Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Discussion thread 2024

Small update from a visit this last weekend. Henry the Wrinkled hornbill has been moved into the Malayan Woods aviary. It seems the other birds have moved out, I am guessing into the indomalaya pavilion.

Otherwise nothing too much, animals are all out on the savannah now, got to see Kifaru, the baby white rhino. He was pretty relaxed with mom.

Otherwise nothing too exciting. Puppe the orangutang was in the research centre, I did not see her outside but the door was open for her. Ramai and Jinnga were together inside.

Moose still off of exhibit per the sign at the top of the hill (did not go down myself this time).

Otherwise not too much to report. Greenhouse has officially opened, although was closed for an event this past weekend. Highly recommend checking it out though!
 
Is there a possibility that the flamingos will return to their open air exhibit? I quite liked that exhibit for them. It feels less likely though since they've been putting mesh fencing for all the bird species. If there are no plans for them to return I wonder if they will put another species there. Otherwise, it will feels so barren.
 
Flixox101 said:
Is there a possibility that the flamingos will return to their open air exhibit? I quite liked that exhibit for them. It feels less likely though since they've been putting mesh fencing for all the bird species. If there are no plans for them to return I wonder if they will put another species there. Otherwise, it will feels so barren.
Click to expand...
Unlikely with the the risk of bird flu without major modifications, it definately wouldn't be open air anymore. Not sure what species they would put there since birds are off the table.
 
Anyone else getting a bit annoyed with them disregarding the regional dynamic? I kind of understand there need to put Red Legged Seriema in the Komodo display but Lau Banded Iguana in African Rainforest, Malagasy Rainbowfish in the Americas.
Is this because of the arbitrary 200 species thing? Also did anyone know if domesticated in children's will count toward that number?
I didn't have strong feelings towards Goat World before but if there holding a slot that could have been Red Breasted Piranha, or Dessert Grassland Whiptail Lizard then dump the goats, alpaca, donkey, bactrian camels and and watusi in Riverview.
 
Went for a visit yesterday and thought I’d share some stuff.
  • There is quite a bit of construction going on around the park, in addition to the entrance and Indo-Malaya boardwalk there is some fencing up near the Caribou Café but it might just be maintenance related.
  • Most of the old wildebeest habitat has been cleared. According to the signage it's being turned into a Savanna Barn and will be an indoor home for Savanna animals like the warthog, zebra, ostrich, and eland. Is this the new Savanna Pavilion?
  • They’re doing a lot of new planting in preparation for the 50th, should look nice when it all fills in.
  • I finally got to see Kuzco (armadillo), he was very cute scurrying around in his box.
  • I’m sure its been mentioned before but the Kid’s Zoo seems pretty run down, a lot of empty and overgrown exhibits, some play areas that are taped off. I mean I personally would rather the zoo focus on developing other areas, but I imagine they make a lot of their money from families with kids so it seems like it would be smart to nicen up the Kid’s Zoo.
  • I decided to take the walk down to the Canadian Domain since it might not be open much longer.
    • The domain has a bit of a mosquito problem (I was getting eaten alive), which is one reason I’m happy it’s getting moved up to the main park.
    • Bowen (cougar) is very friendly, he came right up to the fence and followed as I walked by, and he was pretty talkative.
    • Got to see Shintay (grizzly bear) right as her feeding started, she still seems quite active.
    • I didn’t realize TZ had so many bison, I counted 18 in the main herd plus 3 in the bachelor herd.
    • There was a swan couple in the Weston Pond with a baby.
    • There was also a sign on the old wolf habitat that says “This habitat is being repurposed for future plans.” I haven’t been to the Canadian Domain in several years so I don’t know if this is new.
    • The moose still weren’t on display, I miss them.
  • The Watusi cattle were being very vocal, I could hear them all the way from the old wildebeest habitat.
  • The baboons have a new wood structure, it’s not very tall but they seemed to be enjoying it.
  • Saw baby Kifaru (white rhino) and he’s already so big! He was out with Sabi and another adult (I think it was Tom).
  • The main gorilla troop was outside and enjoying their new wood structures. I would have preferred they weren’t so brightly coloured so they matched the rest of the habitat, but it’s nice to see the gorillas get something new.
    • Meanwhile the bachelor troop was in the rainforest habitat which is open again. Thank god cause I am not a big fan of the day room, it can be really hard to see into when people crowd around the glass. However, the back window of the rainforest habitat (the one with the log) is still walled off so I’m not sure if it’s still being worked on.
  • I caught a keeper talk for the tigers and got some updates.
    • Only Mazy and Hari were out, it sounds like they might not always have both Sumatrans on exhibit because they want to make sure Mazy always has the option to go inside. Amurs don’t do well in high heat.
    • Also apparently Mazy is not a fan of the Sumatrans, she generally avoids them and occasionally vocalizes at them.
    • The keeper confirmed that TZ will be continuing the Amur breeding program after Mazy passes away.
    • Keeper also said it looks like the Indo-Malaya boardwalk will be finished around end of July which is when the Sumatrans will go back to their old habitats. She said the old habitats will be mostly the same but one will be a little bigger.
    • I asked about the third outdoor Amur exhibit since I noticed a new wood structure there, she said it will be finished in about a month. At first it will be used as an extension for the upper outdoor exhibit (the larger one). In future there will be a second phase of construction where they will build a separate transfer shoot so it can be used as a third exhibit.
  • I went through the kangaroo walkthrough, they were all in the transfer area but I could see the new joey poking out of Tori’s pouch.
  • I can confirm that Annie (echidna) is still in the front exhibit with the cockatoos, her signage is back up and there is even a little sign showing where her den is. It looks like there is more greenery in the habitat so maybe they moved her temporarily (or maybe I was wrong and she was always there).
  • Also got to see a keeper doing training with the cockatoos, the girls were very talkative.
  • The new otter wasn’t on exhibit, maybe she’s still in quarantine?
  • On a sour note I tried to go into Splash Island to cool off cause it was really hot but I was told that you can’t enter unless you have kids with you. This must be a new policy cause it definitely wasn’t a thing in the past, which sucks since it really was nice to be able to go in there on hot days.
Overall though I had a great time.
 
