit jarring. Hopefully when the trees mature, it will improve aesthetically.
I am not sure when the new tapir is supposed to arrive ... we've been hearing about her coming for probably two years now! There is lots of paperwork involved for both zoos (I believe she is coming from the Bronx Zoo - and crossing an international border is always a bit complicated!).
Thanks for the reminder about your photos MARK!
Female Indian rhino (off exhibit) @ Toronto zoo Canada - Photo Gallery
This photo is looking down behind the rhino stalls - the indoor exhibit would be on the right side of the pens (hallway > pens > exhibit). Looking down the hallway, the door in the larger stall at the end leads to the main outdoor paddock. There is also another door from that pen exiting to the left that leads to a smaller (now off-exhibit) yard.
Now on to my thoughts on the Pavilion itself ...
As Zoogoer wrote, the pavilion has only two major exhibits at its centre: the gibbons and orangutans. The public pathway more-or-less circles the orangutan exhibit, and there is public viewing to it from lots of different angles, including an elevated platform through glass, glass at ground level, and across a water moat. Keeping trees alive with orangutans indoors would be pretty tough - the only way would be if the orangs couldn't get to them! While the current climbing structures (green poles : on Flickr - Photo Sharing!) don't look that natural, they are very functional, and use the vertical space in the exhibit very well (they reach at least three storeys high in the centre of the exhibit). I agree that the exhibit could use some more landscaping (hills), but they are trying to grow some grass on the ground (the soil isn't that great, though). An outdoor exhibit has been talked about for some time, but other projects have taken priority.
Compared to the orang exhibit, the gibbon enclosure is very natural. There are the same green pipe climbing structures, but they are surrounded by trees (Ficus among others) and kind of "disappear". There IS actually a glass viewing area, ZooGoer, just before the hornbill aviary. The gibbons' names are Holly (female) and Lenny (male). The holding consists of two large pens set up so that the gibbons must pass through one to get to the other from the exhibit. The shift doors are located high up (you can see the one from the exhibit), which works really well for arboreal primates! The exhibit used to house Malayan tapirs as well, and so there are two other holding stalls beside the gibbon off-exhibit enclosures, with ground-level access to the exhibit (if the babirusa arrive, this is where they will be living).
Around the edge of the pavilion are several walk-through aviaries and smaller exhibits, including a small exhibit for false gharial and Malaysian painted river turtles complete with underwater viewing (the gharial is now too large for the exhibit), an enclosure for Prevost's squirrels (tucked away beside the upper orang viewing, and often missed). The "big tank" is one of my favourite fish exhibits at the zoo - it is relatively "thin" for the fish, but is very long and is curved into a semicircle, so that you are surrounded by fish from the viewing area. Originally, this tank housed lots of smaller fish, but last year most of the jumbo gouramis were moved into the tank. There is also a large reticulated python, and several small (fairly standard) reptile exhibits.
The gaur building is open to the public on most days (you can try the doors even when they are outside - sometimes they are open. HINT: try the "Exit" door). It is the only "barn-style" viewing at the zoo, where the public can actually see the holding stalls for the animals. The building is shaped like a short and broad wedge (~1/3 of a pie), with the public area at the "hub", and the gaur stalls along the longer arc. The stalls have a barrier of several cables at their front, then are separated from the public by a dry moat. Here's a photo from Flickr: on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Right now, we have three gaur: the male Hercules, the female Flower, and a little male born this year who has tentatively been named "Forrest" (good job Quartz!). Flower and Hercules were both born at the Henry Doorly Zoo's "ranch" in Omaha Nebraska, and arrived in Toronto a couple of years ago. Their calf from last year was "Lilly" - she just moved to Parc Safari in Quebec.
The gaur exhibit is okay from my perspective ... I really liked it a few years ago (before Flower and Herc arrived), because the reduced number of animals meant the vegetation really got a chance to GROW ... it was nice and lush and thick and tall! Recently, though, some trees were planted, and then surrounded by big boulders to try and keep the gaur back (although I've seen them get between them!) ... the result is a bit jarring. Hopefully when the trees mature, it will improve aesthetically.
