Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Discussion thread 2021

decades of committing as much TZ info as possible to memory, reading press releases, talking to volunteers, all that good stuff. in another universe I'm probably a tour guide
 
@hyena142, the more often you talk the more often I think we were identical twins separated at birth. I would die to be a tour guide at the zoo. I have never been able to see that as a feasible business opportunity but I have considered doing a private guided tour of the zoo business a number of times. Then I realize you still have to pay for admission and then me? No way enough people could pay for it to pay the bills, especially Toronto bills.
 
I feel you on the comment about the high living cost in Toronto. I blame greedy landlords (who are honestly largely to blame for housing all over the place being borderline impossible to afford now) and the thoughtless people in the city government who keep tearing down homes and businesses to build more towering condos no one has the money to live in. And then they wonder why there's thousands of homeless people in Toronto.

But yeah, if I could, I'd absolutely work at the zoo, I'd love to care for one of my favourite animals. I always imagine being a cheetah or wolf keeper is fun, or being the person who gets to play with the penguins or serve the gorillas their herbal tea and nutritious biscuits, or maybe I'd handle the reindeer/caribou herd and get to feel like Santa. ♥
 
I have a friend/past co-worker who is now a keeper at the zoo, and I have to say, I'm extremely jealous of her, haha.

Also although I don't contribute regularly, I also only visit the zoo about once a year, however much of that had to do with me living a three hour flight away, lol.
 
I tend to have quite the lengthy journey too. When I take the Go transit and city bus to the zoo, I have to board a bus in St. Catharines at almost 8am to get to the zoo at like quarter to noon. And then I do it all again in reverse to get home.
 
I feel pretty lucky - I moved my family back to Toronto during Covid and take my kids whenever we have time to kill.

I think we’ve been 10-12 times since they re-opened (latest was yesterday).

I’m also not as altruistic as the rest of you! I don’t want to be a guide or a volunteer. I want to be on the board and find out what’s going on!

Anyway - thought I could say hi as I’ve been reading these posts a couple times a week since finding the forum and trying hard to learn the animals names and histories in this forum and the others.
 
Welcome @Zooer! You've definitely found the right place if you wanna keep up to date with what's happening at the TZ. Before long you'll know every animal's name by heart lol
 
Welcome @Zooer! Completely jealous you can visit that much. We can always use another member, especially one that visits that much and can help us spy on the zoo!

Oh believe me I would be on the board too if I lived in Toronto and it was a paid job so I could afford to live in Toronto. Honestly I would take just about any job they would give me. I check their job postings frequently and if there is every anything full time that I could do I would apply. Nothing altruistic about me. I want access to all the records they can offer me.

If you want history 2 good sources are the Family Tree thread if you haven't found it yet on the second page of threads. Its a deep dive into everything I could scrounge up on every species I could find things to help explore the history of. Secondly go back to the beginning of the Toronto threads. Some of the original members had incredible knowledge of the past especially Ungulate. Plus I always have fun reading it and seeing what they thought past projects would be like. Zoochat started up around the construction of Tundra Trek and the second phase of the Rainforest construction. We still had the Cape fur seals at that moment.

Since there is a bunch of new members do you guys want me to repost the names list so its as up to date as I am aware?
 
Welcome @Zooer. Hope you stick around with this group of misfits lol.

I think a lot of us would want to be part of the zoo's board. Just to get a better understanding of the inner workings of the zoo would be great.
 
@cypher I want the power of being on the board! I can promote my own agenda and vote down things I dont like... yep we will not phase out my Indian rhinos.
 
@TZFan Understandable - I get upset every time someone brings up the river hippos on this forum now. Maybe I would have been happier not knowing they weren't part of the long term plan!

I can't blame you guys though - I saw that when I read the Zoos 2020 plan over the summer.

Plus my kids were pretty impressed I knew their names.
 
@Zooer, you would have been devastated to know they just disappeared one day. At least this way you get to appreciate them while they are here and have a chance to say goodbye. Stinks to know but there is a benefit others wont have. I have known for over a year and Im still pretty upset even though I now know the reasoning and can accept it. The Indian rhinos has me in a blind rage still because it makes no sense to me. Maybe if the decision was explained I wouldn't want to throw a temper tantrum.

We will teach you and the kids all the names you could possibly want! Some I can even teach you the tricks to identifying if you are interested.
 
Hey Guys, quick update from the weekend. Beautiful time to visit and lots of active animals. Also great to see it still busy on weekends.

The Indian Rhinos were out and about quite active. Bucky was outside on the other side of the pavilion.

The giraffes were out while a group was doing their wild encounter. I'll admit I was quite jealous of their selfies. The red river hogs were out and super active digging holes everywhere (they are some of my favourite residents at the zoo).

I believe Mr P was in the pavilion sleeping, I think in the old meerkat exhibit (although things are blurring together. The Albrada Tortoises (although I only saw one) have moved inside the pavilion with the Crown Crane. Charles and and I think Sadiki were inside, no one was outside.

Perky and Petal were out of their pool grazing around. One cheetah out and the baboons were fairly active. Looked like the wildebeest and ostriches were out, but didn't make it around to properly see them . The zebra were running about, but no Kudu, Eland, White Rhinos, Warthogs, Vulture or Hornbills in sight.

Did a quick trip to the Mayan temple and glad we did as all three spider monkeys were out playing (I think it was getting close to supper time). So it seems Lucas is sticking around still. The flamingos, along with Luca and Diego were out, no macaws.

Managed to finally see the reindeer from the temple side haha. Didn't get a count. Two polar bears out, one in the large grassy part of the enclosure, first time I have seen one swimming in the pool there. The main pool was empty (which it has been both times I have been in the last two months). On bear in the small enclosure to the right.

We were running out of time so ran by to see the tigers, Mila and mom were both lounging inside, not quite asleep and Dad was asleep on the other side. Both had their gates open, but stayed in.

We made a quick detour up to the red pandas which also resulted in a surprised as it seems Adria was still there as there were two Red Pandas up in the trees. Unless the new one has arrived and they haven't announced it.

Anyway great trip overall, always nice as it seems the animals that are asleep one time are awake the other. I added a few photos as well to the TZ Album that you can check out.
 
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