Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Developments 2021

So whatever they're working on in the savanna is still going. I wonder what's happening at the wildebeest that needs them to be off for another 2 days? The lions being in the mix is also interesting since they're in the same area as the other 3 that've been going off exhibit recently. I'm gonna try and fit in a visit this week, hopefully I can see what's going on
 
Thanks @hyena142 for the hopeful visit soon as I do wonder what it is, I saw on dolf's social media that they put in shade structures but for a simple shade structure like that it's taking a long time, plus, In the images the Lions already have a shade structure in the exhibit built so why would they need to be off again? Just doesn't make sense that the wildebeest would need to be off for a total of 4 days to build such a simple shade structure. The lions is definitely a weird throw in that mix, and definitely needs some explanation as its all been the hoof stock species and they are the first cats in that mix.
 
I think the Savanna work is just general maintenance, and maybe adding a few things like the shade structures. So far it looks like a shade structure has been added in the Eland and Lion exhibits. Since they're added these for certain Savanna animals, it's not far off to think they might do some general fixing up while they're in the exhibits.
 
I thought the same thing about the general fix ups, but wouldn't they typically do that in one day as those structures didn't look complicated and probably only took a few hours to put together but I could be wrong, I think the big thing is the wildebeest as they are off the most for 4 days. So let's keep our eyes out for any news.
 
Yes, let's keep our eyes and ears peeled. I would think that those shelters wouldn't need that long to install, but if there's other things going on, it might talk someone asking around to find out.
 
The zoo has partnered with female artists of colour for a new art project described on Facebook as follows...

"In Our Nature is a community-minded multidisciplinary public art project that celebrates Women of Colour in the Scarborough community through five mural panel installations and musical performances. The murals will spotlight BIPOC women in Scarborough, who are active in community work, and feature them in a green space, changing the narrative around this group’s access, perceived safety and sense of belonging in public spaces. The artwork will purposefully degrade over time to reveal the underset images of the featured individuals beneath the greenery – their faces will be seen emerging from the ground. This is a 2021 City of Toronto #CulturalHotspot Signature Project in partnership with Mural Routes, the E.W.O.C. Project, the Community Arts Guild and your Toronto Zoo."

While I am not into art myself I am glad to see the zoo is partnering with artists to bring other cultural elements to the zoo. I have long thought they need to partner with the arts community more so they can appeal to a wider range of people, just like my belief that the zoo should turf the Compass group for food and look at contracting out local food trucks (with an emphasis on ethnic foods) in order to bring in the foodies. I think we are starting to see here some of the opening elements of the master plan where they reach out to a wider audience by bringing in unique cultural experiences. Might bore me but I know it will appeal to a lot of other people. I'm simple and looking forward to their Halloween hay bales again.
 
For those interested, the schedule for the next Board meeting is up.

Decision Body Profile


No reveal of the Master Plan yet, but they do list current Capital budget for the next 10 years. I believe this is subject to change dependent on the completion of the new Master Plan.

Also, it's safe to say that the next large scale project with be the new entrance, which they're calling a Community Conservation Campus.
 
Very interesting updated here. I find it hard to swallow there is reference to a river otter exhibit - originally a sea otter and penguin habitat....
 
I looked into it the document, and it mentions that the original plan was for River Otters, but then the zoo asked for a redesign to Sea Otters. No mention of Penguins though.
 
I love board meeting day!

The attendance report seems promising. While they are well below target numbers... the zoo was closed for 6 and a half months this year so yea its gonna be bad. But since opening attendance is up much quite a bit higher than last years numbers and those guests are also spending more when they visit so its helping. Hopefully they see a connection between the increased attendance and their strong social media presence that really took off when the pandemic began.

Interesting things I learned from the environmental report.

  • There was a significant flood in the domain in January which did a lot of infrastructure damage around the moose exhibit but the erosion stopped just short of their fence line. Repairs were made and further changes to prevent it were already in the works.
  • There was a sewage spill at the orang build site which was cleaned up but that could have been a contributing factor to the delays.
  • Black mould was found at the Restaurant Associates Administration Office, Caribou Café, and Twiga Restaurant and was dealt with prior to reopening.
  • The zoo is working on completely converting to LED lighting and is 30% there.
  • Planting the browse farm has begun.
  • The food drive during the Holiday Market and Holiday Drive-Thru 33,000 lbs of food was donated.
  • Also during the toy drive 43 cribs full of toys were donated.
Disappointing to read the changes to the front entrance are back to a river otter exhibit. Unless Im misreading the document which I pray I am. I mean I want the river otters out of the Americas but I would much prefer we add a conservation success story with the sea otters. Opening a new river otter exhibit will create buzz but not the same amount of buzz as a brand new species we have never had in Toronto before. Take the penguins. Could care less. But give me the sea otters. For reference its this specific document, last paragraph I am going off of.

