Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Future Developments 2013

Guess the meeting with the RCAF about the elephant transfer went ok on Thursday. Sounds like the final decision to use military transport for the move will be bumped to Peter Mackay, minister of defense. At least if they have to go to PAWS and that nosey pest Bob Barker is footing the bill, I guess we can afford to let them go off in style in a plane that will keep them safe for the trip.

Military plane for zoo elephants is Peter MacKay’s call | Toronto Star
 
Does anyone have high hopes that the exhibit for the panda will be really nice—or will it be sub-par, much like the penguin exhibit?
 
Flixox101 said:
Does anyone have high hopes that the exhibit for the panda will be really nice—or will it be sub-par, much like the penguin exhibit?
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I have high hopes. At this point, with all the money and press going into this, it almost HAS to be awesome to avoid criticism.
 
I hope for the best. I'm only relying on one video that gets a brief glimpse at the exhibit, the tall black fences bother me...but that's just me.
 
Flixox101 said:
I hope for the best. I'm only relying on one video that gets a brief glimpse at the exhibit, the tall black fences bother me...but that's just me.
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I posted a few weeks ago (being tall enough to see over the fence) that there is some new 'furniture' in the exhibit for sure, but thats all I could see. Looked that the major piece was a climbing structure.
 
That's what I could see from the video as well. Well that's only 1 out of the 2 exhibits. I'm really hoping it doesn't end up looking half-assed, much like the penguin exhibit.
 
I am hoping that the theming around the exhibit is really. Hopefully there will be bamboo growing everywhere, and themed buildings.
 
I was watching some videos and judging from the brief second I got I think they may be growing bamboo around the fences so it isn't so stark.
 
Sounds like to zoo is getting ready to lock out its staff. Pretty stupid move on the zoos behalf since they have all the hype about the pandas ready to explode their attendance numebers. Might be hard to get that momentum back if the zoo closes for awhile. Plus they are putting spring field trip season in jeopardy which has to be a huge draw. Hope they can work it all out peacefully.

Toronto Zoo management on fast track to lockout, warns CUPE Local 1600
 
sounds to me like the union is exploiting the panda arrival to extort further unreasonable demands for its members at the expense of the public, the TZ and the animals. Just ask anyone who works retail at the TZ what they make an hour and you'll understand why it's exploitation and not even remotely in the best interest of the TZ.
 
I have to ask, how is the zoo still getting pandas. Surely China, being as picky as they are with who gets their national treasure, would be looking at the management issues here.
 
kknudsen said:
sounds to me like the union is exploiting the panda arrival to extort further unreasonable demands for its members at the expense of the public, the TZ and the animals. Just ask anyone who works retail at the TZ what they make an hour and you'll understand why it's exploitation and not even remotely in the best interest of the TZ.
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At this point, I don't think that there is enough information to determine which side is making unreasonable demands (and it's quite likely that both sides are at fault). The panda arrival is probably allowing the union to make some demands that they wouldn't normally make, but if there is some truth to the union's statement about management not actually bargaining (which is pretty common these days), then they are just as much at fault for this situation.

Kknudsen, I don't understand your statement about the retail staff, what they make an hour and how that relates to union exploitation. From what I know from friends, a first year retail staff member makes just slighltly more than minimum wage.


jbnbsn99 said:
I have to ask, how is the zoo still getting pandas. Surely China, being as picky as they are with who gets their national treasure, would be looking at the management issues here.
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Most of the management issues stem from the involvement of Toronto City Council. The zoo is currently in the process of trying to change their governance structure to minimize this involvement.
 
I just hope they solve their problems quickly and it doesnt mar the panda opening. What a national embarrassment that would be for the city and the zoo. Really wont help the zoo trying revamp its image. They finally, finally, finally start sharing their successes, working on getting people excited about the zoo, and working to fix its problems, instead of just annoucing major animal deaths, fighting over the elephants (no matter how worthy their fight its only harmed the zoos reputation in many eyes), and staying secretive about most other things. A strike now will just make everyone look selfish again no matter how valid both sides arguements might be. Strikes never make anyone look good.
 
Does anyone know the progress of the Eurasia project, will it open with the giant panda exhibit? Also what is the status of the Scholfeild Memorial Gardens? Will there still be a pheasant enclosure? Or will this all be affected by a (possible) lockout/strike?
 
Pandas is scheduled to open on May 18th, which is what you all know of. They are working hard on the panda area to get it ready for this opening, this means that Eurasia is not a priority and will open up after I would say by June. The red pandas, camels, snow leopards, falcons, owls, and gardens will open during this time after the pandas. The zoomobile will be driving through the animal exhibits in Eurasia to include, horses, mouflons (will be tried) and yaks. The garden is not completed and will not be for many years to come I would say, as it is not funded by the zoo. This means work is probably still in the way on detailed design for each phase, that could include a pheasant aviary. However, depending on which birds are secured for the opening of the rest of Eurasia one may find pheasants in these exhibits.

As for how much a first year, front line staff makes, its just under 11 dollars an hour. Before statements are said I personally believe everything should be looked at before one develops opinions on staff at the zoo.
 
I too believe in getting my information correct. And since I personally know someone who has worked at the zoo for many years I feel perfectly comfortable sharing my views, and hers for that matter, that the hourly wages are shockingly out of whack with non-unionized positions. And since senior members of the zoo, unionized members I might add, have told me personally that the hourly wages prevent the zoo from introducing things like tours, I again have no difficulty with sharing my informed opinions. Individual zoo employees are not the problem. The problem is the union.
 
Quartz92 said:
Pandas is scheduled to open on May 18th, which is what you all know of. They are working hard on the panda area to get it ready for this opening, this means that Eurasia is not a priority and will open up after I would say by June. The red pandas, camels, snow leopards, falcons, owls, and gardens will open during this time after the pandas. The zoomobile will be driving through the animal exhibits in Eurasia to include, horses, mouflons (will be tried) and yaks. The garden is not completed and will not be for many years to come I would say, as it is not funded by the zoo. This means work is probably still in the way on detailed design for each phase, that could include a pheasant aviary. However, depending on which birds are secured for the opening of the rest of Eurasia one may find pheasants in these exhibits.

As for how much a first year, front line staff makes, its just under 11 dollars an hour. Before statements are said I personally believe everything should be looked at before one develops opinions on staff at the zoo.
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That's too bad about the garden. Hopefully it gets completed sooner rather than later.

When you said falcons, does that mean they will be on exhibit instead of the previously planned sea eagles? What species would they be? Also does anyone know if the zoo has actually acquired an eagle owl yet?
 
@kknudsen When you say wages of non-unionized workers who are you referring to? As for preventing things like tours, that comes down to how the budget is laid out. An issue to be addressed to the City of Toronto. The student minimum wage is 9.60 an hour thats not even 2 dollars less then what front line staff get paid. Might I add I too, have my own personal avenues of many zoo employees all over the zoo from management to front line staff. However, I would like to state that I am not a fan of unions period, but might I add the union is what fights for AND maintains many benefits that full time staff have.

@arcticwolf when I referred to the falcons I meant the sea eagles as well. I have not heard anything about these acquisitions.
 
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