Sounds like you had a productive visit @Jefferson, so that great. In terms of the Gorilla's, I think you may have seen Sadiki and little brother Nassir. The boys are kept together and separate from the family group.
Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Discussion thread 2021
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@Jefferson, totally wait to do a wild encounter until touching is an option. I have done the Indian rhinos with touching and hippos without. 100% worth every penny to touch them and feed them. Unparalleled experience. Kiran was a greedy little pig and very personable. Without touching and feeding the hippos while cool wasn't worth it. Sure I stood 6 feet away but I spend ever second wanting to reach over and touch the nose and toss them a carrot. The experience for me is nothing without that close and personal interaction. Kiran drooled on me. How could it get cooler. I desperately hope its back for the giraffes next year. Forget that there will be a calf. I want to pet a giraffes nose and have it touch me with its tongue. Might even do the hippo again so I can get the full experience and then I can die happy. Any others will just be icing on the cake from there on out.
African crested porc, Mr P, is most definitely in the former meerkat exhibit.
Gorillas, Charles and Sadiki will never be in the same physical space ever again. Sadiki is full of teenage hormones and nearing the peak of his youth. Charles is an elderly man who would get the snot beaten out of him by the young buck. You saw Sadiki and not so little brother Nassir. They are in a bachelor group together. Nassir could probably give Charles a run for his money too. They are going to chill in Toronto until Nassir is 16-20 years old an both boys are ready to take on their own troops. Then they will head to the US unless something bad happens in Calgary before then.
The ostriches will probably be pulled in soon too. Its starting to get nippy and they will need to be moved to the rhino barn for the winter.
Spider monkey, Lucas, could be moved at any point. Little surprised Granby isnt clamoring to get him there to clear quarantine and breed for a spring or summer infant. Im sure everyone has their reasons.
The macaws would be in for the winter so nothing to worry about. The hornbills, marabous and vulture would also be in for the winter. That group is usually pulled just after Thanksgiving weather dependent.
The zoo likely has lost its last reindeer this year. You saw the caribou herd which has 8 females, a mix of mothers and daughters.
Something must have happened with the move for the red pandas. Delay for some reason. No way it could be new female Paprika yet. She would need to clear a 30 day quarantine and I dont think she could have arrived in enough time to be cleared and comfortable enough to meet Suva an be together physically without keeper supervision. Lots of hurdles to clear is my point. That doesn't mean Paprika isnt on site yet. She could be. Just means Adira hasn't left yet.
African crested porc, Mr P, is most definitely in the former meerkat exhibit.
Gorillas, Charles and Sadiki will never be in the same physical space ever again. Sadiki is full of teenage hormones and nearing the peak of his youth. Charles is an elderly man who would get the snot beaten out of him by the young buck. You saw Sadiki and not so little brother Nassir. They are in a bachelor group together. Nassir could probably give Charles a run for his money too. They are going to chill in Toronto until Nassir is 16-20 years old an both boys are ready to take on their own troops. Then they will head to the US unless something bad happens in Calgary before then.
The ostriches will probably be pulled in soon too. Its starting to get nippy and they will need to be moved to the rhino barn for the winter.
Spider monkey, Lucas, could be moved at any point. Little surprised Granby isnt clamoring to get him there to clear quarantine and breed for a spring or summer infant. Im sure everyone has their reasons.
The macaws would be in for the winter so nothing to worry about. The hornbills, marabous and vulture would also be in for the winter. That group is usually pulled just after Thanksgiving weather dependent.
The zoo likely has lost its last reindeer this year. You saw the caribou herd which has 8 females, a mix of mothers and daughters.
Something must have happened with the move for the red pandas. Delay for some reason. No way it could be new female Paprika yet. She would need to clear a 30 day quarantine and I dont think she could have arrived in enough time to be cleared and comfortable enough to meet Suva an be together physically without keeper supervision. Lots of hurdles to clear is my point. That doesn't mean Paprika isnt on site yet. She could be. Just means Adira hasn't left yet.
Jefferson
Well-Known Member
Ahh yes, that makes much more sense about the gorillas. I am not great at my individual animal identification. The boys both look so big! Also makes sense that Charles would be with the family.
Yeah, I figured it couldn't be Paprika, I knew she would have to do a 30 day quarantine and figured the zoo would let us know about her arrival. Pleasant surprise for a last view of Adira though. It is getting a little harder to blame covid on some of the delays.
I agree about the encounters, definitely waiting for the covid restrictions to wind down.One hundred percent want to touch the animals. It is so interesting, I was in Thailand a few years ago and went to the zoo, when we saw the river hippos they were getting fed, and the keeper just handed us the lettuce to feed them. It was a nice surprise.
I certainly wasn't expecting to see a third after multiple weeks of only seeing the two. But as you say things may be happening behind the scenes.
