Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Future Developments 2008
- Thread starter Zoogoer2000
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Not specifically, but I suspect it may be somewhere by the "Goose Camp".
I don't know if anything is known for sure yet. Originally we were supposed to receive Aurora and Nikita (two sisters) from Cochrane, but I haven't heard anything recently. It will still be a while before the bears can move in.
She left for Florida (St. Augustines, I believe) a few months ago. She had outgrown her exhibit (several years ago), and the move was long overdue.
Meaghan Edwards
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Since they're phasing out the Musk Ox and probably won't be including Carribou, we can cross those out
Other than that, I love the sounds of it all. I'm glad they're creating more wetlands, our frogs, etc are in need of them!I'm so excited about the progress of the Tundra project
Zoogoer2000
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I thbink the plan should be to bring in polar bears from the US to add new genes
Hopefully Toronto's tomistoma "Gloria" will have a better home (and a possible breeding situation?) in Virginia. Do you know how many are planned for exhibit in Virginia?
An interesting piece of Toronto Zoo tomistoma history: from 1988 to 1993, Toronto had a pair of tomistomas - the two individuals were both captive born, from two of the three successful hatchings of this species in North America. Too bad they never reproduced
Re polar bears: I think the plan is to (eventually) breed polar bears at the Zoo. "New genes" is an odd phrase, as Aurora and Nikita's only relatives in captivity are each other (since they were born in the wild) ... any suitable suitor would suffice!
An interesting piece of Toronto Zoo tomistoma history: from 1988 to 1993, Toronto had a pair of tomistomas - the two individuals were both captive born, from two of the three successful hatchings of this species in North America. Too bad they never reproduced
Re polar bears: I think the plan is to (eventually) breed polar bears at the Zoo. "New genes" is an odd phrase, as Aurora and Nikita's only relatives in captivity are each other (since they were born in the wild) ... any suitable suitor would suffice!
Meaghan Edwards
Well-Known Member
Fingers crossed that all goes well with our Gloria! It'd be great if they were able to breed her, considering how rare they are.
I talked to a keeper who told me, that they don't want to breed polar-bears, but they would, if needed, send their bears on 'honeymoon' to other zoos.
Interesting, Animal. When did you speak to a keeper about this?
The new exhibit is designed with several 'breeding-friendly' features, including a large olding capacity (I think at least 5 or 6 bears) and a designated 'maternity' yard. With the population of captive polar bears in North America dropping by ~50% over the past 10 years and increasingly stringent regulations about taking in "orphan" bears, there is a need for breeding.
The new exhibit is designed with several 'breeding-friendly' features, including a large olding capacity (I think at least 5 or 6 bears) and a designated 'maternity' yard. With the population of captive polar bears in North America dropping by ~50% over the past 10 years and increasingly stringent regulations about taking in "orphan" bears, there is a need for breeding.
Zoogoer2000
Well-Known Member
What I meant by new genes was that there never seems to be any polar bears imported to Canada fromt he USA,they just seem to shuffle them around in Canada to ther Candaian Zoos.So by bringing in more bears from the US,mayhbe they could create a bit more gennetic diversity.Maybe they could even get Aurora and Nikita and then some more bears from the US.I do know what you mean though about them being wild born,there very valuable animals
Hmmm ... I suspect that their being classed as "Marine Mammals" (and subject to the resulting regulations) adds to the tremendous pile of paperwork needed to move these bears around. Having the option of receiving a bear from within Canada vs. from the States, a Canadian zoo would probably choose the Canadian option for the sake of speed, ease, and cost. (Also, many of the polar bears in the US are of Canadian descent! 
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Zoogoer2000
Well-Known Member
Lol,that could cause a problem
I was at the zoo again today. ( I go an awful lot I know) Everything is moving along geatly. I can see the Tundra opening for March Break. I am almost 99.9% sure that that will happen. There is a roof on the polar bear and arctic wolf holding, the leveling looks to be complete in the arctic wolf exhibit. There is a fence running along the outside of the exhibit. ITS HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is more rockwork added to the polar bear exhibit and I think a possible den was made, I am not sure. Overall absolutly amazing and for sure open by March!
Zoogoer2000
Well-Known Member
thats awesome.In all I think this exhibit sound like it will be amazing
Leptonyx
Well-Known Member
One of the lynx's died this summer. She was really old though...so the decision was made to euthanize her (sorry- I can't remember her name).
I wonder if it's a good idea to take on Knut. From what I read this summer he seems to have gained quite the reputation as the "crazy/psycho" bear...and some seem to think he wouldn't be a good candidate for reproduction.
I wonder if it's a good idea to take on Knut. From what I read this summer he seems to have gained quite the reputation as the "crazy/psycho" bear...and some seem to think he wouldn't be a good candidate for reproduction.
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