Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Future Developments 2009 #1

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Glad to hear how the Tundra's coming along!

With photography, I agree; fingers crossed that all the new exhibits they'll be making will be more photography friendly (the Tundra looks promising thus so far for this). For the reasons you've stated, I haven't taken that many pictures of the Orangs, wolves (haven't taken a shot of these guys in years), etc. as much as I've wanted to get good shots of them.
 
Tired of the zoo being drab but complaining about exhibits being renovated? No doubt it needs improving but ya can't have it both ways, exhibits do need to be closed to improve the zoo :P

For the first time in six years, North York resident Phil Carroll ventured out to the Toronto Zoo with his wife and grand-nieces.

He was shocked with what he saw.

What he'd hoped for was a day of excitement for the two children, aged 6 and 1. Instead, he says they experienced nothing but "drabness" and disappointment.

I spoke to Carroll, a logistics manager with Dell Canada, after he'd copied me on a detailed e-mail to Zoo chairman Raymond Cho and board member Giorgio Mammoliti.

He told me he'd found the signage "lacking" and many of the Zoo's premier exhibits (the seals and polar bears, for example) closed or under construction, forcing his party to walk a huge distance to "see two or three things."

He said the Zoomobile was not up and running, despite the sunny and mild day, many of the pavilions are tired looking, much of the glass covering the viewing areas is dirty and the lighting scheme is dull.

Carroll even likened the Zoo's main entrance to one people would take to "trudge into the mines" -- noting it is desperately in need of a coat of paint and some pizzaz.

"Everything is worn and tired," he said. "It's dull, it's dirty, there's no pride of ownership in the place."

For this he paid $60 -- admission for two adults, one child and parking. He concluded the Zoo is "not good value for the money."

(If approved in the budget, it will soon cost an extra buck for adults to get into this so-called world-class facility.)

It struck me that the operative words in Carroll's discussions with me are "worn," "tired" and "no pride of ownership."

With all the petty infighting that has gone on for more than eight months now over who should control the Zoo's overly ambitious 10-year, $250-million fundraising effort -- and the board's decision last September to sever its relationship with the Toronto Zoo Foundation -- I'm guessing there's hardly been time to take pride in the Zoo itself.

The fundraising situation is not any closer to being resolved.

Long-time CEO Cal White was off on March break. But Zoo spokesperson Shanna Young told me there is nothing new to report since February's board meeting, when White said discussions were still going on with the Toronto Zoo Foundation.

Elizabeth Huggins, vice-chairman of the Toronto Zoo Foundation, said they did not disband on the effective day for which they were given notice -- March 11 -- because a firm plan for its $10 million in assets has yet to be finalized.

"We're working hard to ensure the best interests of donors are served," she said, noting they have a court date in early May.

There's no doubt in my mind either that following the resignation of Coun. Mike Del Grande and Michael Thompson late last fall -- the two councillors who had the Zoo's interests in mind and not their own self-interests -- the board no longer has any checks and balances on their wacky pet projects.

That has left chairman Raymond Cho (considered compliant to White's wishes) to run back and forth to Korea on the taxpayer dime promoting a $1.6-million statue and memorial garden commemorating Canadian missionary Frank Schofield which is supposed to find a home at the Zoo. (Cho claims he's secured $800,000 so far from the South Koreans for the project.)

It has left many -- including Carroll -- scratching their heads. This project has nothing to do with the Zoo's mandate to provide a world-class "wildlife experience."

Cho couldn't be reached for comment. He is out of the country until March 30. But Mammoliti told me he agrees the Zoo is "tired" and definitely needs a "facelift" -- that's why they're focused on their 10-year fundraising campaign.

"One of the biggest draws for the Zoo will be the pandas," he said, referring to his own pet project with China.

Young, left to write a letter back to Carroll, informed him yesterday many large-scale projects are underway at various pavilions and a "complete makeover" of the front entrance is on the Zoo's list of capital projects over the next five years as "funds become available."

Del Grande said the Zoo is not good value but the problem is the board has these "delusionial thoughts" that it is.

"There's no question the Zoo is tired," he said. "But again, it's the Boy's Club and Cal (White) is manipulating it all."

SUE-ANN.LEVY@SUNMEDIA.CA

Not wild about 'tired' Zoo | Sue-Ann Levy | Columnists | Comment | Toronto Sun
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It is sick to here people complain, cpomplain and complain. I completely agree with you Meaghan. People complain that they are bad and complain when the are in renovation to upgrade them!
 
Oh I know! The zoo can't exactly go to Sears and pick up a custom-made prefabricated bear exhibit. And what's up with people thinking Riverdale was a better zoo? And the National Zoo? From the looks of it,although not awful, that zoo also has exhibits in need of a makeover, too. These people should travel up north a bit to see some truly awful places.
 
People just say these things to make themselves feel better about them selves. For instance this Carrol guy makes himself feel superior by saying what he thinks should be done, but wont wait around for it to become done. People can be hypocrites a lot!

I personally like watching the exhibits transform. And I understand that the zoo has its flaws but so does everything! The zoo is not even that bad with the "dull lights" I was there on Monday, unless all the lights got dimmer? But there is not very many lights in the pavilions anyways its mainly sunlight!

Though I do agree about the memorial thing, wasn't the city supposed to fund this not the zoo?!
 
Seriously, ugh! I like how there's natural lighting in the pavilions. It's environmentally friendly as well. And Vitamin D is good for you!

I think the city was going to fund the statue as well, I still don't see the point of it when I think the money should be set aside for Indo-Malaya, etc.
 
I do agree... It would be nice to have but right now is not the time for it!
 
Any Northern zoo in March looks dingy and depressing, especially those built largely in the 1970s. But it sure sounds like the Toronto zoo could use a major shakeup at the top levels.
 
My thoughts exactly, reduakari!
At the zoo, we know Spring as "mud season", thanks to the snow melt and rain. There's not much you can do about it ... just as you can't buy a polar bear exhibit at Sears (love that Meaghan!), the trees don't have their leaves on remote control, and the sand used on the walkways hasn't yet settled down into the lawns. Come summer, there are areas where we have trouble staying on top of the vegetation ...
 
Oooh, that reminds me of the vegetation! I have heard folks complain about too much of that, too :P I think we could write a book about all the complaints people have about our zoo . . .
 
I suggest that you encourage all those complainants to put their money were their mouths are. If negative reaction, they can not be helped or help!

I do feel that the media rather than pick up on the positive tend to go with the whining and bashful crowd.

Rather than what is wrong with Toronto Zoo - and we can talk a century if one wishes to -, I for one would like to know what steps we can and need to take to get the Zoological Society and its zoological garden back on the good road to recovery! :D
 
Just wondering if anyone has been to the zoo recently and have any updates/pics of the construction of the Tundra Trek. Thx :D
 
I haven't :( But I may be going within the next couple weeks. Probably within a months time. But any new information to here would be great! I would think that the bears will be making there way to the zoo soon. I still havn't heard anything about the snow geese though.
 
Assuming the Toronto Zoo gets this little guy (and I hope they do), whereabouts would he go? Americas of course, but whereabouts do you think the exhibit should be? I think by the butterfly garden would be a good spot.
 
I think the zoo (if they take it) will put him in a holding yard. Until the arctic wolves move to the new exhibit then move the poor fellow in the old exhibit!
 
That is an excellent reuse of the current wolf exhibit, fits in well with the zoo's view on recycling :) Maybe when the second phase of the Canadian Domain is opened up he/she can be placed up there, too. I just thought about how big of a zoo celebrity he'd be!
 
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