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/zb/bgrd/backgroundfile-171421.pdf

I really dont get the purpose of the 10 year capital plan coming out before the new master plan. Seems pretty evident to all of us its going to be very different then the 2016 plan so why base it on that plan? Just wait for the new master plan and then do it because that capital plan is gonna change. Nice to see they plan to start on the entrance next year even if they have broken my heart by taking away sea otters. Pity they couldn't have capitalized on the last year and a half with all of the closures but who can plan for a pandemic? Just would have been an ideal time to get a lot of work done without guests. I highly doubt they are doing the savanna pavilion in 2023! And if an orang exhibit cost us $12 million there is no way its coming in anywhere near $14 million. Everything after that is laughable. We know they aren't doing rhino ridge since they are dumping the Indian rhinos! The Canadian Wilderness plan is up in the air too because the way that meeting I attended went I dont know that they are moving the domain. Though to be fair to that one they could just move it to the domain itself. Even the budget for the front entrance is in conflict with what their other report on the front entrance indicated. It shows they plan on $21 million while the one that crushed my dreams came in at $28 million and we all know they go over budget. Again I question the logic of a 10 year capital plan at this stage. Do they just like throwing money and time down the toilet? Do a 5 year plan and Ill buy that because I don't think the front entrance will even start next year. I bet 2023 and it will be a 2-3 year project. That seems like a much more reasonable timeline for all they planned to do.
 
Huh, seems I misread something, little annoyed with the change back to the River Otters over the Sea Otters. Kinda sucks.
 
I am super annoyed they told us they were doing sea otters. It would have been super easy on the drawing to just write otter and no one would have been the wiser. If you have plans we have a right to expect the one large exhibit with the new species would be what we get. I always figured the penguin habitat would be chopped when they ran out of money but the otters seemed a pretty sure thing.

Its been a bad two years with getting our hopes up with cool things. In 2019 they told us we were getting walruses in 2020. Well 2021 is winding down and there is no signs they are coming. We know they arent. The evidence is plain as day. Then they tell us we are getting sea otters and now we are loosing the hope of them. The animal plan said koalas but realistically I bet covid has destroyed any hope of that deal happening. By the time overseas transfers begin again, who knows when, the Aussies will have changed their mind. Part of the Aussies motivation was the fact the wild fires in late 2019/early 2020 meant they were over stocked on rescues who couldnt be released. They have now had 2 years to settle in with the animals so unless they have another massive disaster I don't know the motivation to export any koalas will be there. Honestly I wish I wasnt as in the know and I could just be surprised with new species when they debut. I can make that happen for myself but I also like knowing in advance. I'm 50% responsible for my own heart ache and crushed dreams.
 
Again I question the logic of a 10 year capital plan at this stage. Do they just like throwing money and time down the toilet? Do a 5 year plan and Ill buy that

How much money did producing the capital budget cost the zoo?

The problem with doing a five year plan is that while it may be acceptable to you, the city of Toronto may not feel the same. What fiscal reporting does the city require from it's boards?
Taking a look at multiple city boards, from the TRCA to Exhibition Place to the Library; they all have 10 year capital budgets.

ven the budget for the front entrance is in conflict with what their other report on the front entrance indicated. It shows they plan on $21 million while the one that crushed my dreams came in at $28 million and we all know they go over budget

It is not conflicting at all. The $28 million dollar plan has yet to be approved by the board. You cannot put that amount in the capital budget until the board approves it.

If you have plans we have a right to expect the one large exhibit with the new species would be what we get.

I respectfully disagree here about a "right." What we were looking at were very early plans. Plans evolve, not just at the Toronto Zoo but at almost every zoo I can recall reading plans for.
The primary focus of these plans was never the sea otter exhibit. The emphasis is on the "Conservation Campus", which there is a lot to be excited about in these documents including the partnerships with University of Toronto Scarborough Campus and Centennial College.
 
@m30t, I don't know what it cost to do the capital budget but honestly with the master plan due sometime very soon was it really worth it when they are just going to have to do it again once the master plan is approved? I doubt it. If it was due at a certain time for the city my guess is they could have just talked to the city and agreed to let the old capital plan stand with adjustments for the entrance and ongoing projects. Something can always be worked out. Though you do bring up a totally fair point about the rules of the city and capital plans. Maybe they cant get an extension because rules are too ridged. They may have ran out of time because the master plan team is dragging its heels still. We all know originally it was due late in 2020 and I do understand a pandemic and all. I'm pretty sure even before the pandemic most of us suspected it would take longer. We will never know all of the factors. Just a pity it could not have waited for the master plan so people don't have to do the same task twice in such a short period.

