Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo - Developments 2016

With the second cam being on Da Mao's current exhibit, could that maybe be an indicator that the cubs might eventually be shifting over to that enclosure and the larger outdoor area?
 
Didn't think of that m30t. Personally, I would love to see the Panda cubs in the large outdoor exhibit. More room for them and mom, while giving us photographers a nice clear, unobstructed viewing to take photos.
 
Ok I pre apologize for the following death report because I have nothing uplifting to follow it with.

Vancouver Island Marmot - Sammi
Bison - Chris and Shirley due to old age
Grey Kangaroo - Robbo... a death blow to breeding since the zoo has been having trouble finding a new breeding male with the onset of arthritis in Robbo.
Zebra... yes zebra - Luke. He was found dead no further details.

In other less depressing news. Here is the capital campaign. It gives us an order we should be able to expect for the master plan.

2016-2018 - Orang Outdoor
2017 - Mayan Temple - jaguar exhibit expansion, say good bye to the spider monkeys which is a real pity, upgrade to flamingos, perhaps a new llama exhibit between the temple and pavilion.
2018 - 2020 - Orang Indoor - no longer described as a full indo malayan reno so who knows.
2020 - 2022 - Hippo - a big swing forward for the project. Must have been a concern for the AZA. It was originally sceduled for the early 2030's.
2022 - 2024 - Gorilla Outdoor
2024 - 2026 - Breeding Center
2026 - 2028 - Education and Discovery Center

During this time there are four externally funded projects.

Front entrance and plaza
Canadian Wilderness
Americas Pavilion conversion
Jeep ride for the savanna

http://www.torontozoo.com/pdfs/org/20160818/2016-2026.Capital Budget.cover.pdf
 
Said news about the deaths. Especially Zebra, Luke. Very unexpected. I wonder what happened?

As for the Capital Budget, where did you manage to find that?

Anyways, it's given us some nice information. Haven't really looked it over yet, but what you provided sounds great.

Last I heard, construction of the Orangutan Outdoor exhibit is scheduled for Spring 2017. Doubt it;ll actually start then, but one can hope.

I'm also pretty happy to hear about the Mayan Temple expansion. Improving on the Jaguar exhibit is a must. I just hope we get a decent viewing that's not through glaring windows and terrible fencing.
 
I found it by typing in Toronto Zoo capital campaign on google looking for an older one. I didn't expect to find the new one.

I believe in the 2017 start so long as the gaur disappear this fall or over the winter. The health center is ahead of schedule. The report said it should be done by years end with an opening in early 2017 which likely just means sprucing up and moving in time over the winter before a big grand opening.

I'm happy about the temple improvement too but sad that the spider monkeys seem to be going. I would rather the zoo reinvest in a new spider monkey home than waste space with a llama exhibit. In that big empty field so many more impressive exhibits could be built.
 
Spider monkeys need a fair amount of space. In theory they could possibly move in with the capybara but the land space for them is not that great. And the pavilion wouldn't be an option at least at this time.
 
What's the Spider Monkey situation right now? As in how much do we have, what are their ages, and are they actually needed for breeding? I think depending on those answers, plus other information would narrow down the likely hood of keeping them.
 
There are four spider monkeys. They are all the offspring of our former pair Wally and Julie. Mittens is the oldest born in 1997 so he's nearly 20. He is the one with the shakes because of a brain injury as a baby. He has been sterilized. Next is sister Eve born in 2003 on Christmas Eve. Then male Toque born in 2007. He has been removed from the group because he was getting aggressive with Mittens. He may or may not have been moved to another zoo. I have no firm evidence either way. Lastly is female Poppy born on Remembrance Day 2011. So no they are not a breeding group. Poppy and Eve could be bred. Problem may be getting spider monkeys across the border. Prior to the deaths of their parents there was a recommendation to swap out one of them for the opposite gender at Calgary. Now that Calgary no longer has a South American building there are no spider monkeys to swap.
 
Went to the zoo today and noticed a few noteworthy tidbits.

Not really news, but I thought it was pretty cute. At the Indian Rhino exhibit Nandu was lying on the ground, not moving, while mom Asha was walking around eating some grass. There was a small group of children, I’d guess anywhere from 7-9 years old, who all thought Nandu was dead, despite their guide telling them he was sleeping. Kids seemed pretty sure he was dead, so one of the kids yelled out his name, and Nandu popped right up onto his feet. Kids cheered and laughed. Pretty adorable.

Gorillas Sadiki and Nassir were out in the outdoor exhibit, while the rest of the troop was indoors. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Sadiki, and I can confidently say he’s grown quite a bit. Nassir seemed pretty intimidated by him, always moving away from him, while Sadiki was seemingly chasing him around. The chase was a slow and calm. It just seemed weird that Nassir didn’t want anything to do with Sadiki. Also, Nassir has a visible injury on the top of his head, while Sadiki had 2 cuts around his mouth.

With Nassir away, Nneka decided to try and play with Johari, who seemed pretty annoyed with Nneka.

Noticed Warthog Lucy with just 1 of her piglets on exhibit. She was also with 1 piglet on Monday as well.

As of Monday the Radiated Tortoise are no longer in their exhibit. Instead the Ornate Nile Monitor is alone in the exhibit. The sign for the Nile Monitor no longer has the “off exhibit” signage covering it. As for the exhibit where the Nile Monitor was, next to the Royal Pythons, that exhibit is now housing the Home's Hingeback Tortoise, who’s regular exhibit is empty due to “exhibit refurbishment”. The Radiated Tortoise must be off exhibit, as they are nowhere to be found.

Still no word on a full time replacement for the Arctic Foxes, although getting more Foxes may be back on the table.
 
Given the age of the warthog piglets I would say it's a safe bet that Lucy was on exhibit with her lone daughter Savannah. The boys would now all be seeing their mom and sister as potential mates.
 
On Saturday, the radiated tortoises had been where the Home's Hingeback tortoises used to be.

As of Monday the Radiated Tortoise are no longer in their exhibit. Instead the Ornate Nile Monitor is alone in the exhibit. The sign for the Nile Monitor no longer has the “off exhibit” signage covering it. As for the exhibit where the Nile Monitor was, next to the Royal Pythons, that exhibit is now housing the Home's Hingeback Tortoise, who’s regular exhibit is empty due to “exhibit refurbishment”. The Radiated Tortoise must be off exhibit, as they are nowhere to be found.
 
Given the age of the warthog piglets I would say it's a safe bet that Lucy was on exhibit with her lone daughter Savannah. The boys would now all be seeing their mom and sister as potential mates.

Makes sense. When was the daughter born?

On Saturday, the radiated tortoises had been where the Home's Hingeback tortoises used to be.

Huh. I don't remember seeing them in there this visit, although I don't remember really looking. I'll take your word for it, and hopefully someone can clarify it.
 
Huh, I thought the piglets were all male. Didn't realize one of them was female.
 
Nope the warthog litter had female Savannah with brothers Bert, Riley and Ru. In theory Savannah could stay on with Lucy indefinitely and breed with a new male when he is eventually selected.
 
Thanks for that TZFan. Things make so much more sense now. So during my last couple visits, chances are I saw Lucy and Savannah with each other. Let's hope a new male is brought in soon.

I miss seeing Norm with those large tusks of his.
 
Never a problem Cypher. I do not know where the boys are. They could be rotating on exhibit. The boys could also be gone but I haven't heard anything to that effect. The SSP is from 2015 and was super wrong. I still had Stephane (the father), Norm and Woody all alive and the four piglets not existing. Maybe we will find out what will or did happen to them and their older siblings when the next ssp or studbook comes out.
 
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