Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Discussion thread 2021

Today when I went to the Zoo, Jingaa was with Ramai today so I guess that Ramai is done cycling for the month. Kiran was alone for the morning, but joined by mom in the afternoon. Hari and Kemala were out and were vocalizing to each other. In the Pavilion I only saw one Gibbon. But it could just be hide and seek. except there was a crate in the exhibit, So I guess one of the gibbons was crate training?

Johari was alone today in the day room, while Sadiki and Nassir were outside and Charles and the rest of them were inside. The Red river hogs were actually really active today. Good to see Kevin and Dennis sparring.

The Savanna was quite interesting as Kiko was alone and the Boardwalk has been opened back up. They could really hold a whole giraffe herd as that South paddock really was showing its size from the higher view. Sabi and Zohari were out today and So were petal and Perky so lots of mother daughter, or Sister duos today. One cheetah today was on exhibit. Poe was with the girls today. But the keeper said that he would be moved in with dad and Brother hopefully by September or October. The Southern Ground hornbill exhibit had two today so possible exports while we wait for the caracal. Also the Ostriches were really hitting it off. Too bad they don't let the eggs hatch. But I guess its for safety reasons and space reasons.

The Americas was quite active. Luca does look lonely so he definitely is missing Zambuca. the keepers were watching him today and said he hasn't been in the best shape. But that could be due to age. The White faced Sakis were seperated today and were really chasing each other around.

That was my visit today... So some changes and observations but nothing huge or major.
 
Akula said:
Today when I went to the Zoo, Jingaa was with Ramai today so I guess that Ramai is done cycling for the month. Kiran was alone for the morning, but joined by mom in the afternoon. Hari and Kemala were out and were vocalizing to each other. In the Pavilion I only saw one Gibbon. But it could just be hide and seek. except there was a crate in the exhibit, So I guess one of the gibbons was crate training?

Johari was alone today in the day room, while Sadiki and Nassir were outside and Charles and the rest of them were inside. The Red river hogs were actually really active today. Good to see Kevin and Dennis sparring.

The Savanna was quite interesting as Kiko was alone and the Boardwalk has been opened back up. They could really hold a whole giraffe herd as that South paddock really was showing its size from the higher view. Sabi and Zohari were out today and So were petal and Perky so lots of mother daughter, or Sister duos today. One cheetah today was on exhibit. Poe was with the girls today. But the keeper said that he would be moved in with dad and Brother hopefully by September or October. The Southern Ground hornbill exhibit had two today so possible exports while we wait for the caracal. Also the Ostriches were really hitting it off. Too bad they don't let the eggs hatch. But I guess its for safety reasons and space reasons.

The Americas was quite active. Luca does look lonely so he definitely is missing Zambuca. the keepers were watching him today and said he hasn't been in the best shape. But that could be due to age. The White faced Sakis were seperated today and were really chasing each other around.

That was my visit today... So some changes and observations but nothing huge or major.
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What are Jingaa, Ramai, Kiran, Hari, Kemala, Johari, Sadiki, Nassir, Charles, Kevin, Dennis, Kiko, Sabi, Zohari Petal, Perky, Poe, Luca and Zambuca?
 
Chlidonias said:
What are Jingaa, Ramai, Kiran, Hari, Kemala, Johari, Sadiki, Nassir, Charles, Kevin, Dennis, Kiko, Sabi, Zohari Petal, Perky, Poe, Luca and Zambuca?
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Jingga and Ramai are sumatran orangutans, Kiran is a GOHR, Hari and Kemala are Sumatran tigers, and Johari, Sadiki, Nassir and Charles are gorillas. Kiko is a Masai giraffe, Sabi and Zohari are SWRs, Petal and Perky are hippos, and Poe is a Grevy's Zebra. Unsure about Kevin, Dennis, Luca, and Zambuca.
 
Fantastic news from the zoo, during Facebook Live they announced all of the gorillas except little Charlie will be vaccinated against Covid this fall! I am glad the zoo is hopping onboard the vaccination train and protecting the animals. The donation of the vaccine will first go to the apes and then trickle down to the rest until they run out of shots.
 
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so I noticed something interesting on the zoo website today, I was looking at the Wild Encounters and according to it the Malayan Woods has been closed and is only available for people going on the clouded leopard encounter. I know the Woods's days are numbered but does anyone know if this is permanent or not?
 
hyena142 said:
so I noticed something interesting on the zoo website today, I was looking at the Wild Encounters and according to it the Malayan Woods has been closed and is only available for people going on the clouded leopard encounter. I know the Woods's days are numbered but does anyone know if this is permanent or not?
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I noticed that the Malayan Woods is the only indoor area that's closed to the public still. Could be a number of reasons for it.
 
cypher said:
I noticed that the Malayan Woods is the only indoor area that's closed to the public still. Could be a number of reasons for it.
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It's been on the chopping block for at least half a decade because the ground it's on is super unstable but they can't get rid of it until the leopards are gone. I can't imagine they'd just close it forever while they're still here though, it probably has something to do with social distancing being an issue in that pavilion because it can be a bit of a tight squeeze if too many people go in at once. It's either that or it's reached a point where it's gotten unsafe for people to go inside it but considering they're still doing Wild Encounters I doubt that
 
That's what I'm thinking. It's hard to distance yourself from others there. If it was truly about the ground being unstable, I think they would condemn the building and move everything out of there. Since they're still holding wild Encounters there, I doubt that it's due to unsafe structure, at the moment.
 