Fair point about the entrance cost. I hadn't considered that at all. You really cant budget for things that aren't approved especially on projects which will be the next ones to go and therefore the most important ones to get the numbers right with. This is why I love being able to share thoughts here. Sometimes I go with a one track mind and don't see the big picture then one of you points it out and things make so much more sense or I see a different point of view. I appreciate you pointing that out @m30t.

I agree to respectfully disagree about the otters. "Right" might have been a strong word though. I do agree plans change but when you are talking about just 2 exhibits that are the centerpiece for the project that's a lot different then say Tundra Trek, where they were redoing the whole area with multiple exhibits and cut the wolverines. If they weren't sure which they were planning on going with they could have easily just wrote otter or feature animal and no one would have got their hopes up. That problem though maybe we should blame the design team more for not being vague than the zoo who just published it. I do remember wondering at the time why some things just said otter and others said sea otter. They may have been trying to hide it and missed a few references. And being fair I am viewing all of this though the lens of someone who is really disappointed in a lot of the animal changes at the zoo lately. To me it feels like the rug keeps getting pulled out from under us with big ticket animals both in animals they have let us think might come and those they are phasing out. I personally was really hoping the sea otters arriving would lessen the sting of loosing 5 or so key animals I adore. I have no other big animal to cling to for hope because I have severely doubted the koalas since learning about them. I hope I am wrong but I know its probably going to be a miracle if we get them. Sea otters seemed like the most attainable of the big 3 the zoo let us know could be coming. Oh well nothing we can do about it anyway other than vent frustration and disappointment then move on.

The focus for the zoo might be the Conservation Campus but lets face facts guests don't care a ton about the conservation campus. New facilities are nice but its the animals that bring in the guests and their money. Whatever exhibit they stick at the center of the campus will be the focus for the guests and give the first impression. River otters are fine. Sea otters have the better story that is far more on brand and will create excitement over the new campus more so than the river otters which we are all used to seeing.

You are right the partnership announcements are cool. I missed noting those in my summary. That was bad on me for missing it. Getting the university and college involved and invested in the zoo was a genius move. Let them help pay for facilities and then the zoo gets to also benefit from the research conducted there. Wins all around for the zoo.

@m30t, I just want to say I do appreciate when we see things differently and respectfully agree to disagree. You always bring up great points and force me to examine my position more closely which is great. I need to be challenged by other ideas and perspectives because I admit I often only see my own position until someone points out the other side. Personality flaw? For sure. But I appreciate when someone does that for me so I can adjust my position or thinking and be more fair. Thank you for always being willing to push me to be more open minded.
 
Today was another Zoo visit hadn't been in a while...


Indo-Malaya
The Rhino transfer crate was out and I got to watch a training session between Asha and one of the keepers. So to start was Jingaa and Ramai the Orangutans who were really active, and having a great time foraging and climbing the structures. Lenny and Holly the white handed gibbons seemed pretty active for old timers, they were really interested in the Orangutans today.

Africa...

Mstari is getting pretty wide as the calf continues to grow. Truly a shame they don't go into the south paddock more often as there is so much space for Amani to run and gallop around. The Rhinos out today were Zohari and Sabi, Then the Zebra girls were all out and about. The cheetahs were out but it was only one of them and the Baboons currently have somewhere between 5-6 left in the troop. The lions were all having breakfast and enjoying the view of the ostriches and eland. The Eland are supposed to have 4 boys but lately I've only been seeing 3 of them. So not quite sure what happened to the 4th one. Then Kanzi was so active today she was zooming all around the exhibit and was playing with the kids. The penguin exhibit was closed due to construction.

The Americas...

The Americas was closed today but you could walk into the underground pavilion but I didn't today, The otter and Beaver exhibit almost look like they are getting combined but I could very well be wrong.

Eurasia...

Today Zip was alone and after talking to one of the keepers he had said that he spent the whole summer with a couple of the girls so they wanted him to be separated for the winter and fall. I also got a glimpse of the crow who's nest sits behind the stellar Sea Eagle Exhibit. Didn't see any Chamois today or Snow Leopard but they added some new climbing frames for Ena just sadly didn't see her today. Got a nice look at the Amur tiger holding spaces, They can at least hold 3-4 adult tigers according to a volunteer, so Mila the Cub could definitely stick around for a while.

