Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Discussion thread 2022

Good, I want to be sure I get to say goodbye to them if they're still leaving. Or congratulate them on the new home if they're staying. ;w;

Also kinda wish they'd gone with alligator snappers just so I could inform kids that it's what Bowser is based on. XD
 
Just got back from a fun visit, unfortunately every summer camp in the province decided to come along with me. Although I am now extremely deaf thanks to the echoing shrieks of six year olds in the lion cave I had a great time and have some new updates!

-It feels great having meerkats back at the TZ. They aren't mixed with Mr. P the porcupine yet but he was looking in through the howdy door to the nightroom and both parties seemed very interested in each other

-All chameleon nursery signage is down and replaced by permanent looking naked mole-rat signage, so I guess that's where they're staying until phase-out now that B&C is a multifaith prayer room.

-The white rhino girls were solo today, no Tom to be found. Either he's taking the day off or breeding season is over and now all we can do is cross our fingers.

-Some construction going on in the Tundra Trek, seemed like normal maintenance stuff and nothing exciting but the path between the caribou and the former arctic fox exhibit was closed off.

-Spider monkeys are still no-shows at the Temple. The exhibit isn't overgrown anymore but the off exhibit signs seem untouched since the last time I was in the area. Seemed like less flamingos than usual but I could just be misremembering. The macaw upgrades look great. There are some signs at the jags saying that Luca is old and prefers to stay hidden behind the scenes these days

-Puzzle is still here at the tree kangaroos with a crate for training.

-And last but not least here's a treat for you guys, a view of the outdoor orangs from the zoomo. Trust me, pics and video don't do it justice, even speeding by it while it's unfinished it already looks incredible. Zoomo Guy says it's opening next summer so RIP our 2022 hopes and dreams. Ah well this has been a great year for the TZ anyway. Check it out here
 
@hyena142, you always crack me up. You love shrieking 6 year olds! Why are you pretending loosing your hearing isnt fun?

Glad to hear they are already making moves to integrate the meerkats and porcupine. Hopefully they will give him some company and get him moving.

Interesting they are calling that a mole rat exhibit when you dont seem to get a very good view of them.

Tom is probably off display because neither of the girls is cycling at the moment so they are giving the girls a break from him. That or he was busy doing training. I don't think they would stop putting him in with them until mid to late fall to keep trying for the next calf. With the clock ticking on Sabi's ability to get pregnant they would want to give them every opportunity they could to succeed.

Too bad you didnt see the spider monkeys so we could know if Lucas has moved to Granby or not.

As of last year Toronto had 17 flamingos. The post Dolf put up on his Instagram page shows 14 flamingos so in theory three are missing. There could be some on nests still but there could have been some deaths too or just flamingos who are taking longer to warm up to being outside again.

Thanks for the look at the orang exhibit. You are right the photos we have seen don't do it justice. I will wait another year happily if they are doing work that will make these rough bones look even more incredible. Heck after waiting so long already whats another year.
 
yep haha I sure do love being around loud kids it's my favourite thing in the world you know me so well. I love it so much that at this point I'm considering taking up drinking to attend Brew at the Zoo to get away from them (for legal reasons this is a joke)

You really don't get a good look at the mole rats but I guess it's kind of a why not situation, they're there and that spot isn't gonna be home to any baby chameleons any time soon so might as well put a sign up for the time being.

I'm starting to wonder if the spider monkeys are still here or if they left over the winter and we didn't hear about it, last year I usually caught one or two on most visits but this year I've struck out twice. I'll keep visiting and see what happens.

14 flamingos sounds about right for what I saw

That's what I'm thinking, bumping it to 2023 probably means they're aiming for somewhere around Victoria Day weekend pending the orangs getting used to it, and that's a perfect plan considering it's almost August and we'd have it open for like a month before the snow hit if they rushed it for this year. Looking at the construction site from the zoomo there's still a lot of work to be done but it's so exciting seeing an exhibit we've been hearing about for ages finally taking shape. This is the first big TZ project since what, Eurasia in 2014? And this time it actually feels worthy of that big project title
 
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Lol, you are the best!

