Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Discussion thread 2024

Thanks for the tip,
On my most recent trip I mainly took pictures of the animals, but took pictures of the Orang Outdoor. I think I'll try and get more overall exhibit pictures this time around..
Do you mind sending me the pictures of the exhibits to me?
Thank you in advance
 
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Went to the Zoo yesterday, here are my notes:

- Very nice and mild day, a bit chilly but not too much.
- One babirusa in the indoor, and one in the outdoor.
- Clouded Leopard was sleeping in the hammock.
- Only two lemurs were in the summer home, while the rest were in the African Pavilion.
- The gibbons were quite noisy and vocal, the male Mel was close to the glass and hooting.
- I could only notice two orangutans this morning, baby Wali and assumedly his mother Sekali
- As I rode the zoomobile, I noticed that they're working on the Savanna Barn and had construction barriers set up, good to see their master plan coming into play.
- The African penguins were quite noisier than usual, several individuals braying. Quite fun to listen to.
- The Olive Baboons were having some little scraps and squabbles, maybe not full on dominance assertion but there was definitely some teeth bared and pushing involved.
- All three white rhinos were out, I saw the baby get scared by the geese that were hanging around in the south corner.
- Two gorillas in the indoor section, and two gorillas in the outdoor section. The indoor was Ngozi and one of her kids (I forgot what a volunteer was saying to this other group.) The outdoor had the two bachelors. (One of them was very agitated at the guests and pounding his chest.)
- The gray necked crowned crane inside the pavilion was also possibly agitated, honking and flapping its wings.
- Moving onto the Americas pavilion, nothing of much note here besides the sloths gathering a lot of attention, one of them crawling out of their little sleep box.
- Rode the Zoomobile again at the Tundra Trek station, Lion Tailed Macaques and the crane were both not out, as expected of fall weather.
- Annie the Echidna was elusive once again, saw the Red-tailed Black Cockatoos though, very nice vocalizations.
- Three polar bears spotted, they seemed active and not exhibiting many stereotypic behaviours.
- Four kangaroos were just lounging around in the fall leaves, very chill, very cool.
- Saw Wambli the Bald Eagle. Her age is really noticeable as she attempted to fly.

That's about it. Didn't go down to the Canadian Domain to prevent an extra tough walk, and didn't see the Jungle Temple section.
 
This might be a silly question - presumably the Savanna Barn must be the new "Savanna pavilion" in the master plan right?

What I saw a month ago or so made the footprint look small. Isn't not an aside project?
 
I believe this barn is an aside project near the old wildebeest habitat.

The savanna pavilion should be around the holding buildings for the hoof stock and rhino behind the penguins. I think these are two separate projects, both with the goals of increasing the viewing opportunities to see the savanna species in the winter.
 
I believe this barn is an aside project near the old wildebeest habitat.

The savanna pavilion should be around the holding buildings for the hoof stock and rhino behind the penguins. I think these are two separate projects, both with the goals of increasing the viewing opportunities to see the savanna species in the winter.

Okay - that's what I thought because of it's location and relative small scale versus what the master plan called for (which felt like a show stopper!). But then I also thought they were supposed to be starting the savannah pavilion "shortly" after they broke ground on the front entrance with a 2025-2026 timeline. Maybe I need to go back to the capital forecasting that showed dates.
 
Went to the Zoo yesterday, here are my notes:

- Very nice and mild day, a bit chilly but not too much.
- One babirusa in the indoor, and one in the outdoor.
- Clouded Leopard was sleeping in the hammock.
- Only two lemurs were in the summer home, while the rest were in the African Pavilion.
- The gibbons were quite noisy and vocal, the male Mel was close to the glass and hooting.
- I could only notice two orangutans this morning, baby Wali and assumedly his mother Sekali
- As I rode the zoomobile, I noticed that they're working on the Savanna Barn and had construction barriers set up, good to see their master plan coming into play.
- The African penguins were quite noisier than usual, several individuals braying. Quite fun to listen to.
- The Olive Baboons were having some little scraps and squabbles, maybe not full on dominance assertion but there was definitely some teeth bared and pushing involved.
- All three white rhinos were out, I saw the baby get scared by the geese that were hanging around in the south corner.
- Two gorillas in the indoor section, and two gorillas in the outdoor section. The indoor was Ngozi and one of her kids (I forgot what a volunteer was saying to this other group.) The outdoor had the two bachelors. (One of them was very agitated at the guests and pounding his chest.)
- The gray necked crowned crane inside the pavilion was also possibly agitated, honking and flapping its wings.
- Moving onto the Americas pavilion, nothing of much note here besides the sloths gathering a lot of attention, one of them crawling out of their little sleep box.
- Rode the Zoomobile again at the Tundra Trek station, Lion Tailed Macaques and the crane were both not out, as expected of fall weather.
- Annie the Echidna was elusive once again, saw the Red-tailed Black Cockatoos though, very nice vocalizations.
- Three polar bears spotted, they seemed active and not exhibiting many stereotypic behaviours.
- Four kangaroos were just lounging around in the fall leaves, very chill, very cool.
- Saw Wambli the Bald Eagle. Her age is really noticeable as she attempted to fly.

That's about it. Didn't go down to the Canadian Domain to prevent an extra tough walk, and didn't see the Jungle Temple section.
Hello, seems like a good visit. Will you be uploading your photos on the gallery?
 
It is an interesting read. I think they are anticipating more deaths and know that the general public can be quite vocal, especially on social media and they are trying to get ahead of that. I think they are also getting people ready for the inevitable passing of Charles, and some other older zoo residents.
 
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Noticed two paths closed on the fall/winter 2024 map on the zoo's website. I'm assuming they're both winter infrastructure projects that haven't been announced yet. Anyone know anything about these?

If I had to guess Rainforest one is a boardwalk connection, but I have no clue on the Tundra path.
 
Also, the capybara has moved from the former jaguar enclosure(near the flamingos) to the Mayan temple ruins waterfall. They are in an enclosed area with the macaws. I think the former jaguar enclosure is now home to the two female spider monkey that came back.
I assumed the capybara being in the old jaguar space was temporary, seeing as they spent most of their time in the space under the waterfall to begin with. Would it be safe to assume the second capybara has been moved from the flamingo enclosure as well?
 
yXPOWR1.png
XKcKVQI.png


Noticed two paths closed on the fall/winter 2024 map on the zoo's website. I'm assuming they're both winter infrastructure projects that haven't been announced yet. Anyone know anything about these?

If I had to guess Rainforest one is a boardwalk connection, but I have no clue on the Tundra path.
These are both due to construction. If you go on the Zoo's website/app, they have a section called "Alerts" where both of these current path closures are mentioned.
If I remember correctly, I think for Tundra it's something to do with electrical work - I assume it's to do with the "big" ongoing front entrance project, as the parking charging stations were also affected by electrical work the last time I looked.
 
I assumed the capybara being in the old jaguar space was temporary, seeing as they spent most of their time in the space under the waterfall to begin with. Would it be safe to assume the second capybara has been moved from the flamingo enclosure as well?

There is only one capybara now. Diego passed recently as he was quite old from what I remember.
 
Yeah I think the polar bear construction has something to do with the life support system and some path work. I recall a RFP coming out a year plus ago. I imagine they need to grade the paths a bit for accessibility reasons.

I think the path in front of the rainforest pavilion is also accessibility related and boardwalk related. It too needs to be graded, and I think they will likely remove the stairs. I really really really hope they connect up the info boardwalk up towards the giraffes.
 
More info on the Tundra closure/polar bear habitat - apparently it is a big project - they are repairing/upgrading the bear's pool (including changing it from fresh water to salt water) and all the related infrastructure, ie the life support system previously mentioned by Jefferson above.

Estimated completion by March 1st.
 
I have a question, are there any remaining animals who have been at the zoo since day 1 in August 1974? I thought Charles the gorilla might have been the last when he died in October, but I want to know if there are any other original animals still there.
 
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