Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Developments 2022

Proof of vaccination is now over. As of May 13 everyone is once again welcome. Must mean all of the animals who most needed vaccinations have been vaccinated. Hope this means an end to all the hate email the zoo has been getting.

CityNews
 
The Wild Encounters have been updated. There are the usual ones, goats, Bactrian camels, reptiles, grey kangaroos, African rainforest, Masai giraffe, grizzlies, polar bears and African savanna. But there is a new one called Hakuna Matata. Focus of that one seems to be the warthogs, hyena and wildebeest. Makes me wonder if the warthog boys have shifted to replace the ostriches this summer but that is pure speculation based on the location of this tour. It also says you would learn about the white rhinos and lions and more. Just dont know how you would cover all that space in 30 minutes and get that up close and personal feeling with individual animals. Also joining in on the fun this summer will be the Sumatran tigers. Bummer they aren't doing either species of rhino, the hippos (that one might be due to their more recently discovered covid sensitivity) or the penguins (likely due to avian flu). More could come later this summer though.

Wild Encounters - Toronto Zoo
 
Do you have any recommendations on which of these you would do?

I was thinking rainforest or savannah.
 
The only two encounters I have been on aren't available, hippo and Indian rhino. Think it really depends on the animals you most want to see. Not like you can touch or feed anything anyway right now so might actually be a great time to do one of the predators who you would never have been allowed to touch anyway.

Personally Im not interested in the savanna one because while I would like to hang with the zebras, I dont want to hang with the watusi. I was more interested in the rainforest option before when it included the meerkats. Now that they are gone and the replacement in the tour is the fish Im out. Not worth it for me until I can feed a lemur. My top choice remains the giraffes but I am inclined to hold off on that experience until I could feed them because I have wanted to feed a giraffe since I was a kid. If I go this year the predators are more enticing so I dont feel like I missed out on touching.
 
@AJ the TZ Guy, thats probably impossible to guess. The avian flu would have to be less of a threat firstly. No timeline can possibly be given for that. The construction of the pool... well thats hard to say either because the only plans we have seen is for the pool to be demoed. The master plan gave a rough idea but nothing concrete. I know you visit in the fall hence the question but its impossible to say this far out what their situation will be.
 
I'm actually going a bit earlier this year, probably the last Saturday of September, so I can actually have a ride on the Zoomobile before it goes out of service for the season. I hope the penguins will be viewable by then though, cause I was actually pretty upset when I found out on my last visit that I couldn't see them. :c
 
The zoo has begun introductions between polar bears Aurora, Nikita, and Hudson. This will allow the polar bears more choice in who they socialize with and which habitat they want to spend time in.
 
So does this mean that Hudson will eventually be in with Mom and Aunt? Because if I can remember correctly they wanted Juno in with them to rotate them as one group? But I could always be wrong about this. As well I last heard that Humphrey and Hudson were fighting a bit more than usual so perhaps that has lead to these intros?
 
They did want Juno to mix in with Aurora and Nikita but it didnt fly for some reason. I think I remember hearing Aurora was the trouble maker in the mix which is funny if true because she was the one who adored having both Nikita and Inukshuk around. I get wanting to mix and match as much as possible. It would give them more enrichment and flexibility.

Hudson and Humphrey would be a little testy with each other the last few months. Breeding season and all. They always expect the boys to be a little combative with each other a few months a year. Then they go back to being best buddies. Even when the 5 polar bears are integrated the girls will have to be on birth control and the boys still rotating or to pull both boys in breeding season so the girls dont need birth control.
 
So went to the zoo today. Busy, but not too crazy, got pretty warm out in the afternoon. Lots of school groups and teenagers there. Will start from Indo and go clockwise. We missed/omitted a few areas.

One Indian rhino out outside, not sure which to be honest, routine cleaning was occurring inside. Still upset every time I go by thinking about the phase out of the GOHR. Olive, the female babirusa was out on the side and happily moving about sniffing the grass. The exhibit across from the rhino home was empty with a sign re: avian flu, so the peacocks seem to be behind scenes.

Some work in front of the Malayan woods on the path and gardens. I am guessing, just some cleaning up for the summer. Indo Pavilion was only open from the exit up to the orangutangs. Puppe was out, unfortunately didn't get to see Sekali or baby. The gibbon and male babirusa were behind scenes as they were cleaning up the enclosure and putting out food. Interesting the Hornbill was on display, I do find it a bit of inconsistencies in the display of the birds. The Sumatran tigers were out sleeping, no major news there.

Now for Africa Pavilion, it is mostly open, just a small part blocked off by the ibis and spoonbills. The Crowned crane, tortoises and ring tailed lemurs are still inside. I am sure someone knows this, but right when you walk in there looks like an old enclosure to your left, opposite the lemurs. What was that used for previously?

Otherwise not too much to report, Harvey the pygmy hippo was out, the girls side was being cleaned. Mr. P the porcupine wasn't in his usual hiding spot, although still found a new place to hide, but slightly more visible. Not sure idk the new Dwarf Crocodile was out, there was one on display, and a fence half way through, but didn't see a 2nd on. The Family troop was out in the indoor enclosure in the morning, and the bachelors outside. I couldn't see Charles anywhere, additionally, when they swapped in the afternoon and the family was outside I didn't see Charles, I may have just missed him, or maybe he was having a quiet day inside?

