Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Developments 2024

[cypher]

Pretty sure this will be an expansion that will connect the newly opened Tiger Boardwalk with the Core Woods Boardwalk that completed last year. The idea is to offer an unique canopy style boardwalk through the core woods, which serves a process of connecting both boardwalks.

 

[Jefferson]

@cypher That is my understanding as well, I think it starts near from the Indo board walk at its deepest point and connects to the switch back of the core woods at the African end.

 

[Jefferson]

Annual Auction is coming up starting tomorrow morning.

Toronto Zoo | 50th Anniversary Silent Auction

Lots of items including pieces of art from many animals, including baby rhino Kifaru, Charles the gorilla and many more. There are pieces of past animals including the deceased Luca, a jaguar, Samson the Grizzly bear, and Monty the Dwarf croc.

They also did some prints with plants this year, as well as illustrations from the old art department, and old way finding signs.

They are also auctioning off naming rights for Lau-Banded Iguanas, the New Guinea pigs, American Kestrel or Axoltl, starting at $200, and a mouflon or Przewalski's Horse seating at $500.

 

[Riverdale Zoo]

Still love the zoo and the animals but I hope the trend of making bigger and better people spaces reverse and funding goes where it needs to be, the residents need better facilities and living conditions not the visitors. The expensive composite steel and wood walkways through the core woods are going to be a huge challenge every winter, sure hope somebody thought of that or you will see the beautiful wood walkways closed seasonally.

 

[Jefferson]

I think you are seeing balance of projects happening right now. While yes the new entrance is a huge new project aimed at people, it is also directly aimed at fulfilling the zoo's mission "Connecting people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction." It will have educational spaces and bring the Zoo's conservation work on local animal species i.e. the Blanding's turtles right to the front and a central focus of the zoo. Additional it will create a new animal space, with a brand new otter habitat as well.

There are a lot of infrastructure projects happening at the moment like the pathing and the bathrooms. The boardwalks are less steep than the old ones so if anything should fair better in the winter than the previous wooden boardwalk that existed, so I don't see how that is a concern compared to what was there prior. Additionally doing the boardwalks was a solution to a problem that needed to be fixed. The zoo needs to become more accessible for those with mobility needs.

And yes while we are seeing new projects aimed at the visitors. There are new projects happening at the same time for the animals. The recently completed orang exhibit is the obvious one. But additionally the Amur tigers are getting a large third outdoor exhibit, designed to give more space and options for the animals. There are small upgrades happening to the outdoor sumatran enclosures while they are getting re-done. The red pandas will be getting an improved air-conditioned indoor area, and there is active work on a new savannah holding building which is all about animal care and not really people. Smaller projects are happening as well, new shade structures in the baboon and zebra enclosure (and I think a few others), new enrichment post in the Polar Bear enclosure. I am sure there are more that are not coming to mind.

The zoo is also experimenting a bit more with mixed exhibits, think the gibbon and babirusa previously, or the additional of the Ostrich to the kudu, these are often enriching experiences for the animals as well.

Outside of the things we see, there is a lot of money going in to maintain the zoo as well which impacts the animals as well. New heating/cooling systems that are environmentally friendly in the America Pavilions, dealign with electrical, plumbing and heating issues in the pavilions is something regularly happening, but not advertised to the public.

At the end of the day you cannot have one without the other. The zoo needs to modernize its 50 year old infrastructure regardless. You need to keep visitors happy because without visitors there is no money. What people have come to expect from modern zoos now is different than 50 years ago, people want more facilities that are nicer. The zoo needs bigger facilities as crowds grow as well.

Personally I think the zoo is doing well with the money they have. It is modernizing and while the collecting is getting small, which I do find upsetting, this is a trend we are seeing across all of North America, and the Toronto Zoo is no different.

 

[Riverdale Zoo]

Happy to report Blanding Turtles are propagating extremely well here in Central Frontenac.