@MichelL'HULLIER, Hyena142 is correct I could not find a name for jaguars, Luca and Zambucca's father. The only thing I can say for certain is their parents were full siblings as they only had 2 adult jaguars I can account for at Elmvale Jungle Zoo at the time of their birth. Their grandparents were Zonker and and unnamed female from Granby. They have a number of brothers and sisters as well. Magnetic Hill Zoo's male Rio and female BJ aug 2016; Jungle Cat World's male Makkuro; Safari Niagara's female Bella. Safari Niagara also has a half nephew Balki (born to Rio).

I can also say with some degree of certainty that the Woods shouldnt be closing for probably 2 years at least. The clouded leopards are not due to go anywhere. Now I do believe that its closed due to social distancing. Its almost impossible and it is impossible to keep guests even further back from the clouded leopards than the glass. There just isnt room in there. So as long as the zoo is concerned about their health and the ability to space guests in there they probably will keep it closed. The encounters it is easier to manage a group of 8 and space them. Its no guarantee it will ever reopen but I think its less likely it will stay closed as long as they are keeping the leopards.
 
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Just got back from a visit, I checked out Eurasia since I was in the area to see Mazy's cub. She's even cuter in person if you can believe that.

I only saw one chamois, so make of that what you will.

At the snow leopards Ena was out and was hanging out near the glass in the cave area, I was surprised that it wasn't roped off considering the cats are susceptible to covid, I walked right up to her (masked up obviously). No sign of Mylo, I know it's a bit of a mystery if he's still here at the moment but I checked his usual spots and he wasn't there.

The sea eagle exhibit got a facelift since the last time I saw them, they have a cool cave/perching spot now.

On my way back I took a quick peek inside Australasia, didn't see a tree kangaroo but it looked like food had been put out so I guess Puzzle's still here. Work was being done on the entrance to the kangaroo walk-through so that might be getting ready to open again soon. The kangaroos themselves no-showed but I'm guessing they were hiding out of sight in the shade.

Went through Indo-Malaya on my way out, and I noticed the babirusa exhibit was roped off and a couple of keepers were hanging out there, anyone know what that was about?
 
The tiger cub will be named tomorrow.

I wouldnt be surprised if one of the chamois was dead. They are super old but then again they could have just been out of sight. Until someone can talk to a keeper it will be hard to know.

If Mylo didn't go in June he likely wont until fall when its cooler. I would guess the same for Puzzle. But again Covid will determine what spring or fall they will go.

Nice that the sea eagles got something new.

Was the babirusa exhibit blocked off before or is that new? I ask because I feel like it was roped off last fall probably because the path around is narrower so hard to distance and babirusa may be susceptible to Covid. The keepers in there could have been working with one of the babirusa because they can be in with them but usually do that in teams. Could also be they were looking at the exhibit for ways to improve it or set up enrichment or better accommodate it for Olive. There are lots of mundane possibilities.
 
The malayan woods is also difficult to ventilate, so even if people could maintain social distancing inside I would imagine that it wouldn't be ideal to have lots of people coming in day in and day out and that's the other reason it's remaining closed.

The last three years I've been going to the zoo there has only ever been one chamois out on display at a time. Both are still around but I'm told Bailey usually stays in the back yard, which is only viewable from behind the camel house. I'm fairly confident in all the times I've been to the zoo, Julie has been the one on exhibit.

The babirusa has been roped off the whole time they've been open. It might have even been the case last year but I can't quite remember. Nothing new and like TZfan said, probably just related to COVID safety for the babirusa.
 
@Kalvin, excellent point about the woods and ventilation. It is a pretty small enclosed space. That could well be a big factor. It's not just about distancing but breathing the same air and we all know how people are super good about the masks covering their nose properly.:rolleyes:
 
At least 75% of the guests were unmasked today, definitely didn't love that. The only places you're required to mask up are inside buildings and at the outdoor gorillas but it was surprising to see so many people just going out like normal. I tell myself they've all been fully vacced because that makes me feel better but even though I've been double dosed I'm not taking mine off until I know it's safe
 
The masks definitely haven't been super strict. When viewing the tiger cub, some people just hung the mask under their nose. The Volunteer workers definitely tried telling them but They were pretty rude talking back, The mask isn't even hard to wear. It's literally less than a pound. But people are so disobedient sometimes. Even though I am now double dosed I still wear the mask as you can still catch Covid but at least the consequences won't be as bad. So I think that probably won't let the Tiger cub outside when guests are around, just as the cats have been known to get the virus pretty easily. At the Bronx the tiger there got Covid and the Snow leopard in San Diego caught it pretty recently which proves that the Virus is still being circulated around.
 
Yeah all of your guys observations on mask compliance or lack of has just firmly convinced me I wont head back to the zoo until next spring at the absolute earliest. I cant be the only guest they are loosing for that very reason.
 
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