Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Developments 2025

Lots of interesting stuff here, a lot of generic things as expected, take care of animals, take of our staff etc.

But there is a palpable shift in the document, a shift away from the animals to research and conservation. A lot of cool and good things, for example, growing their biobank and research to 20 PhD level researchers, increasing visitor count.

But there is not all good.. it clearly states that by 2034 they want to drop the species count to 175... that is 35% of what the zoo has held in the past. To me this is deeply concerning. Yes I agree, animals shouldn't just be there for fun, they need to serve a purpose. But I think losing a number of these species loses huge educational value. People can't appreciate the diversity of our world if they don't see it. It is important to see there are different rhinos from different parts of the world with different risks facing them. People to need to know that every pig that doesn't live on a farm is not a warthog. People see new animals and get inspired, they fall in love with the awe of the world.

Additionally, it is going to make a large zoo that is already quite spread out feel even empty. The entire zoo will start to feel like the kids zoo. The aviaries will be emptier, the aquaria and terrariums emptier.

I get that it is expensive to create appropriate homes for these animals, but I don't go to the zoo to biplane, I go for animals. And as much as there is talk that narrowing down and focusing on certain species is important, huge numbers of species are being left out and forgotten by the AZA, and their breeding programs are dwindling across NA.

Anyway I am just disappointed. I knew that the zoo would be getting few animals, I just never thought we would hit 35% of what we once held.
 
The decades of complete mismanagement of the zoo is very frustrating for someone who has seen the decline for almost 30 years. I am always for the best care possible for the animals and always will be but dropping the amount of species being held to 175 in a zoo that is over 700 acres is mind boggling. How do they think they will get more people visiting with less animals? because they are doing research. Are they expecting people to come listen to the PhD's doing lectures?. If you are going to hold less animals then make world class exhibits for the ones you are still holding and not the tired and outdated exhibits that we are now accustomed to at our Toronto zoo. I am sure the major lack of upkeep to the infrastructure over the years is contributing to this decision to drop the species. I used to go to the zoo every month for years and thought how amazing it was until I was older and started being able to travel to zoos and aquariums. I have been lucky enough to have been able to go to over 115 different facilities and would not rank Toronto anywhere near my top 10. Calgary bizarrely announced their new asian area a few weeks ago with no concept art and a vague description but I would take that for Toronto over what this announcement was. Interestingly enough they list two AZA zoos in their partner section: Akron Zoo 90 species on 77 acres and Buffalo Zoo 320 species on 23.5 acres. Very different ratios compared to the size of the facilities vs Toronto. The zoo has the perfect location in the rouge valley along with the massive amount of space but it keeps being squandered.
 
kingoffreaks said:
What is the most constructive way to voice our displeasure with the plans to shrink the collection?
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The largest issue to me is that our Toronto Zoo is so closely tied to the city of Toronto and the taxpayer money. When a zoo is owned by a city it can't be governed for proper growth. The LA zoo seems to be in the same situation with their city owning the zoo there as well. Unlike LA at least Toronto isn't living in San Diego's shadow.

Looking at the 2025 budget the city of Toronto covers the deficit from revenue/donations to the total expenditures for 2025 which will be 12.9 million. That's a large amount of money and I am sure the city wants to keep it as low as it can as they have a whole city to worry about, not just one facility.

The best apples to oranges comparison would be the Calgary Zoo. Unlike Toronto that is completely owned by the city, Calgary is run by a charity like some of the "best" zoos in the world are. Calgary does get money from their city but it is through grants and capital campaign funds. The charity then decides how to use the money without political interference (Hopefully). I am sure they have to answer where the money was spent but there appears to be less bureaucracy.

To your question I don't know how the most constructive way would be to voice this but knowing the true zoo community feeling the same way for the most part makes me feel better not being alone with my concerns of species dumping.
 
Best way to bolster the number of species in the MTZ is to make the Canadian Domain grounds more appealing to the wildlife that is native to the area. If you build habitats conducive to nesting and feeding, the critters will come and go on their own, the animals benefit, the public gets to experience the nature of it all and the cost to the public is low.
... tis better to come up with ways to help the zoo then to voice displeasure with past conduct.
 
I think it is important to directly let the zoo know your feelings on the animal collection number. Guest relations is likely the portal to do so. I would encourage people to let the zoo know. They won't change if they don't know that it is upsetting people.
 
The MTZ would not exist if it was not conceived, built and primarily funded by the City of Toronto, same as Riverdale Zoo was before that so everything starts at City Hall. Donations and gate fees are the way to make the zoo grow and improve, same as it was with Riverdale Zoo except the old zoo did not collect gate fees.
 