The zoo needs to build some bank swallow colonies. Bank swallows are running out of places to nest because humans keep turning vertical sand pit walls into gentle slopes for humans. I've been trying to do it here but I don't have enough natural sand and so far all I attracted is Kingfisher.
Saving or building Bank Swallow breeding sites should become a priority and it's so easy if you have sand pits, if you build it they will come.

 

[Judache]

Still love the zoo and the animals but I hope the trend of making bigger and better people spaces reverse and funding goes where it needs to be, the residents need better facilities and living conditions not the visitors. The expensive composite steel and wood walkways through the core woods are going to be a huge challenge every winter, sure hope somebody thought of that or you will see the beautiful wood walkways closed seasonally.

FYI - the first new boardwalk through the core woods (which replaced the steep hill from Africa to Americas) has already had one winter, and worked just fine last year... I visit often during the winter season and I didn't run into any issues with it at all.
Since the new one is the same design I doubt there will be issues with that either. They are both very gentle slopes and obviously the zoo would have considered winter before building them.

 

[Riverdale Zoo]

FYI - the first new boardwalk through the core woods (which replaced the steep hill from Africa to Americas) has already had one winter, and worked just fine last year... I visit often during the winter season and I didn't run into any issues with it at all.
Since the new one is the same design I doubt there will be issues with that either. They are both very gentle slopes and obviously the zoo would have considered winter before building them.

I was just surprised to see the paved road replaced, it certainly was not a cost saving measure, now the boardwalk needs some exhibits along the way possibly some facilities to attract local bird wildlife to nest and feed, that would give added value to the investment.

 

[Judache]

I was just surprised to see the paved road replaced, it certainly was not a cost saving measure, now the boardwalk needs some exhibits along the way possibly some facilities to attract local bird wildlife to nest and feed, that would give added value to the investment.

As has been explained many times, the Zoo was required by law to replace that paved hill (and the old boardwalk which was also too steep) in order to comply with the new accessibility requirements.
So if they hadn't done it, they would have had to close it completely - forever - since
there wouldn't be enough room to create a less steep road without removing most of the trees.
Obviously they made the right choice.

 

[Riverdale Zoo]

As has been explained many times, the Zoo was required by law to replace that paved hill (and the old boardwalk which was also too steep) in order to comply with the new accessibility requirements.
So if they hadn't done it, they would have had to close it completely - forever - since
there wouldn't be enough room to create a less steep road without removing most of the trees.
Obviously they made the right choice.

Not buying it, they could have replaced the steep asphalt hill with a winding path and provided the same gentle grade at a fraction of the construction and maintenance cost.

 

[animalman0341]

Happy 50th to our beloved Toronto Zoo! Spent an incredible day on-site, and it did not disappoint.



I know this had already been confirmed by someone else, but it was nice to see a physical confirmation that gibbons will once again take up residence in Indo-Malaya.



The NEW Charles statue! Just wonderful. Seeing him and Puppe on this day gave me chills. We are so lucky to have had them for so long!



Another confirmation… Dragons will be back! Potentially before the end of the year! Fear not about Seriema-gate.

Overall the zoo looks absolutely gorgeous! I hadn’t been so inspired visiting the zoo in a long while. From the active construction on the main entrance, Tiger habitats and Savanna barn, and the various gardens and brand new Horticulture Centre, to the new boardwalks, interpretive displays/signage, arrival of new animals, and all the other small updates that have occurred really signal a bright future ahead!

Last little thing, the new female Cougar is likely to debut sometime next week if anyone is out for a visit. Cheers! Happy 50 to all!

 

[Judache]

Not buying it, they could have replaced the steep asphalt hill with a winding path and provided the same gentle grade at a fraction of the construction and maintenance cost.

Glad you're an engineer and an architect, and also have such intimate knowledge of the requirements and how they would safely, legally, and sensibly fit in to the available space.

 

[Judache]

Happy 50th to our beloved Toronto Zoo! Spent an incredible day on-site, and it did not disappoint.

View attachment 722944

I know this had already been confirmed by someone else, but it was nice to see a physical confirmation that gibbons will once again take up residence in Indo-Malaya.