Savannah was nice, the red river hogs were out and active as usual. The giraffe family was inside, and fairly busy, Kiko the male was outside. At one point they moved him in to the lower paddock and had the gate closed keeping him down there. I am wondering if the plan is to put him down there more and the family in the main paddock once Matumaini, the young male, is more comfortable.

The hippos were out in the pool, another future loss I am taking hard. No warthogs seen and their enclosure looks untouched. I haven't seen them once since we started going regularly last September. They are obviously around as they are on the new Hakuna Matata wild encounters tour.

The kudu were out, could see two of them. All three white rhinos were out again today, the girls were side by side and Tom was quite close. The path past the rhino enclosure was closed for repaving (I believe to the hyenas) we didn't bother to go back around to the hyenas and such, although I heard their are new benches in the area with solar powered cell phone charging stations. Was curious what the penguin situation would be but didn't get there.

Moved on to the America pavilion, not much to report, the owl was out. The Tamarins, sloth and saki were all given the choice of outside and inside and they all were outside which was nice to see. The otters were getting fed which was fun. Whatever work they were doing was done, the temporary glass divide was gone, so the outside is just two enclosures now. The fish are back out in the outdoor water. The beaver was asleep in hut as usual. The America aviary was closed.

We skipped the temple. Checked out the polar bears who were pretty sleepy in the sun. Two in the large enclosure, then one each in the pool and mat den. Skipped the rest of Tundra and then just stopped to see sleepy Amur tigers.

We went to the Kids zone for the first time ever and I was thoroughly impressed with the design of the area, however in regards to animals was super disappointed. There were some birds in the aviaries, including a Marabou Stork. The former prairie dog exhibit was empty, the skunk was empty. The large aviary which had a few enclosures within were all empty. Not sure what is suppose to be there besides a few species of rabbit/hare, but none out. In the final part the goats were out, no alpaca.

Overall great day, again a little disappointing to see empty exhibits. It feels like despite the weather and crowds they have not fully moved into summer mode yet, and the avian flu doesn't help.
 
Thanks for the update @Jefferson! Definitely a nice day to go.

Vishnu is still a little bigger than Kiran (it's tough to tell since they're not together to compare sizes) so if the outdoor rhino is looking big that's probably who you're looking at.

I did note during my visit that the Malayan Woods sign was gone. I mean us superfans all have known it's been toast for ages now but I guess that's the first official nail in the coffin.

It is interesting that some birds are sticking around but the others aren't. No peacocks, Savanna birds or aviaries but the great hornbill, crowned cranes, great horned owl and sea eagles are all still there. Odd.

If you're talking about the outdoor enclosure opposite the lemurs that's where they put the crowned cranes in the summer.

I have a pic of the warthogs from last October so they were there around then. They can be tricky to spot! I find that the later you visit the more likely you are to see one.

Sounds like they're doing lots of heavy lifting in the Savanna before the summer rush hits. I'm excited to see how everything looks when it's all freshened up!

There's a marabou in the Kids Zoo again? I guess they wanted to fill the empty exhibit the last secretary bird left behind. Also that's another bird still on exhibit despite the avian flu. I'm sure there's a method to their madness but it's puzzling me a bit.
 
There's always been a marabou in the kidszoo. She's the stork they used to use for the bird show, Ethel. She lives in the exhibit just next to the old secretary bird enclosure. I believe Ted the turkey vulture now resides in that one, but maybe I'm remembering incorrectly.
 
@hyena142 The crane goes with the lemurs in the outdoor enclosure by the GOHR eh?

I was wondering about what looks like an old enclosure, just outside of the African rainforest pavilion that would be across from the lemurs indoor area. Basically when you enter the pavilion and look left. Is the warthogs? This would explain my on going quest to try and see them, but never do haha
 
Speaking of the Kids Zoo, I've never been lucky enough to spot Ted when I go there. Is there any day or time he's usually out at and my preferred zoo trip schedule just doesn't let me see him?
 
@Jefferson Oh I forgot they put the cranes there now. They only started doing it recently so I completely forgot. I though you were talking about the outdoor garden area you can see on your right at the giraffe exit of the pavilion.

You mean the red river hog outdoor exhibit? They go there in the summer.
 
Wait I think I've got it, if the exhibit you're talking about is the one near the gorilla entrance that's where they put the Aldabra tortoises in the summer. They don't stay out long since temperature changes aren't great for reptiles and Toronto's climate is literally nothing but temperature changes but you can sometimes see the girls out there from June to August.
 
The zoo is offering VIP Guided Tours. They last 5 hours, you get a guided tour, golf cart, and at least some animal experiences. Apparently you get to chat with the team to decide how the tour works best for your group of 2-6 people. The hefty price tag includes admission and lunch as well as the tour. Wish I had the money to book one so I could find out what kind of animal experiences you can arrange. Maybe one day in the future but certainly not now.

Toronto Zoo | VIP Tours
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top