I have heard many things about the polar bears, if you can just say the real thing.
I have heard we will be getting Bisitek back, and i have also herd we are getting Nikita and Aurora. Which one is true or if they are true?
And do you now of any animals that are comming in the next 5 years?
I have heard we will be getting Bisitek back, and i have also herd we are getting Nikita and Aurora. Which one is true or if they are true?
And do you now of any animals that are comming in the next 5 years?
I'll be visiting the Toronto Zoo in July for the first time, as it is part of my zoo-going summer road trip plans, but I am disappointed that there are still no plans to create an outdoor exhibit for the orangutans. I can recall seeing countless episodes of Zoo Diaries, and I was always dismayed to see the orangs in their concrete indoor exhibit. For such a massive zoo, it's shocking that there is still only an indoor area for a great ape species. It's probably a rarity these days to see great ape exhibits that don't have both indoor and outdoor viewing, but at the same time I understand the financial concerns in expanding such enclosures. Hopefully in a few years the orangs can touch grass and climb on actual trees as they brachiate...
Zoogoer2000
Well-Known Member
since were talking about he orangs, i wwondering what days Jingga and Kembali were born on and who is Jingga's mother?I thought it was Ramai but someone told me it was Jahe
Zoogoer2000
Well-Known Member
sorry to bother you but you forgot the tigers
Ah, yes ... the tigers.
I like the concept of the (main) exhibit, being partly in the forest, but would agree that the mesh is a bit much, especially for the public viewing from the boardwalk. I don't mind it so much at the back of the enclosure, since it does tend to disappear into the background.
The exhibit has actually grown a bit in size over the past five years. Originally there was only a single path about two meters wide running through the trees at the back of the enclosure to protect the trees from the tigers, and to reduce the chances of someone climbing out. The major trees are still surrounded by hotwire, but the tigers have significantly more room to play back there now. The glass viewing from the pavilion is nice, but I have always wanted to see the hotwire removed from along the glass, or at least reduced so there could be some close encounters. (The collection of condensation on the windows - especially during winter - is a major issue as well).
I was very disappointed with the construction of the maternity exhibit - it is more-or-less a carbon copy of the main exhibit, except with fewer trees, less topography, and poor viewing.
The house is a very plain set-up - there is a single row of five or six (?) pens with doors leading out to the meshed-in yard.
Polar Bears:
Nothing has been decided for sure, since it will be at least a year before the bears can move back in. I think it is doubtful that Bisi will return, simply because she is so old. I would place more faith in Nikita and Aurora being on display when the exhibit opens.
New animals: Haven't we been here before earlier on this thread?!?!
I like the concept of the (main) exhibit, being partly in the forest, but would agree that the mesh is a bit much, especially for the public viewing from the boardwalk. I don't mind it so much at the back of the enclosure, since it does tend to disappear into the background.
The exhibit has actually grown a bit in size over the past five years. Originally there was only a single path about two meters wide running through the trees at the back of the enclosure to protect the trees from the tigers, and to reduce the chances of someone climbing out. The major trees are still surrounded by hotwire, but the tigers have significantly more room to play back there now. The glass viewing from the pavilion is nice, but I have always wanted to see the hotwire removed from along the glass, or at least reduced so there could be some close encounters. (The collection of condensation on the windows - especially during winter - is a major issue as well).
I was very disappointed with the construction of the maternity exhibit - it is more-or-less a carbon copy of the main exhibit, except with fewer trees, less topography, and poor viewing.
The house is a very plain set-up - there is a single row of five or six (?) pens with doors leading out to the meshed-in yard.
Polar Bears:
Nothing has been decided for sure, since it will be at least a year before the bears can move back in. I think it is doubtful that Bisi will return, simply because she is so old. I would place more faith in Nikita and Aurora being on display when the exhibit opens.
New animals: Haven't we been here before earlier on this thread?!?!
Zoogoer2000
Well-Known Member
Hi, i was thinking of doing the Africa review 2nite but i was wondering if i should wait till Monday.Your choice
Zoogoer2000
Well-Known Member
k then, i'll do it 2nite.This one is going to be prettty big so get ready.