View attachment 722945

The NEW Charles statue! Just wonderful. Seeing him and Puppe on this day gave me chills. We are so lucky to have had them for so long!

View attachment 722946

Another confirmation… Dragons will be back! Potentially before the end of the year! Fear not about Seriema-gate.

Overall the zoo looks absolutely gorgeous! I hadn’t been so inspired visiting the zoo in a long while. From the active construction on the main entrance, Tiger habitats and Savanna barn, and the various gardens and brand new Horticulture Centre, to the new boardwalks, interpretive displays/signage, arrival of new animals, and all the other small updates that have occurred really signal a bright future ahead!

Last little thing, the new female Cougar is likely to debut sometime next week if anyone is out for a visit. Cheers! Happy 50 to all!

I agree completely. Although I am there regularly - usually at least a couple of times a month if not more - I see something new or 'coming soon' which delights me on every visit.
They've done an absolutely brilliant job with the boardwalks, the updated signage, the displays - both for the 50th and older ones which have been refreshed. And especially positive is how they're managing it with such big (and exciting) construction projects going on at the same time.

I had a lovely day there yesterday for the 50th - looking forward to everything coming to fruition, as well as the things they haven't even started yet!

 

[HawkAlot]

Not buying it, they could have replaced the steep asphalt hill with a winding path and provided the same gentle grade at a fraction of the construction and maintenance cost.

I'm mostly a lurker here, but I have to be very direct - why are you so combative about the zoo and seemingly anything they do? I'm all for genuine, constructive critique of a facility - but yours is very off putting and given all I gather from your writings, comes from a place of resentment towards the zoo for how it impacted Riverdale Zoo. I often notice you're all over TZ over rather trivial things, but the second anyone makes a less than positive (and often very valid) comment about Riverdale - you get extremely defensive. It's very annoying.

 

[Riverdale Zoo]

The animals come first imo that's where the lion share of funding and site development should go, I guess that's the difference of opinions if they exist in this particular discussion.

 

[HawkAlot]

The animals come first imo that's where the lion share of funding and site development should go, I guess that's the difference of opinions if they exist in this particular discussion.

I'd love to know some concrete examples of how the zoo is currently shirking the animals in their care with funding allocation. Again, I'm open to valid criticism - but I'm currently just reading a lot of "all the money should go to the animals only" which is an extremely tunnel visioned and unrealistic mindset. As has been already laid out to you in previous discourse - appealing to zoo guests with upgrades/additions that focus on guest experience is vital to retaining/improving zoo visitorship. Improved public opinion/visitorship = more revenue = more resources for projects that DO focus on the animals at hand.

Don't sit there and try to tell me the zoo isn't focusing on the animals at the end of the day in all of this - the new orangutan outdoor facilities alone are a MASSIVE animal welfare improvement after years and years of them living solely indoors (which, for the record, were still better facilities from the day they opened in 1974 compared to their previous digs at another certain facility...) Not to mention all the stuff they have coming down the pipeline. I'd be way more leery if the attitude was similar to the pre-Dolf days of "oh yeah, we're getting to it!" but it is plainly obvious that this stuff is actively going to come to fruition in the not too distant future. They are putting action to words here. Especially after years and years where the zoo WAS actually languishing in terms of ANY improvement - for people or animals!

Unpopular opinion perhaps - but the fact that Toronto is reducing their collection size in favour of improved facilities for the species remaining speaks volumes to me. I love GOHR, grizzlies, and river hippos as much as the next person - but the zoo stepping away from them and focusing their time/resources on improving spaces for tigers, polar bears, and pygmy hippos in their place instead tells me that the zoo is taking a quality over quantity approach. Not to mention, the union at the zoo has a minimum staffing level in their collective bargaining agreement which is quite high to begin with. So long as that stays where it is (which I can't see changing easily) - it's kind of a no brainer. Same staff + less animals = more attention paid to less animals. It's sort of a no brainer.

So yes, please enlighten me. I'd be very curious to hear why you're of the opinion that the zoo doesn't have their priorities straight when it comes to funding allocation and project execution.

