Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Future Developments 2014

Just some input about the bamboo. After the leftover bamboo is weighed, its tossed into a giant green dumpster of sort which you can see when you move from the interpretative building to the panda enclosure area. Keepers from all over the zoo come by daily, grab the pieces, or bundles they want and walk off. So it is getting used, but the other sections are still kinda brain storming how and where it can be used safely.
 
With all the construction that people have reported happening at the Zoo recently, plus what I've seen, I thought I would gather it all in one place:
Major:
Eurasia & new giraffe exhibit- I would guess they are nearing completion, as summer openings have been discussed for both of them
Wildlife Heath Centre- consruction starting in the Fall
Old giraffe house replacement- construction starting sometime after the giraffes move to their new exhibit

Minor:
Front entance garden and flag poles- ongoing (large spruce tree, existing garden, and flag poles have all been removed; new concrete footings have been poured for the flag poles and rock wall for garden has been repoisitioned)
Inside front entrance- not sure exactly what is being done, but there are 4 or 6 wooden posts that have been put in near where the Volunteer station is with the large map (in front of the garden/trees)
Zip line- ticket booth complete, ongoing construction in the old picnic area by the entrance to Tundra Trek and in the field by the Mayan Temple
Tiger exhibit dens- finished? (maybe adding a heated pad underneath for the winter like the lion and hyena exhibits)
Giant panda viewing glass- finished?
Replacing the steps by lion exhibit- finished
Exhibit work for the baboons- finished
Penguin pool- finished
River otter exhibit/filter system- finished
Roof work on the lion-tailed macaque exhibit- finished

Has anyone seen other construction that I haven't listed?
 
The giant panda viewing glass is finished.

When I visited yesterday I didn't see anything that hasn't already been posted. Thanks for posting this list so we can see all of the improvements that are being done at the zoo.
 
Im glad the health centers work is beginning in the fall. The staff and animals can really used the new facilities and frankly the staff deserve to get the new digs after dealing with difficult facilities so long. Im sure they will love the new stuff they are getting.

Im glad most of the work is done or nearing done. Better for summer to have all the work done so guests will be less fussy about inconvinences to them.
 
There is officially a job posting for contractors for the Wildlife Center's construction. It says its a preliminary round so there isnt much in the posting for us to look over. Hopefully more will be posted as they move along in the process.

The board meeting was moved to June 23rd. We wont have to wait nearly as long now to find out how they want to progress with the AZA and CAZA.

Also from the website the search is officially on for a new head vet. Dr. Graham Crawshaw's shoes will be mighty big ones to fill. Hopefully someone will be up to the challenge and Dr. Crawshaw can enjoy his retirement knowing his beloved animals will be in good hands.

http://www.torontozoo.com/pdfs/jb/Head of veterinary services external posting 2014-06-10.pdf
 
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I don't know the cost. I would guess though it will be comparable to the other stuff, under $10. I have doubts about it being free for members.Much like the Gorilla course, it was set up with the company running it as a profit sharing endeavour. The company gets nothing from your membership so I would guess its unlikely they would agree to letting members on for free. The zoomobile is free because I believe it is completely owned and operated by the zoo which already has your money.
 
I could be wrong but, was there design layouts of the snow leopard exhibit for Eurasia Wilds on the forums?
 
I think the link to it was posted. Various drawings can be found on the websites buisness opporunties section... 2012. I dont know if the drawings can still be accessed because I had trouble. I was going to repost the link for you but it just wouldnt open for me. Here's the closest I can take you.

Toronto Zoo | Business Opportunities at the Toronto Zoo
 
Oh how the zoo board frustrates me so! They couldnt scrape togther enough members to have the meeting planned for today. But hey its not like there's anything critical to discuss... accreditation who needs it, right? There is a special meeting being held on the 25th with nothing being shown so lets hope they can get it together and show up so the zoo can get the help in needs to get back in the AZA and continue with the CAZA.
 
The zoo is offering two new experiences, Breakfast with the Bears (polar and panda) an hour before opening and the Panda Lantern Parade 2 hours after closing. Its offered select days and you get a guided tour with just 25 people. Sounds interesting for those of you close enough to enjoy it.

Toronto Zoo | Program Details

In other news the job posting for the head vet has been taken down so I would guess Dr. Crawshaw's successor has been chosen or will be very shortly.
 
TZFan said:
Oh how the zoo board frustrates me so! They couldnt scrape togther enough members to have the meeting planned for today. But hey its not like there's anything critical to discuss... accreditation who needs it, right? There is a special meeting being held on the 25th with nothing being shown so lets hope they can get it together and show up so the zoo can get the help in needs to get back in the AZA and continue with the CAZA.
Click to expand...

On the 3rd try, the board meeting took place today with only the 3 time sensitive items on the agenda (TMMIS - Committees). On the accrediation front, there is positive news (assuming city council stays out of Zoo business). The Board is satisfied with the standard of care and enforcement of both CAZA and AZA and has directed the CEO to apply for re-accrediation with CAZA and to work with the City and AZA to figure out governance issues.

TZFan said:
The zoo is offering two new experiences, Breakfast with the Bears (polar and panda) an hour before opening and the Panda Lantern Parade 2 hours after closing. Its offered select days and you get a guided tour with just 25 people. Sounds interesting for those of you close enough to enjoy it.

Toronto Zoo | Program Details
Click to expand...

While not heavily advertised, both of these programs were offered last year and the breakfast program has actually been running for many years, with the feature animal changing every couple years (stingray bay, polar bears, penguins, pandas/polar bear).


In other news from my visit yesterday, the giraffes have moved to their new exhibit, although didn't have a chance to see them. I believe that while they settle in, the only outdoor access they have is a small, fenced in yard attached to the house. The zip line also appears to be close to opening, as they were doing several test runs with staff riding.
 
Oh Im glad they discussed the big issues and have agreed to move forward with applications to the CAZA and AZA. I hope the city agrees to stay out.

I didnt know they had that program... probably because I dont visit anywhere near enough it never stood out to me.

Im so excited Twiga and Mstari moved! They will eventually love it when they settled in.
 
It's great that the zoo does so many conservation projects such as releasing the turtles. I wish at least a couple Blanding's turtles could go on exhibit though, as I've never seen one before.

I also didn't know that the Toronto Zoo has an education sloth. I would love to see keepers taking him on walks around the zoo.
 
Who know about the turtles. When the Canadian Wilderness opens and all North American stock is moved out of the Americas pavilion they will need to build at least a small new pavilion for all of the North American reptiles, fish, bugs, amphibians and some birds. I really hope they build some kind of house for the little Canadian critters. Maybe you will get lucky and see them added at that time.

Bob the education sloth is actually Tania and Kosmo's (now passed) 2011 baby. Im guessing due to the accreditation issues it was hard to find a home for him so they turned him into an education animal... unless one or both of his parents is overrepresented which I cannot remember. Or his parents are generic or he is generic. Possible since they had to reclassify the species of sloth Sally is. I cant remember if she went from Linne's to Hoffmans or the other way. It would be nice to see Bob out on walks.
 
arcticwolf said:
It's great that the zoo does so many conservation projects such as releasing the turtles. I wish at least a couple Blanding's turtles could go on exhibit though, as I've never seen one before.

I also didn't know that the Toronto Zoo has an education sloth. I would love to see keepers taking him on walks around the zoo.
Click to expand...

Thats the plan. I worked a little with him during my co-op, his problem is he's got a very short attention span and he's food aggressive, they we're working on it and he was getting better. It's good to see him out now though.
 
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