African Rainforest Pavilion:The african pavilion is the best on zoo grounds.Foliage here is breath-taking.Lets start with the mandrills.I like this enclosure but its kind of bare.I will they would plant some kind of foliage in here.I love the viewing window but the mesh is weird looking.The little door wells popping up are ugly as well but they seem happy here and it looks decent, what do the holdings look like and what are the names.The pygmy hippos are another favourite.the habitat is beautifal and especially the pool.I've always wanted to see underwater viewing here but either then that i think its nice here. I LOVE the glass.what does the holding look like here and why do the hippos live in the rr hog and warty habitat on ocassion?the rr hogs have a nice area.The fence looks very natural but there always outside.It would be cool if they tried mixing them with the mandrills.What are the current names,what does the holding look like and do the rr hogs ever go in the forest outdoor habiat or the rr hog indoor one anymore. Oh ya, did they have babies again this year?The meerkats have a good habitat.The window is cool but it would be better if they could be outdoors some times because did'nt they used to?How many are there right now, five?The glass viewing is nice too. What does the holding look like and what are the names.the otters have a very cool pen. The full underwater viewing is great and so is the little bank area.What are the names of these otters and what does holding look like?The gorillas are spectacularly magnificent.The big tree ruin is very nice but if they add more climbing space they could have colobus here as well.Why did'nt the zoo ever aquire chimps for the pavilon?The wall mural is great too. The dayroom is cool too and the outdoor is great. The climbing strucute is good but i never see charles up there.What does the holding look like,is the zoo ever going to breed Jo and what are the plans for Subira?
I'll do african savanna soon
African Rainforest Pavilion:The african pavilion is the best on zoo grounds.Foliage here is breath-taking.Lets start with the mandrills.I like this enclosure but its kind of bare.I will they would plant some kind of foliage in here.I love the viewing window but the mesh is weird looking.The little door wells popping up are ugly as well but they seem happy here and it looks decent, what do the holdings look like and what are the names.The pygmy hippos are another favourite.the habitat is beautifal and especially the pool.I've always wanted to see underwater viewing here but either then that i think its nice here. I LOVE the glass.what does the holding look like here and why do the hippos live in the rr hog and warty habitat on ocassion?the rr hogs have a nice area.The fence looks very natural but there always outside.It would be cool if they tried mixing them with the mandrills.What are the current names,what does the holding look like and do the rr hogs ever go in the forest outdoor habiat or the rr hog indoor one anymore. Oh ya, did they have babies again this year?The meerkats have a good habitat.The window is cool but it would be better if they could be outdoors some times because did'nt they used to?How many are there right now, five?The glass viewing is nice too. What does the holding look like and what are the names.the otters have a very cool pen. The full underwater viewing is great and so is the little bank area.What are the names of these otters and what does holding look like?The gorillas are spectacularly magnificent.The big tree ruin is very nice but if they add more climbing space they could have colobus here as well.Why did'nt the zoo ever aquire chimps for the pavilon?The wall mural is great too. The dayroom is cool too and the outdoor is great. The climbing strucute is good but i never see charles up there.What does the holding look like,is the zoo ever going to breed Jo and what are the plans for Subira?
I'll do african savanna soon
Zoogoer2000
Well-Known Member
I'll try savanna.
African elephant habitat:The elephants are my first exhibit leaving african pavilion.The front paddock in my mind is okay.I think size wise its really good but its somewhat unappealing.Some ideas i had inslude misters that cool of the elephants in the front yard and rocks in the habitat.The back yard is better in my eyes.The viewing area is nicer and the pool is very natural looking.Maybe someday they could rodatill the paddocks to make the ground a bit softer on the elephants feet for a day or two?I hope once they expand that the indoor habitat looks a little more natual than the rhino house and that they make it large enough that they have enough room.speaking of room,what does the holding look like and how did the male elephant die and when?