Overall, no huge news, but a nice walk around the zoo.
 
@Akula that was a visit packed with good catches.

I didn't think they would be shipping Indian rhino Asha this soon. I highly doubt they are doing crate training now for a spring departure. Must mean they are aiming to send her south before the snow flies.

Was wrinkled hornbill Henry still here?

I think the zoo has been using cheetah Emarah as the exhibit cheetah most of the summer. This is the time of year where she and Laini should be in the breeding center with Clark and David. So its possibly Bakari. Lets hope breeding happens with at least one of them this fall.

Interesting they seem to be down to 5-6 baboons as the last reported number was 11. I know a portion of them were a lot older and there is a group of 5 younger females who were amongst the last born. I would kinda like to see a keeper talk with them where they name off who we have and their ages. It would give us more of an idea how much longer they will be around. However with the wars the females were having a few years back for dominance it also might be possible they have had to divide the group. More reason for a talk so we can know.

It's always possible one of the eland boys has passed. I doubt they would transfer one out since they are all castrated and of no breeding value to anyone else. Only way I see a transfer is if one had suddenly been cast out from the group and they wouldn't accept him back. The lifespan for a male is on average 11 years, maxing out at 21. 3 boys are 6 and their little brother is 5.

Seems like if someone gets a chance to talk to a keeper in the Savanna we could learn some new things.

Where the ground hornbill boys still in the porc exhibit?

If the zoo was combining the otter and beaver exhibit that wouldnt be so outrageous. I mean definitely weird they would go for a mixed exhibit because we know the zoo tends to fear them. However otters and beavers can be mixed. Personalities need to be right but it works for other zoos. I would find it funny though if they are doing that now considering how old beaver Ward is (he's 17 and the average is 10 but he could max out at 22). Time will tell what they choose to do.

You could be right about Amur tiger cub Mila sticking around. Its not surprising they can house 4 adult tigers. I would assume they could hold up to 6 if pushed. Need to remember you need space for the breeding pair and their litter once independent of mom. As a big litter could be 4 cubs that means 6 adult and sub adult tigers needing holding space. Exhibit space probably isnt as tough with a maturing large litter. Any brothers typically get separated first but stay together until shipped out and girls are usually tolerated by mom for longer so they could stay together awhile. I doubt the zoo will pull Mila from Mazy until either Mazy wants her gone or she heads off to a new home. Its not like there is any pressure to get Mazy ready for the next litter. She's done.

Did you get to the temple to check the spider monkey status?
 
No spider monkey, as the Americas was mainly closed, but Henry the wrinkled hornbill is still here and So are the southern ground hornbill boys.

I do think that the Amur Tiger house can definitely hold quite a few adults as they built the new holding back when the Pandas came and designed them to hold at least 4 full grown Pandas and Tigers, So there is room and they are not at max capacity, plus Mila did have siblings unfortunately they passed, but if all 3 survived then they would've needed to be able to hold 5 full grown adult tigers.

Oh also forgot to mention that It seems like a new gate was installed between the rhino and Kudu exhibit. It looks like the rhino gates so maybe it could be a new transfer chute, but it was along the fencing separating the Kudu and Rhino exhibit. Or could all be that I never noticed it, I just thought it looked new as the colours seemed pretty fresh and not faded by the sun yet. leading me to believe it is new, but I could be wrong.
 
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I just remembered there was a facebook live on the elands recently. You're correct @Akula they are down to 3. Pierre is MIA. No mention of him when they introduced the rest.

Also in todays live they said tree kangaroo Puzzle should be staying at least through the winter.
 
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There is a new wild encounter at the zoo, Goat World. Hard pass and I think it would be a hard pass for many. For a member its $40 a person, for regular guest $70! That's outrageous for goats! Domestic goats! Goats you can find at any old petting zoo or drive out of a city and find a hobby farm. Really should be the absolute cheapest encounter possible. I would have a hard time paying another $10 bucks for goats. I get with a group of 8 people you would need to pay 2 guides and you are taking up keeper time but they are goats. Put in a gate and charge $5 a pop for people to just free range with them and skip being an encounter. I'm sure it would be more profitable that way. Why would I pay $70 dollars for goats when that same $70 could get an encounter with Bactrian camels, or kangaroos and wallabies, or for just $15 more giraffes, rhinos and polar bears? That's crazy. Heck at this time of year I could probably go on the giraffe encounter by myself why would I pick the goats? I know because I just checked for this coming weekend. I could be the only one on the encounter on Saturday at 2pm. If feels even crazier when you add in the fact you cant even feed or touch the goats right now.

Wild Encounters - Toronto Zoo
 
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