@milkandcookies probably not the New Savannah Pavilion, they were already building a new barn for the Wildebeest/Ostriches though sounds unlikely Wildebeest will return they probably extended the project to the other hoof stock. I imagine they'll need to store the other animals somewhere while they build the new Savannah Pavilion makes me wonder what they'll do with the rhinos. If Vishnu the last Indian Rhinoceros has gone by when the project starts they may be able to shift them there temporality.
 
milkandcookies said:
Went for a visit yesterday and thought I’d share some stuff.
Click to expand...

What a great review!

I think caribou is just maintenance, no big project there that I know of.

And yes as @kingoffreaks said, this is not the new Savannah but rather a new holding, with some viewing ability for guests, think of it as a mini savanna pavilion for that side of the savannah. The new Savanna pavilion will be built over the behind the scenes of the Kudu/Rhino/Zebra/Eland holding, possibly incorporating the penguins as well. Did you happen to take a picture of the sign. Interesting that they might be using it for other species as well. There is some efforts to move and mix some species. I think one of the male zebras is hanging out backstage with the Watusi, and there is an ostrich sharing the Kudu space, maybe we are slowly getting towards a mix savannah, regardless seeing the zoo using the space more liberally and mixing some animals does make me quite happy.

I agree with your analysis of the kids zoo. It really needs some love, as it is disappointing. I will say I was at the Bronx zoo this past spring and their kids zoo is amazing and as an adult I loved it! I would love to see the place get some love, even if it is just more skunks, woodchucks, prairie dogs. It just needs to be filled up. I think there are some winter holding issues so maybe this will improve if they build something new. I think some exhibits for some of the ambassador animals would be great as well. I would love to see the hornbills and even some of the reptiles.

Sounds like a good trip to the Domain, I imagine the humidity made it a mosquito hotspot. 3.18 does sound right for the bison. I don't think there were any calves this season though? I think the sign at the wolves has been there since they moved to Tundra Trek years ago.

I don't know if White Rhino Calf, Kifaru has been out with Tom, as far as I know it has been with mom Sabi, and aunt Zohari only.

Agreed on the gorillas, I think managing two troops without the indoor enclosure would be a challenge, so glad they got back into, I am hoping they reopen the viewing with glass, I imagine the entire wall has been re-done but I don't know for sure, hopefully no unsightly bars or anything!
The new outdoor structures are quite nice, but I can't wait for the day when we have an open air gorilla enclosure outside!

It will be a great day when the boardwalk reopens and the tigers move home. I am surprised the new enclosure isn't being build with a shoot directly over to the holding. Seems odd to double the size of the large enclosure all for one tiger? Unless they are just planning on it being just Mazy for a while. I was hoping once the Sumatrans move home, they might look at bringing in a new pair of Amurs with the extra space?

I am trying to think the date Maybelle, the new female otter, arrived, she would be doing a 30 day quarantine, if that is over perhaps there has been a little delay introducing them because of RJ's recent eye surgery?

On my own update, I was there Thursday, busy even with it being a scorcher. The outdoor orangutang habitat is only open for members from 10-2, I don't know if this is a way to keep it quiet while they are exploring. In the afternoon Bidi and Ramai had access, Ramai came into the research station when the keepers would come down. Bidi actually went outside, he made it to the first large climbing post twice, graded food and ran back inside quite quickly. I do wish they had build a door up high so they could swing out, I feel like going outside on the ground makes them feel more vulnerable perhaps, although that is how they are used to transferring inside. Very slow steps forward I guess.
 