Too bad the zoo doesnt invest in a decent mole rat exhibit. I think there are options where you could put them and give them a good home.

Hard to say what the spider monkey situation is. I could see them moving Lucas at any time. Hes supposed to go to Granby which is easy. The girls though were supposed to head south of the border so I think that would reduce the chances of them moving in the winter. However we are in July so they could have left this spring. Maybe someone else has seen them since last fall which would give us a better idea.

Victoria Day 2023 would be a great time to get the orangs out. They get all the school groups plus summer activity. You are right a ton of work is left to be done but a lot of work was done since the start of the year when it was still just dirt and utilities. If its not ready by Victoria Day the zoo better reassess how the hire construction teams because it would be ridiculous to not be ready. The last big animal exhibit based project was Eurasia, if we can even consider it a big project. However the last truly big project was the health center which I think opened in 2015 or 2016. That was a high caliber project by the zoos rather lax standards and the only one I know of finished ahead of schedule! Nothing big has happened since then. Nothing medium either. Just small projects but since Dolf took over very worth while small projects done extremely well.
 
@hyena142 I get that urge to take up drinking with that kinda of racket.

I'm not surprised that we're now looking at a 2023 opening for the Orangutan exhibit. That's just typical Toronto construction timing. As long as possible. I wonder if the construction for the new entrance plan will start while this exhibit is still in the works, or will they avoid overlap. It's easy enough to have both projects working at the same time, but doesn't mean they will.
 
Its really a shame the new entrance wont be ready for the zoo's big 50th anniversary in 2024. I know nothing has started yet so how can I be so sure? Nothing is ever ready in a timeline they at first suggest. The new entrance would have been an epic thing to have ready for the 50th. That same entrance has welcomed guests more or less unchanged for 50 years. A brand new amazing state of the art entrance, plaza and exhibit to welcome people in for the next 50 years would have been fitting.
 
The newest episode of the zoo's podcast is about the Black-footed Ferret conservation program. Since the zoo posted about it at the beginning of the month, 4 more kits have been born, bringing the total up to 19 born this year.

Tom was back on exhibit with the girls today, so maybe yesterday was just a fluke.

It looks like the Americas aviary birds are still holed up in Australasia. A few of them at least, they certainly aren't on exhibit in Americas. But they've slowly been updating all the animal signage. The new ones seem colour-coordinated - they're all purple. Some aren't new but I noticed the kookaburra sign is now purple and a couple other ones too so I figure it's an ongoing theme.

Signage down at the old cougar exhibit says it's being repurposed for something new but I don't have any clue what they would put there. Maybe porcupine or bobcat. Moose renovations have also strangely included a gravel path running through the exhibit that run to the side of the bison yard. They've also added one of those pay-to-use binoculars to the observation deck on Weston pond.

Spider monkey signage says they've been "relocated to a new home." I'd assume they're gone. I also only counted 14 flamingos.

A Vancouver island marmot was in the health centre today for a tooth extraction. I just missed it but they started setting up for another procedure, which turned out to be for a barbary macaque exam. I also managed to spot one on exhibit, too, so today was a two-fer!

Education bathrooms are finally finished! I don't remember if this has been discussed already but they are two all gender bathrooms with fully enclosed stalls. I didn't spend too much time snooping but I think it's three or so stalls per bathroom.

The veiled chameleon exhibit is slowly being uncovered as George acclimates to having visitors. He seems very explorative; I've seen him all over his exhibit and in spots I've never seen other chameleons in. I like what they've done with the naked mole rats even if the visibility isn't great, but it's not like it was much better in C&B.

Ball pythons have some new greenery in their habitat and the plants that were briefly in the waterfall structure in the primate wing of Americas are gone, they didn't look like they were doing very well anyway. Waterfall still remains off which is a bummer.

The mixed turtle exhibit near the exit of Americas has been empty for the last two or three weeks. The turtles have been moved to the old softshell exhibit in the corner of the everglades. Today, they have signage covering the windows, talking about the Blanding's turtle headstart program. I would love if they put some of the larger juveniles in this exhibit, instead of only being able to see them from the little tubs. Would go a long way to show off a prime example of local conservation efforts by the zoo. If seeing people is a problem for the turtles, one way glass or murals like the Sumatran tigers have would be an easy fix.
 