More information about the cyberattack that happened in January 2024 is available now. The Zoo says that a copy of transaction data of membership, tickets, and the keeper's and volunteer information were leaked to the dark Web. Transaction data includes first names, last names, address information, phone numbers, and email addresses. The leaked data was the data between 2000 and April 2023. The transaction credit card between January 2022 and April 2023 was also leaked. The Zoo is asking to be vigilant and see if there are any suspicious communications in your bank account.
The Toronto Zoo
Toronto Zoo | Press Releases
 
Jefferson said:
I think it is important to directly let the zoo know your feelings on the animal collection number. Guest relations is likely the portal to do so. I would encourage people to let the zoo know. They won't change if they don't know that it is upsetting people.
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Where can we leave feedback?
 
Couple questions, one of which is likely out of place.
First, is there a general 2025 TZ discussion thread? I know there's a 2024 one but wasn't sure if there was a new one for the new year.
Second, does anyone know the rough time-frame where the zoo kept Japanese, Barbary, and Lion-tailed Macaques on display, and where they were located when they were? And yes, I am aware that the zoo does still, for the moment, house Lion-tailed Macaques along the Zoomobile road.
 
Van Beal said:
Couple questions, one of which is likely out of place.
First, is there a general 2025 TZ discussion thread? I know there's a 2024 one but wasn't sure if there was a new one for the new year.
Second, does anyone know the rough time-frame where the zoo kept Japanese, Barbary, and Lion-tailed Macaques on display, and where they were located when they were? And yes, I am aware that the zoo does still, for the moment, house Lion-tailed Macaques along the Zoomobile road.
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Yes someone does know the rough time framed for the all the macaques. Try the family tree thread. The barbary apes existed between the Japanese macaque program wrapping up and the death of the last one in the last few years. Enjoy the all of the information I have so kindly provided. I suggest doing a key word search for them from the index on page 9.

Family Trees of Toronto Zoo Animals [Toronto Zoo]

As for locations. The Japanese macaques and the Barbary Apes lived in the same two exhibits. They are the exhibits the lion tailed macaque currently lives in on the zoomo route. The lion tailed macaques moved to that exhibit when they left what we all love to call the lemur summer home, otherwise known as the long narrow exhibit across from the Indian rhino barn. They spent the vast majority of their time there. They probably moved here and there when something special came in but most of their time at the zoo that was their exhibit.
 
TZFan said:
Yes someone does know the rough time framed for the all the macaques. Try the family tree thread. The barbary apes existed between the Japanese macaque program wrapping up and the death of the last one in the last few years. Enjoy the all of the information I have so kindly provided. I suggest doing a key word search for them from the index on page 9.

Family Trees of Toronto Zoo Animals [Toronto Zoo]

As for locations. The Japanese macaques and the Barbary Apes lived in the same two exhibits. They are the exhibits the lion tailed macaque currently lives in on the zoomo route. The lion tailed macaques moved to that exhibit when they left what we all love to call the lemur summer home, otherwise known as the long narrow exhibit across from the Indian rhino barn. They spent the vast majority of their time there. They probably moved here and there when something special came in but most of their time at the zoo that was their exhibit.
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Ah so I must have been misremembering when I recalled either the Japanese or Barbary macaques in the lemur summer home?
 
Van Beal said:
Ah so I must have been misremembering when I recalled either the Japanese or Barbary macaques in the lemur summer home?
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I think you must be. I dont ever remember either of them ever being in the old lion tailed macaque exhibit. Doesnt mean it didnt happen, maybe temporarily. I just think they were always over in Eurasia. Depending on your age maybe you remember seeing the golden snub nosed monkeys when they visited, in I believe 1986, and have them confused with the other two species. Im not sure where the monkeys were kept though. I preschooler who hadnt been to the zoo yet. Any photos I have scene really doesnt help me place them.
 
TZFan said:
I think you must be. I dont ever remember either of them ever being in the old lion tailed macaque exhibit. Doesnt mean it didnt happen, maybe temporarily. I just think they were always over in Eurasia. Depending on your age maybe you remember seeing the golden snub nosed monkeys when they visited, in I believe 1986, and have them confused with the other two species. Im not sure where the monkeys were kept though. I preschooler who hadnt been to the zoo yet. Any photos I have scene really doesnt help me place them.
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Yeah I am too young to have seen the snub-nosed monkeys.
 
Im not too sure i would bother with Guest Relations - go straight to the main director or CEO. and DONT email (I know thats anathema to many folks now). Write a letter...as a business person(who actually has some business interests in Toronto) Ive noticed that emails tend to submerge, whereas a paper letter ends up on someone`s desk and is a comparative rarity. If you really want to impact,stand outside the gates (I know it may be zoo property) and collect a petition. Above all DO SOMETHING..dont just preach to the converted on ZChat. Ive been visiting the Toronto Zoo for 40 years now and there has been a steady decline from a great zoo.
 
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