I visited the zoo two days ago. It was raining after 1pm, but I did not give up walking the zoo and going to every exhibit. I took the zoo mobile to see the behind scene animals Here are a few updates:
- I do not know if this was mentioned but there are actually 2 alpacas living in the zoo mobile route.
-The yaks in the zoomobile route are all females
-The West Caucasian tur are all males. Their names are Turbo 2.0, Tornado, The Terminator and Turnet or Tournet?
- I asked some African savanna keepers about Lloyd's location. They all said he was not there and he was maybe taken to the kid's zoo.
- The Southern ground hornbill was off-exhibit, the hornbill has moved to the kudu exhibit.
- There is construction in the viewing of the pygmy hippo exhibit.
-The zoo plans to bring new polar bears when the two old females die. They will bring wild orphaned cubs. I asked the two keepers about this.
- The hammerkop and violet turaco are off-display
- Sakura the red panda is hidden I think in the Wildlife Health Center. It is like a small tunnel leading to an outside exhibit for her to eat?
-
 
Just saw a photo on @dukiephoto on Instagram of a female ostrich with the Kudu
Also surprised to see a photo of the Macaws out on the island, not complaining but there didn't seem to be any sort of constructed meditation with all the concerns about bird flu.
Also appears the zoo has at least two M/F Edward's Pheasants now in Indomalaya Pavilion.
On the note of bird flu does anyone knows if there's been any plan or attempt to deal will the population House Sparrows in the African Rainforest Pavilion?
 
kingoffreaks said:
Just saw a photo on @dukiephoto on Instagram of a female ostrich with the Kudu
Also surprised to see a photo of the Macaws out on the island, not complaining but there didn't seem to be any sort of constructed meditation with all the concerns about bird flu.
Also appears the zoo has at least two M/F Edward's Pheasants now in Indomalaya Pavilion.
On the note of bird flu does anyone knows if there's been any plan or attempt to deal will the population House Sparrows in the African Rainforest Pavilion?
Click to expand...

Yes, one of the ostriches is with the kudu this summer and I think has been introduced to the some of other birds that have been with the kudu in the past (i.e some of the ground hornbills and I think the marabou storks).

Also I believe one of the male zebras is staying with the Watusi, I don't think on exhibit yet, but you can sometimes see from the zoomobile, when you drive by the holding.

Seems like lots of new birds species, between the pheasants and the new additions in the Australasia pavilion. Nice to see for sure. I am not really sure where the zoo is at with bird flu precautions. It seems some are out this year (i.e. all the savanna birds, ostriches and macaws, but I think some are still not out (i.e. flamingos in the old spider monkey). I imagine if there was an outbreak near by the zoo we may see this shift and some of the animals go back inside. Fingers crossed we can avoid this!
 
I believe the Ostrich in the Kudu exhibit is Zednick, who previously had a wing amputated. Interestingly, the Marabou Storks in the exhibit now are the parents of Zuri, as I saw two the last time I visited and neither had Zuri's bill deformity.
 
Looks like Ramai, female orang, is going to the wildlife health center tomorrow, streaming as well on zoo life. They mention the dentist as expected, however interestingly they mention specialist from Mt Sinai hospital and a local fertility clinic as well partnering tomorrow.

I suspect they are doing some studies/tests/exams to assess her fertility. Perhaps as she hasn't gotten pregnant in the past few years with Budi they want to check her out?
 
Also during my visit last week, I noticed there was a moving crate near the American alligator exhibit. It was placed outside of the exhibit and there was a sign explaining what it is used for. Could it be a new alligator moving in or out? Was this crate always here? Maybe it is for educational purposes? There was also a few plants that are in the pots near the gator box. Maybe they are just adding new stuff into the exhibit and they will use the crates to move them out for the moment?
Thank you in advance
 
A bit late with this but I had a quick visit this past weekend and got some updates:
  • There are new signs up on that construction in front of the Caribou Café, apparently that’s where the new VR experience is going to be. Looks like there will be a great migration one, a walking with gorillas one, and a swimming with sharks one.
  • During a zoomobile ride the staff called the Indian rhino habitat the “old greater one-horn rhino habitat” and said that the babirusa are in there now, which makes me wonder if Vishnu has been moved. The TZ website says he is not currently on exhibit.
  • When we passed by the health center I saw one of the clouded leopards being held in the back.
  • I can confirm what @Jefferson said about the male zebra being held near the Watusi, he is in the old giraffe barn. He is not fond of the zoomobile so he might run inside when you drive past.
  • Also @Jefferson sorry I never answered your question about the sign for the new Savanna Barn. I did get a picture of it but I don’t think I’ve been a member long enough to upload pictures. It doesn’t have much information that I didn’t already say. It does show an image of what the barn is supposed to look like and it only shows an outdoor viewing window, which makes me think guests won’t be able to go inside.
  • I was able to catch an otter keeper talk and ask some questions.
    • Maybelle is currently in the health center but they hope to bring her over and introduce her to RJ soon.
    • Keeper said they are planning to breed Maybelle and RJ, they think the two will get along since they have both done well with other otters in the past.
    • I asked if the zoo will bring in more otters for the new entrance habitat, she said she was not aware of any plans at this time, but she also wasn’t sure exactly what the plan is for the entrance habitat. According to her they could move all the otters over to the entrance and do something else with their habitat in the Americas, or they could keep RJ and Maybelle in the Americas and get new otters for the entrance, or if RJ and Maybell breed successfully they could move their offspring to the entrance.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top