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@Kalvin thanks for the updates.

Great to hear another almost surprise litter arrived. They sounded like they were done when they announced 15 of them. Another 4 are very welcomed I am sure.

Interesting that they are going to repurpose the cougar exhibit. Could work for bobcats, porcs, foxes or maybe bring the lynx back. I know Im hoping for too much. Probably will just stick some bird in it.

The new gravel path in the moose exhibit might be there because they had to retool the service road. The moose renos were because the road has washed out a few times in the past few years. They may have had little choice but to put a road through the exhibit. Just a theory.

If the spider monkeys are truly gone, and definitely sounds like they have, that's a bummer. I will miss the little guys. Sad the zoo is focusing on downsizing their primates as much as they are. In the next few years they will be joined by the Barbary macaques (not that we have seen them in a decade really), lion tailed macaques, common marmosets, olive baboons, and I wont be surprised if we add gibbons.

Oh Im sorry you missed out on the Vancouver Island marmot. It is cool to see a rarity like that. But you did catch the mythical Barbary macaque which is cool. And you can confirm both girls are indeed alive.
 
Thanks for the updates @Kalvin!

Okay Tom's still hanging around, cool. Guess he was doing some training or just wasn't in an on-exhibit mood when I passed by yesterday.

I mean they could probably get an orphaned porcupine, bobcat, red fox, badger, maybe even a coyote, etc. if they wanted to put something in the cougar exhibit for the time being. It's not that big of an exhibit, it'd probably be easily retooled for a new species. I can't imagine they're gonna find a long-time commitment species considering the Domain is set to be closed sometime in the next 5 years or so but it'd be nice to fill that exhibit for now, give a little more incentive to make the journey down there.

Question since you went down into the Domain, were the grizzlies out? The TZ website says they're currently off exhibit and I'm considering skipping my annual Domain visit if there's no cougars, the moose are under reno and the grizzlies aren't there either.

That spider monkey sign must be brand new because it definitely wasn't there yesterday. That definitely sounds like they've left, I can't imagine moved to a new home could mean anywhere else at the TZ since it doesn't say specifically where they are. The species had a good run with us but I'm okay with them leaving if it leads to jaguar cubs, last time I saw them they were very entertaining so I have a good last memory.

Wow you actually caught the Barbary apes! Congrats, that's maybe the rarest sight in the entire zoo with the exception of the VIM you just missed, not too long ago I was wondering if the girls were even still alive. I wasn't even aware they still went out on exhibit, I thought they were permanent behind-the-sceners.
 
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@TZFan when you said bird that got me thinking, because there aren't a whole lot of large birds in Canada that would be able to use that space adequately. We sort of have our bases covered with red-tailed hawks and bald eagles, and there's zero chance they'd put turkeys on display in the domain of all places and expect people to want to go down there. But if talks of whooping crane are true, and I do not think the former arctic fox exhibit is in any way appropriate for them, then maybe they could go down there? Otherwise I think another mammal is far more likely, but as much as I miss them too I doubt they would bring back lynx.

The thing with the moose renos is just that it seems strange that they would put the moose back on exhibit with the gravel road, because it takes up a large part of the exhibit, and not the side near the cliff either, it's the side closer to the bison. I wonder if they would relocate the girls to the other bison yard, the one behind the barn that was only visible from the monorail. Then again, that'd cross another species off the domain, but it still wouldn't be the weirdest decision they've made there.

I have seen the marmots in other procedures, just happened to miss today's. Spent my time with Sekali and her baby and then headed down to the domain to see the bison calves and watch the birds on weston pond.

I don't know that both barbaries are alive. It could be that the one I saw and the one in the health centre were the same individual. But I have seen them a couple times this year, and I could compare the photos, I think they have different facial features but I'm not entirely sure. Funny, the exhibit must be a lot closer than I think it is to the Eurasia walking path because they look so small when they're knocked out on the imaging table in the health centre.