I figured the birds would be moving inside. I was surprised not to see the white rhinos and kudu and eland out though. I figured they would be out a bit longer. I'll be honest I am not certain which animals stay out in the winter.
Yeah, I figured it couldn't be Paprika, I knew she would have to do a 30 day quarantine and figured the zoo would let us know about her arrival. Pleasant surprise for a last view of Adira though. It is getting a little harder to blame covid on some of the delays.
I agree about the encounters, definitely waiting for the covid restrictions to wind down.One hundred percent want to touch the animals. It is so interesting, I was in Thailand a few years ago and went to the zoo, when we saw the river hippos they were getting fed, and the keeper just handed us the lettuce to feed them. It was a nice surprise.
I certainly wasn't expecting to see a third after multiple weeks of only seeing the two. But as you say things may be happening behind the scenes.
I figured the birds would be moving inside. I was surprised not to see the white rhinos and kudu and eland out though. I figured they would be out a bit longer. I'll be honest I am not certain which animals stay out in the winter.
@Jefferson we may have crossed paths then - I stood watching the polar bear in the far little pool for a while. They were really twisting and diving and seeming to have a great time. I haven’t seen the bears much back there and first time I’ve ever seen one in the pool.
I still remember a while back when the enclosure first expanded watching two polar bears slip and slide down the hill in the snow. I do think that’s one of their better exhibits.
I still remember a while back when the enclosure first expanded watching two polar bears slip and slide down the hill in the snow. I do think that’s one of their better exhibits.
@Jefferson, your Dalmatian is adorable!
I doubt covid is to blame for Paprika and Adira not swapping on schedule because we are talking Toronto and Winnipeg, unless a red panda keeper at either place tested positive. That's the only reason I could see delaying it. Could be one of them was sick. Could be a transportation issue like West Jet didnt have space. Paper work snag. Who knows.
Lucky! I knew when I went I was unlikely to be allowed to touch. Rolled the dice though knowing at that point they were up for adoption and that might be my best and only chance to be close to them. Any other animal I would have skipped and waited for.
The kudu could have easily been out of sight. Its easy for them to hide more so than other animals. The rhinos might have been in mid rotation. Might have been bringing the girls in and getting ready to send Tom or Theo out. It could have been taking time as they arent always cooperative. Theo could also have been crate training and he was more interesting then being outside for whoever was to be outside. Who knows. I have no idea why the eland werent out.
I doubt covid is to blame for Paprika and Adira not swapping on schedule because we are talking Toronto and Winnipeg, unless a red panda keeper at either place tested positive. That's the only reason I could see delaying it. Could be one of them was sick. Could be a transportation issue like West Jet didnt have space. Paper work snag. Who knows.
Lucky! I knew when I went I was unlikely to be allowed to touch. Rolled the dice though knowing at that point they were up for adoption and that might be my best and only chance to be close to them. Any other animal I would have skipped and waited for.
The kudu could have easily been out of sight. Its easy for them to hide more so than other animals. The rhinos might have been in mid rotation. Might have been bringing the girls in and getting ready to send Tom or Theo out. It could have been taking time as they arent always cooperative. Theo could also have been crate training and he was more interesting then being outside for whoever was to be outside. Who knows. I have no idea why the eland werent out.
Jefferson
Well-Known Member
@Zooer We definitely may have crossed paths then!
@TZFan Thanks! He is a cutie, although lots of trouble.
It is true, easy for them to hide in the savannah, and exhibit rotation would make sense as to why no rhinos.
Any idea why no polar bears in the large tank? I thought there were 5 at the zoo, so I figured they would use all the spaces?
@TZFan Thanks! He is a cutie, although lots of trouble.
It is true, easy for them to hide in the savannah, and exhibit rotation would make sense as to why no rhinos.
Any idea why no polar bears in the large tank? I thought there were 5 at the zoo, so I figured they would use all the spaces?
@Jefferson, I think the female polar bears have all been successfully integrated so they really only need 2 exhibits unless its breeding season when the boys need to be split to keep the peace usually. One or more may have been lost in the field exhibit out of sight. Its big and has tons of places to hide like the kudus. The maternity yard bear could have had access to the pool and just chose the maternity yard. Usually all the bears have access to holdings if they so choose so someone or multiple someones could have chosen to be inside. They could also have been training individuals. And with the behind the scenes tours they may take people inside to see the training or the rear holding which would occupy at least one bear too.
@TZFan okay - you said feel free to ask stupid questions, so here goes!
When you say 2 exhibits is it that they keep the males together (except as you've said during breeding season), and the females together? I went back to watch the polar bear live video from March 2020 - but they didn't explain much about the exhibit. Is it that the maternity yard and "front" yard are open free flow, and then the back is split? I always thought the fence between the pool and the back hill looked pretty small/weak.