Warthog kopje habitat:the warthogs enclosure is very modern if i do say so.The kopje formation fits in perfectly and rounds it all off.I don't think i'd like them to make any changes except maybe glass viewing at one point or maybe letting the rr hogs explore it for a day every week or something?Who are the current hogs,did they have babies this year and what do the holdings look like?
River hippo habitat:The hippos have a dryed out river kind of feeling to it that I love.The rocks and sticks make it look very african and the pool at the end is very clean and nice(something my mom is big on).The only thing i'd like to see is an underwater viewing area like Hippaquarium!?That would be really neat as the pool is clean enough for it probably.What do the holdings look like.
Impala/kudu/stork habitat:This one is very nice and i love how they mix them together like natural africa.The circle rock viewing is very natural and the grass looks african.Has the zoo ever thought of getting okapi or a type of forest antelope for the africa area?If so ,what?The mixed area looks like its attached to the rhinos actually.I don't think i'd make changes here.What do the holdign look like?
white rhino paddock:the white rhinos have an extremely large paddock so its beyond me why they only have one or two?!Again, i would'nt do much here except maybe add a few kinds of antelope or another type of animal.The pool at the end is ncie except for the revolting netting.I also like the rasied picnic hut because it looks really natural.What does the holding look like and what are there names.
zebra/crane/stork paddock:This one is good as well.I know i sound like a robot but I thin kthere nothing to change around here except adding more species.Here i could see wildebeast,thomsons gazelle and dik dik as well.If not here for the dik dik, maybe the pavilion, they need a deer species.What do the holdigns look like around here and is Zebrina still at the zoo.
cheetah habitat
African elephant habitat:The elephants are my first exhibit leaving african pavilion.The front paddock in my mind is okay.I think size wise its really good but its somewhat unappealing.Some ideas i had inslude misters that cool of the elephants in the front yard and rocks in the habitat.The back yard is better in my eyes.The viewing area is nicer and the pool is very natural looking.Maybe someday they could rodatill the paddocks to make the ground a bit softer on the elephants feet for a day or two?I hope once they expand that the indoor habitat looks a little more natual than the rhino house and that they make it large enough that they have enough room.speaking of room,what does the holding look like and how did the male elephant die and when?
Warthog kopje habitat:the warthogs enclosure is very modern if i do say so.The kopje formation fits in perfectly and rounds it all off.I don't think i'd like them to make any changes except maybe glass viewing at one point or maybe letting the rr hogs explore it for a day every week or something?Who are the current hogs,did they have babies this year and what do the holdings look like?
River hippo habitat:The hippos have a dryed out river kind of feeling to it that I love.The rocks and sticks make it look very african and the pool at the end is very clean and nice(something my mom is big on).The only thing i'd like to see is an underwater viewing area like Hippaquarium!?That would be really neat as the pool is clean enough for it probably.What do the holdings look like.
Impala/kudu/stork habitat:This one is very nice and i love how they mix them together like natural africa.The circle rock viewing is very natural and the grass looks african.Has the zoo ever thought of getting okapi or a type of forest antelope for the africa area?If so ,what?The mixed area looks like its attached to the rhinos actually.I don't think i'd make changes here.What do the holdign look like?
white rhino paddock:the white rhinos have an extremely large paddock so its beyond me why they only have one or two?!Again, i would'nt do much here except maybe add a few kinds of antelope or another type of animal.The pool at the end is ncie except for the revolting netting.I also like the rasied picnic hut because it looks really natural.What does the holding look like and what are there names.
zebra/crane/stork paddock:This one is good as well.I know i sound like a robot but I thin kthere nothing to change around here except adding more species.Here i could see wildebeast,thomsons gazelle and dik dik as well.If not here for the dik dik, maybe the pavilion, they need a deer species.What do the holdigns look like around here and is Zebrina still at the zoo.
cheetah habitat
Last edited:
Meaghan Edwards
Well-Known Member
It was a art display called Serpantine Mounds. Here's some info I found about it:
Work Detail
Ian Lazarus, Badanna Zack "The Rise of Serpentine Mounds"
Toronto Zoo > About the Toronto Zoo > Press Information
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