 

[15399]

Not buying it, they could have replaced the steep asphalt hill with a winding path and provided the same gentle grade at a fraction of the construction and maintenance cost.

And that "winding path" would've been a much worse visitor experience. Toronto is a huge zoo, and already contains a lot of walking (in many cases without animals nearby). Designing a "winding path" would've required visitors to spend more time and energy to get from place to place than a mostly straight boardwalk. Paying a little bit more for a better visitor experience seems quite reasonable, at least in my opinion.

A paved pathway would also likely have higher upkeep costs over time/a shorter lifespan than the boardwalks will, too.

 

[HawkAlot]

Some good examples of focusing on the animals welfare off the top of my head...

- The fact that they're currently down to 1 GOHR, and instead of bringing more in... they're getting out of them, letting the remaining rhino largely live off exhibit as he pleases in a more than adequate exhibit, and have given the babirusa a MASSIVE upgrade by letting them use the old outdoor exhibit for the time being. Once the rhinos (and I assume babirusa) are gone - the whole thing is getting turned into an incredible new space for the sumatran tigers. They could have just as easily crammed that building up again with multiple rhinos, birds, babirusa, and tapir - but they've actively taken steps to do the best with their current situation and then will go on to improve the lives of other animals with the space soon.

- The current empty jaguar exhibit. Again, they could have easily sourced even a single jaguar for that TINY exhibit + holding space - but instead they've had the sense to hold off and improve the area/focus it on the jaguars as opposed to flamingos, capybaras, spider monkeys, parrots, AND jaguars when the time comes.

- A third large yard being built for the Amur tigers when the exhibit is already currently well under capacity in terms of inhabitants and would be just fine if they left things as is.

- The awesome improvements to the red panda area to balance visitor experience and animal welfare during the summer time.

- The orangutans... no further explanation needed.

- Making improvements to aspects of the snow leopard exhibit for animal comfort when it was just built a decade or so ago and is otherwise a massive improvement over their old exhibit to begin with.

- New even better exhibit for the otters when they already have one that is great to begin with.

- New, improved holding for savanna animals that again will be great AND allow visitors to actually see them in the winter time.

- All the upgrades to the penguin exhibit

- Added shade structures in many paddocks!

 

[Riverdale Zoo]

Fact is that Asphalt is a 100% reusable material, all of the original asphalt road bed materials could have been used in new pathway construction. Have you ever seen a bridge with a sign on it saying 'Bridge freezes before road surface' because that's a reality of the cold, wet climates we typically experience here. Raised pathways require handrails on both sides, pathways on grade need one or none, handrails on both sides inflates cost and complicates snow removal. You can not use road salt to de-ice wood walkways built on steel construction without destroying all of the materials, maintenance costs are going to be higher. ... have you priced new construction steel beams and fasteners lately? <- I have and outdoor wood on steel construction is hugely expensive compared to some asphalt laid over crushed limestone.

Designing a "winding path" would've required visitors to spend more time and energy to get from place to place than a mostly straight boardwalk.

. You got it backwards, they built a long raised winding pathway with steel and wood in place of or possibly on top of the original asphalt straight road between Africa pavilion and the N.A pavilion. The most gradual grade leading up to the Africa domain for mobility challenged visitors would have been via the upper service road area behind the waterfall.

One persons opinion is to fill the Zoo with human spaces, splash parks, carnival rides and have some animals pass through like Panda and Koala or the Elephants we no longer have, another opinion is to fill the Zoo with resident animal spaces and have the human visitors pass through. A balance of economics is required to satisfy demands of both the visiting human animals and the resident zoo animals, but the visiting human animals are the dirtiest and will always produce the most garbage and drive vastly higher maintenance costs.

 

[Jefferson]

Looks like the new Amur tiger outdoor exhibit area will be opening soon. The zoo posted on their socials today. Looks like just Macy will be using it and not the Sumatran's.

There is talk of phase two which includes a glass viewing area and water feature.
Also talk of an overhead transfer. I think that may be behind the scenes. As the transfer chute for the new exhibit comes from the old exhibit and not the behind the scenes area.