@hyena142 funny about the grizzlies, you're the second person today to ask about them. They're definitely out and there are daily wild encounters with them so not sure what that is about. Maybe the website is outdated? If it says moose and cougar are also off display and that isn't changing any time soon so maybe they just hadn't thought to take bears off.

The barbary apes have access to their exhibit, it's just that people don't have access to the exhibit. If you stand at the right spots, you can see parts of their exhibit, most prominent is the big gnarled tree climbing structure. If they're sitting on it, you can definitely see them, but even I don't go to the zoo often enough to see how often they do that, and if I do I don't spend my whole day staring. If you go out by the tur, past the snow leopards, you can see the closed gate and observation deck and if you stand under one of the trees lining the tur fence, and face the gate, you can see the top of that structure. The only other good spot I've found is if you follow the chain link fence on the opposite side of the path from the tur enclosure, there's a little locked latch gate, and if you look towards the exhibit, there's a clearing in the shrubs and you can see a climbing pole. I've seen them at the base of the pole once, don't remember if I've seen them on top. And I'm not sure but I think you can also see them from zoomo behind the lion-tailed macaques? But you'd have to be extraordinarily lucky to see them for more than a split second.
 
@Kalvin, I dont know that they would do the whooping cranes there. The big reason is the exhibit would need a significant reno. Going with porcs, bobcats, lynx, foxes or ugh coyotes would be a more cost effective option. With the domain closing in the next few years, especially possible when accessibility laws come into effect it might not make any sense to go big. Though cranes would be awesome. Oh I wonder if the exhibit is good enough for wolverines? That would be worth a trip down that cursed hill. I would wait for cranes.
 
Had my first visit to the zoo in years today, and I was wondering if the zoo still has capybara? I haven’t been to the temple ruins in over a decade but I noticed what looked like newer species signage, but no capybara in sight.

I also have the same question about the giant pacific octopus, it’s tank looked like it only had lobster and a few fish. Then again, the tank was dark and octopus are excellent at camouflage. If anyone can help answer this it would be greatly appreciated :) .
 
@GorillaFan15 Yep capybara Diego's still at the Temple Ruin in the exhibit with the macaws. He likes to hide though so it can be a bit of a challenge at times. I've found one of his favourite spots is on the backside of the macaw island. Of course he might've been off today for whatever reason

The octo vanished sometime during one of the covid closures (can't remember which) and hasn't been spotted since so we just assume it died. The lobster's been in there ever since.
 
@GorillaFan15 Yep capybara Diego's still at the Temple Ruin in the exhibit with the macaws. He likes to hide though so it can be a bit of a challenge at times. I've found one of his favourite spots is on the backside of the macaw island. Of course he might've been off today for whatever reason

The octo vanished sometime during one of the covid closures (can't remember which) and hasn't been spotted since so we just assume it died. The lobster's been in there ever since.

Thank you for the answers!
 
Took a trip to the zoo today. It was a scorcher, so it wasn’t packed to the brim with people. Guess it was just too hot for most people.

Managed to catch a glimpse of Sumatran Orangutan Kembali on exhibit. Haven’t see him in a couple years now. I’m surprised that he hasn’t grown in cheek flaps like Budi. He looks virtually how I remember, just much larger in size. Tried to get a photo, but it was blazing hot in the pavilion, and I couldn’t wait for him to come out of the large black bucket they have in the exhibit.

Also noticed that people no longer wear masks in the pavilion.

Caught young Giraffe, Matumaini, outside with Mom and sister. Father Kiko was sectioned off in the second yard. Looks like the passage between the two yards were blocked off, so Kiko was on his own.
 
Got to see the penguins back on exhibit, though they spent a lot of time going in and out of the indoor area with only a couple swimming around. When they talked about construction I thought they were going to do more with the area than just a new liner, but it looks nice.

I still have yet to see the baby orangutan, I think I've managed to run into every other orang except the baby haha.
 
@bubblywums if you're someone who can make a spontaneous trip to the zoo on a given day, you can see if the baby orang is out from the live cam on the zoo's website, keeping in mind that they usually rotate who's on exhibit around 1pm.
 
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