arcticwolf
Well-Known Member
Ok thanks! I hope that the zoo has some kind of bird(s) to put on exhibit when Eurasia opens in May or June.
Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Future Developments 2013
- Thread starter GorillaFan15
- Start date
The zoo will be in a lockout position at midnight.
Toronto zoo workers could be locked out at midnight | CTV Toronto News
Toronto zoo workers could be locked out at midnight | CTV Toronto News
Thankfully the zoo and its staff seem to have reached a tentative deal. Hooray no strike! No lock out! Great news for the zoo, its animals and fans.
Toronto Zoo and CUPE reach tentative contract settlement - The Globe and Mail
Toronto Zoo and CUPE reach tentative contract settlement - The Globe and Mail
I was just watching the news about this. Let's hope the deal is ratified.
As the news anchors were discussing this story, they showed a live, overhead view of the Zoo entrance from a helicopter. There is a lot of construction going on at the entrance, extending from the right-side of the bridge to where the exit turnstile is/was (next to the greenhouse giftshop). I would guess that they are adding more ticket booths to handle the expected increase in attendance.
I had heard they were working on the entrance. Hopefully its something that really classes up the entrance. The old one looked rather pathetic compared to the beauty inside the zoo. It would be awesome if it were on par with the one Assinboine Zoo is installing but I have my doubts.
The deal between the zoo and its staff has been ratified. No worries of strikes or lockouts now for 4 years. Good thing both sides decided to do what was best for the animals and the zoo fans and work together on a solution.
Toronto Zoo staff ratify contract deal - Toronto - CBC News
Toronto Zoo staff ratify contract deal - Toronto - CBC News
Some disappointing news. The giant pandas and drive through exhibits will open up this year as planned, but the rest of the exhibit openings have ben delayed to next year 
arcticwolf
Well-Known Member
Some disappointing news. The giant pandas and drive through exhibits will open up this year as planned, but the rest of the exhibit openings have ben delayed to next year
That sucks!
I was looking forward to those exhibits more than the pandas. It's been so long since I've seen a snow leopard.
That sucks!
Believe me, I'm just as disappointed as you are. Let's just hope this means that all the extra time creates even better exhibits! This also makes me ask the question "what has the zoo been doing when they have had all this time to create these exhibits ?"
arcticwolf
Well-Known Member
Now I'm starting to wonder that too. It doesn't seem like the old tiger exhibit is being renovated very much other than the indoor area. Do you know if the species in the drive through exhibits can be seen on foot, or would I have to take the zoomobile? Also, are the confirmed species for the drive through exhibits wild horses, yaks, and mouflons?
The tiger exhibit has actually added new climbing structures, a rebuilt cave/pool, misters and glass viewing at one end, plus more, so there are actually alot of reno's!, the drive through exhibits can only bee seen via the zoomobile, and the yaks, mouflons and horses are the species that are confirmed.
Thats so disappointing that the other stuff has been pushed back. I mean if they have the crews in doing the work on the pandas exhibit theres no reason they shouldnt have at least finished the snow leopard/sea eagle exhibit. Now the drive through section sure I can see possibly delaying things until they fine tune the system for the animals safety and get them used to vehicles driving through.
arcticwolf
Well-Known Member
Which exhibits is the zoomobile going through? I know the old oryx exhibit will be one of them, but what are the other 3? Or will all of the species be living together? I hope the mouflons work out because I feel like if they don't, they'll be next on the phase out list.
The zoo's facebook page:
"Update: Eurasia will now be opening Spring 2014. Good news for Zoo fans is that the Zoomobile Drive Thru featuring open ranging Przewalski Horse, Bactrian camels and Domestic Yak will open at the beginning May, 2013. The remaining Eurasia Walk Thru will continue to be under construction improving exhibits for visitors. This includes the Red Panda, Camel palace and new Snow Leopard exhibit that will now be opening next Spring."
"Update: Eurasia will now be opening Spring 2014. Good news for Zoo fans is that the Zoomobile Drive Thru featuring open ranging Przewalski Horse, Bactrian camels and Domestic Yak will open at the beginning May, 2013. The remaining Eurasia Walk Thru will continue to be under construction improving exhibits for visitors. This includes the Red Panda, Camel palace and new Snow Leopard exhibit that will now be opening next Spring."
The conversion of the tiger exhibit to the panda exhibit wasn't as simple as just adding a climbing structure and misters and rebuilding the cave and pool. The old holding building was torn down as it was at the end of its lifespan and an accrediation issue. A new holding building was built as were 2 new indoor spaces, plus the 2 outdoor spaces were changed (climbing structures, misters, cave, pool). The larger space has also been divided in half (by a wall covered in bamboo), creating an off-exhibit area and the fencing in some areas has likely changed as they added the glass window viewing area. On top of that, a new restroom, retail store and food outlet have all been built and the stingray bay tent will be converted to an interpretive centre. That is a fair amount of work and does not include any other work in Eurasia or general maintenance happening around the Zoo.
I am guessing that the red pandas are not going to be accessible because they are probably using the area/road by their exhibit for construction vehicles and it would be a safety issue.
From the construction drawings of Eurasia (from the tender documents on the website), it appears that the zoomobile will travel on the same path as before and the drive thru exhibits have been built around them. The original large przewalski horse exhibit looks to have been expanded and will now cross over the path and extend towards Meadowvale Rd. The next paddock entered is the old oryx exhibit which would be extended over the pathway toward the water. The 3rd paddock is where an empty field used to be and the 4th is the reindeer/yak exhibit which is also extended over the pathway toward the water.
Like Quartz, I have also heard that the horses and yaks will definitely be in the drive thru, with mouflon and camels being talked about as other potential animals.
I am guessing that the red pandas are not going to be accessible because they are probably using the area/road by their exhibit for construction vehicles and it would be a safety issue.
From the construction drawings of Eurasia (from the tender documents on the website), it appears that the zoomobile will travel on the same path as before and the drive thru exhibits have been built around them. The original large przewalski horse exhibit looks to have been expanded and will now cross over the path and extend towards Meadowvale Rd. The next paddock entered is the old oryx exhibit which would be extended over the pathway toward the water. The 3rd paddock is where an empty field used to be and the 4th is the reindeer/yak exhibit which is also extended over the pathway toward the water.
Like Quartz, I have also heard that the horses and yaks will definitely be in the drive thru, with mouflon and camels being talked about as other potential animals.
I was there today, and it won't be anything special. It was hard to see with the wall they have put up, but it looks like they are just adding more of the same admission booths and possibly moving the location of the exit gate further over. Anything to the right of the membership/passes line is under construction.
There has also been a lot of work done on the gardens around the front of the Zoo. There are new trees being planted in the area between the bus loop and drop off loop and most of the gardens in that area and by the main gift shop have been planted with short bamboo shrubs (a few varieties). The gift shop planters also have some large rocks, a small pine tree and some other shrubs. I thought it looked pretty good and is a nice change from the usual flowers they plant.