Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Developments 2017

Agree with you 100% @tjcf2014. Either fill the tank with fish or replace the exhibit. Also, the need to do something about the lighting in that hallway. Too dim to get a decent shot of anything.
 
Agree with you 100% @tjcf2014. Either fill the tank with fish or replace the exhibit. Also, the need to do something about the lighting in that hallway. Too dim to get a decent shot of anything.

It's obvious that the fish will come back sooner or later... but if they're going to take years to come back then what's the point of leaving all those tanks as is!? Another good point, what's the point of even going to the African Rainforest pavilion in the first place if four of the exhibits are going to be left empty!?
 
Also, Welcome to the zoochat forums. Always great to have a new voice.

Thanks for welcoming me! I probably won't comment all that much, but I do love the Toronto Zoo, which is the main reason why I made this account in the first place...
 
I was at the Zoo a couple weeks ago and was hoping to see the giant freshwater puffer as last time the whole section was off display. And yes it is still off display but instead of being covered by just generic coverings there was some information about a conservation initiative involving African fish I believe, perhaps foreshadowing a future display. I was able to look behind the banner and the tanks are filled with clean water but otherwise baron. I really like those fish displays as they look quite natural and im a fish guy myself.
 
I was at the Zoo a couple weeks ago and was hoping to see the giant freshwater puffer as last time the whole section was off display. And yes it is still off display but instead of being covered by just generic coverings there was some information about a conservation initiative involving African fish I believe, perhaps foreshadowing a future display. I was able to look behind the banner and the tanks are filled with clean water but otherwise baron. I really like those fish displays as they look quite natural and im a fish guy myself.

Yeah... I really like those fish displays too...

I was actually able to go to Zoo Camp in 2015, and I remember going to where they keep the fish and them saying that bichir eels would be put in the African fish aquarium... considering how much I like bichirs, you can guess how excited I was to hear that.
 
According to the zoo's facebook page, Two-Toed Slot Bob is now on exhibit in the America's Pavilion, and they imply that he's been paired with female Sally.
 
Out of curiosity, will Toronto ever consider getting elephants again or do they want to avoid them?
 
My own personal opinion only, but I cannot see it happening.
To get elephants again they would need to do it properly, which would require a massive indoor and outdoor exhibit at a massive cost. This zoo does not have those type of financial resources (even if it did, the question would have to be asked if that money could be put to much better use).
 
Finances aside their is so much controversy associated with elephants and the Toronto zoo that even if it was financially viable they wouldn't dare, and indeed they should not. If they had those funds there are 100 and 1 different other places at the zoo that they could use them on. Northern zoos, with long snowy winters should pretty much just avoid elephants going forward, better for the zoos, the public, and of course the elephants themselves. Though im a big zoo supporter I must say keeping these massive intelligent animals indoors for months is rather cruel to me...
 
I recently received the sixth issue of Wild for Life, and picked up a few things of interest.

Firstly, it highlighted much of what we already learned from the new Master Plan. Seemingly, the zoo plans on doing everything presented in the Master Plan, which is good, but things can always change. There was a single picture (Conceptual art) showing that the River Otter exhibit that's planned for the entrance will have an underwater viewing.

Issue mentions that the new female Cheetah that arrived (didn't say from where) is named Lani and was given nose to nose contact with males Bomani and Patonga. That was back in January.

There's a confirmation that the plan in for the Pandas to leave March 2018.

There's a section that highlights the Gorilla Troop which was a pretty interesting read, especially for those uninformed about the troop. In it, it mentions that Johair is currently on birth control to avoid becoming pregnant. It's rare for females to live this long with their father, as a new male usually comes along and takes over the troop or the female leaves to be with a new troop. So the birth control is a precaution. It also mentions that in the future, Johari may be sent to another zoo to breed with a male or an new male will be brought in for her to breed with. I assume the latter option is on the assumption that Charles passes away.

Back in December, Tree Kangaroos were observed breeding.

There was an arrival of a Wattled Crane. No date of arrival, name, gender or where it came from.

Komodo Dragon Kiki underwent an ultrasound which revealed developing follicles for the first time. Always a good sign, especially given her history.

Wombats showed all the signs of potential mating, but no mating was actually seen. This was in December.

If anything else comes up in my browsing of the issue I'll post about it.
 
The wattled crane is Cedric. He arrived last fall (October, I believe).
I've noticed that the wombats have been kept completely apart (the door between the large & small viewing areas has been closed) the last couple months...gestation is about 1 month, pouch life is 7 or 8 months...

There was an arrival of a Wattled Crane. No date of arrival, name, gender or where it came from.
Wombats showed all the signs of potential mating, but no mating was actually seen. This was in December.
 
Visited the zoo today, just a few quick notes from the cheetah keeper talk. The keeper mentioned the pregnancy during the talk (referring to it as probable). Sounds like it is the recently arrived cheetah that is pregnant.
They said she is due in about three weeks, but they do not expect any cubs to go on exhibit till fall.
They also mentioned that there are no plans to have the cheetah run again this summer. Of the three who were trained to run it only Emma remains at the zoo, and her advanced age is a concern. Additionally there were some incidents last year with the cheetahs colliding with stationary objects during the run, which is also a concern.
 
Nice update @m30t. Which Cheetah(s) are on exhibit? Kinda sucks that the cheetah run will be a no show this summer.
 
I agree, I always enjoyed the run.
Emma was out today, I did not catch the names of the others but the keeper said it's a three cheetah rotation right now, each one a female by herself as they do not get along.
The males are kept in a different, non-public area of the zoo.
 
So, judging from what you said the Keeper said, only Emma remains of the 3 Cheetahs that were trained for the run. That means Akeelah and Cleo have been sent away. Tika may still be around, and the new arrival in named Lani.

I'm sure @TZFan can fill in the details about the departures of the Cheetahs. I remember mention of them scheduled to leave.
 
I think that is right. He said that two of the three who were on exhibit together last summer were sent to other facilities.
 
I hope they try putting multiple Cheetah's together again. The exhibit is so big for just 1 Cheetah being out at a time. Multiple Cheetahs made it more lively at times. I also wish they would reconsider putting males back on exhibit. Keepers say the main reason they aren't out, outside of breeding season, is because they are actually more skiddish than the females.
 
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