Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Developments 2021

I think it's safe to say, as time progresses, the opening at this time is not set in stone.
 
Got one of those emails from the zoo updating on things going on at that zoo

They're bringing awareness to their new Tap Donation units. $5 per tap, and up to 10 taps per card. Visa, Mastercard, or Interac card are excepted.


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They also confirmed that they are looking at a 2022 Spring opening for the Outdoor Orangutan exhibit. They're still short $1.6 million. You can make donations here WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY | Orangutan Habitat Project
 
True it is for the staff members and Volunteers, but definitely with the safety of the animals in top priority. Especially with the Big Cats and the Great Apes.
 
I think we need to be very explicit here that it is a mandatory vaccination policy for staff and volunteers.

Sorry, you're right @m30t, that's my fault. It's slipped my mind to say that specifically, because of all the mandated talk going on in Toronto news. I also posted a link to the article, but still should've explained a bit further. Thanks for clearing that up.
 
The zoo is looking for 2 casual keepers. The keeping jobs dont come up often so for any interested.

https://www.torontozoo.com/!/pdfs/jobs/grant keeper 2021-08-24 external.pdf

There is also a senior vet position.

https://www.torontozoo.com/!/pdfs/jobs/Senior Veterinarian 2021-05-03.pdf

And lastly a position for a Business Partner to the Sr. Director of Strategic Communications & Guest Experience, and the Director of Guest Experience

https://www.torontozoo.com/!/pdfs/j...o Sr. Director SC GE Director external V2.pdf

The next bathroom due for upgrade is the one in the education center.

https://www.torontozoo.com/pdfs/rfp/2021/TZC T 03-2021-08 - COMBINED.pdf

If you follow Dolf DeJong's instagram he posted a photo on his story this morning a review of some plans for a building at the zoo. I cant figure out what building it is. One of the plans says LSS building but I have no clue what that is. Does anyone else have a clue what it is?
 
Not sure what the building us but it appears they are going with Zeidler again the same company building the orangutan habitat. Also if you zoom in there seems to be teaching labs in the building As well in the purple partit says admission cashiers, so could be the new entrance building, To add on in the same purple building it says Retail so possible gift shop? As well this building will have washrooms, clearly for public guests as in the plan drawn up there are a lot of stalls. So those were my takeaways from the unclear image and a few words I could make out but overall the building looks neat and looks like it will be open to guests.
 
I screencapped the pic in question so for anyone who doesn't have insta or missed his story here it is. Looks to me like the new building they're gonna be putting at the entrance in place of the greenhouse
 
Oh right front entrance plans could be it. I dont know why I had it in my head it would just be a reno of something. That makes a ton of sense. I had tried to zoom in as well but I couldnt make anything out.
 
Just checked Dolf's insta story again and there's another interesting pic, it's some kind of big tool with the caption "big plans in the Savanna!" here it is for anyone who missed it or doesn't have insta

When I went earlier this week I didn't see any construction going on besides the washrooms and the giraffe roof repairs, anyone know what this could be about?
 
Oh that tool is an auger. Digs holes for fences and concrete footers for posts for structures. I didn't think there were any big jobs for the savanna on tap other than jobs @hyena142 mentioned. But Dolf is a crafty guy. None of us thought the bathrooms would be getting facelifts though Im sure we all prayed for it or Goat World or the O-Line that will come out of the front of the Indo pavilion. Interesting to see what he has planned. I doubt guest fencing would be "big plans in the Savanna!" Good think you are all back to visiting. One of you will figure it out soon enough or Dolf will reveal the surprise to those watching his Instagram account eventually.
 
Dolf has something up his sleeve that we don’t know, but when he goes with a plan he goes big and stuff looks good, the Tundra Trek bathroom was creative and colourful and really different from the old run down one. So hopefully these Savanna plans are going to be good.
 
The provincial government is giving the zoo $2.4 million for improved accessibility throughout the zoo including the pathways, boardwalk and bathrooms. The federal government is chipping in an additional $4.9 million for the project for a total of $7.3 million. We all wondered how they would do all this work and fund it in Covid impacted world. This will certainly go some way in doing just that. Looks like we should be seeing an explosion of pathway work to match the bathroom work from the last year.
 
The zoo has posted on the website that the following animals will be off exhibit on the following days.

September 7th: Eland and Wildebeest will be off exhibit
September 8th: Wildebeest will be off exhibit and Penguins will only be viewable from lower level exhibit
September 9th: Eland and Ostriches will be off exhibit
September 10th: Ostriches will be off exhibit

I wonder if it has anything to do with the big savanna project Dolf showed the auger for. If anyone is there those days might be areas to hit up to see what they are up to.

The walkabout is also closed until further notice (probably a covid related closure).
 
Interesting that the wildebeest and the ostriches seem to be the focus here, it's 2 days of no wildebeest followed up by 2 days of no ostriches. I remember years ago they wanted to try and put them together and make them part of the Zoomobile drive-thru, could this have something to do with that? The elands being involved as well is a head scratcher since they're way away from the other two. Hmm. I wouldn't be surprised if the penguins being here is just a timing coincidence and they're just having some maintenance done outside that day but I could be wrong

They're probably just gonna keep the walkabout closed until covid's all clear, there's no reason to risk one of the roos getting sick just so people can have a shortcut to the tigers. It's kinda lame we lost it for so long because the pandas kept it closed but then we got it back when they left aaaaand now it's closed again like a year later lol. oh well, it'll be back eventually
 
Well gotta give it to the Savanna team, They've been busy. They had to integrate Poe, Hopefully they are working on getting the eland and ostriches comfortable or even the wildebeest. With 4 straight days its definitely a little odd.

The Combination possibilities based on the dates:

Sept. 7 Eland and wildebeest could meet each other as they are two hoof stock species
Sept. 8 Possibly based on how things go with Eland they could sleep in the same barn as the Eland
Sept. 9 Eland meet the Ostriches
Sept. 10 Ostriches get comfortable with their new friends.

THESE ARE JUST THEORIES

Or they are fixing up the exhibits, Starting with the Eland and wildebeest, then they keep progressing so on and so on.

But why wouldn't they just fix up the Wildebeest and Ostrich exhibits at the same time? Oh only the Lions would have that view and know everything that's happening as they are neighbours with everyone in that possible mix and they never let their eyes of the herd species with view.
 
@hyena142, I wish you were right about the ostriches and wildebeest being combined. Problem with that is the ostriches are going to be off display shorty for the winter. Why bother mixing them now when they will just be pulled in a month to be moved to the rhino barn? I think it would make more sense to do that in the spring if they were so inclined. Also less likely with Zednick on the mend from her wing amputation.

@Akula I think it will be something far more mundane than introductions for mixed exhibits. There really wouldn't be much need to take them off exhibit for intros anyway. More space is better for intros so the exhibits would be ideal.

It would be more likely if we combine the fact we have the auger involved we are looking at some sort of barrier work or maybe shade structures going in.

If no one is going in the next few days and can figure it out for us all, hopefully good old reliable Dolf will spoil it for us on Instagram.
 
Well the wildebeest will be off exhibit for Monday September 13th and Tuesday September 14th.

Then the Lions will be off exhibit for Wednesday, September 15th and Thursday September 16th
 
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