When you say 2 exhibits is it that they keep the males together (except as you've said during breeding season), and the females together? I went back to watch the polar bear live video from March 2020 - but they didn't explain much about the exhibit. Is it that the maternity yard and "front" yard are open free flow, and then the back is split? I always thought the fence between the pool and the back hill looked pretty small/weak.
@Zooer, not a stupid question if you don't know much about exhibit design.
So lets start with the pool exhibit and maternity yard. If you go down into the maternity yard viewing you will see there is a door between the two exhibits that keepers can open and close as needed. For instance if Hudson and Humphrey are out together in the pool yard keepers could decide to open the maternity yard up so they boys have more space. I have seen it open where one of the boys is hanging out in the maternity yard because he just doesnt want to be with his brother at that moment. Like humans animals like their privacy at times too. However lets flip this to breeding season and the boys aren't getting along as they try to impress their mother, aunt and sister. The door can be closed between the pool and maternity yards keeping the boys separate. They also used this last year to help quarantine both Juno and Hudson when they had ring worm.
Now when it comes to the field yard the fence between that and the pool yard doesnt look like much but that is by design. The idea was to help hide the barrier and make it look like one exhibit for the guests benefit. That scenic view. The wires separating the exhibits are first off electrified. The bears know if they touch them it will be very unpleasant. So that alone does deter them but tht is not all thats there. Out of sight is a steep dry moat that is too big to jump across. You can see it here.
Google Maps
It also shows how in the field exhibit there are banks preventing escape along other walls too. You can kinda see if you go into street view the maternity yards door but its a terrible angle and you can see the door to the holding plus a keeper door.
Each of the three exhibits has a door that will let the bears into various holding pens.
And if you look at the barn you can see a concrete off exhibit yard. When you drive by on the zoomo it just looks like more building with super tall walls. Just gives them another shift yard or a space to stick someone if needed. They currently have a training crate out one of the doors in there so they can access all sides of the bears more easily for vet procedures.
Hope that helps!
So lets start with the pool exhibit and maternity yard. If you go down into the maternity yard viewing you will see there is a door between the two exhibits that keepers can open and close as needed. For instance if Hudson and Humphrey are out together in the pool yard keepers could decide to open the maternity yard up so they boys have more space. I have seen it open where one of the boys is hanging out in the maternity yard because he just doesnt want to be with his brother at that moment. Like humans animals like their privacy at times too. However lets flip this to breeding season and the boys aren't getting along as they try to impress their mother, aunt and sister. The door can be closed between the pool and maternity yards keeping the boys separate. They also used this last year to help quarantine both Juno and Hudson when they had ring worm.
Now when it comes to the field yard the fence between that and the pool yard doesnt look like much but that is by design. The idea was to help hide the barrier and make it look like one exhibit for the guests benefit. That scenic view. The wires separating the exhibits are first off electrified. The bears know if they touch them it will be very unpleasant. So that alone does deter them but tht is not all thats there. Out of sight is a steep dry moat that is too big to jump across. You can see it here.
Google Maps
It also shows how in the field exhibit there are banks preventing escape along other walls too. You can kinda see if you go into street view the maternity yards door but its a terrible angle and you can see the door to the holding plus a keeper door.
Each of the three exhibits has a door that will let the bears into various holding pens.
And if you look at the barn you can see a concrete off exhibit yard. When you drive by on the zoomo it just looks like more building with super tall walls. Just gives them another shift yard or a space to stick someone if needed. They currently have a training crate out one of the doors in there so they can access all sides of the bears more easily for vet procedures.
Hope that helps!
@TZFan - amazing! Thank you. That certainly answers my question.
Also I never would have thought of using google maps to see those angles at the zoo, but it really gives you a different perspective rather than the map you're used to seeing.
I'm definitely going to take a closer look the next time I'm over there.
Also I never would have thought of using google maps to see those angles at the zoo, but it really gives you a different perspective rather than the map you're used to seeing.
I'm definitely going to take a closer look the next time I'm over there.
AJ the TZ Guy
Well-Known Member
Reminds me of how much I miss the elephants. I understand why they had to leave, but still. :c
I agree maintenance makes the most sense. The pool might need a good scrub before winter and maybe check the plumbing. With the main pool they can keep lines deeper than they can with the maternity and field pools. Could be as simple as sprucing it up. Alternatively they could be hosting something. 6 days too early for Juno's annual military promotion.
Odds are if its a single cheetah male then it should be Bakari. They would be trying cery hard to keep David and Clark together to create that natural competition between coalition members for mates. Id guess they are trying with Emarah this time round as Laini should be retired given her age... unless i accidentally added a year.
AJ the TZ Guy
Well-Known Member
Sidenote, I think I figured out the logic behind the plan to put whooping cranes in Tundra Trek, turns out a few choice spots in the Canadian tundra region are the bird's summering and breeding grounds.