Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Future Developments 2014

Also got a email newsletter. It mentioned that Toronto Zoo was part of a collabration that saw 90 young endangered Loggerhead Shrikes released back into the wild of Southern Ontario. Here's the blurb from the email:

"We are proud to announce that we have successfully bred and released endangered loggerhead shrikes back into the wild in Southern Ontario!

In collaboration with Wildlife Preservation Canada, Environment Canada and other partner facilities, 90 young were produced and released into the province."
 
Nice to hear the whole hyena clan is now together. Im surprised Echo ended up on the bottom since others have said hes bigger the Moja. But im not a hyena so what do I know.
 
Oh, I forgot to mention. Police and firetruck were in the zoo parking lot when I was leaving. Get this, turns out some idiot left their dog in the car while they visited the zoo. Police got the dog out, and some Keepers provided water and such to make sure it was okay. I can't believe people are still doing this.
 
Thats horrible. At least for the dog it couldnt have happened in a better place. Im sure a staff vet was there checking it over. Hope the people get more then a slap on the wrist... I would prefer the dog being seized. No one goes to the zoo for a couple of minutes. We all know you're going to spend a couple hours there if not the whole day. Thats just so cruel. The dog would have been much happier at home and definitely safer. I just dont get people.
 
cypher said:
Oh, I forgot to mention. Police and firetruck were in the zoo parking lot when I was leaving. Get this, turns out some idiot left their dog in the car while they visited the zoo. Police got the dog out, and some Keepers provided water and such to make sure it was okay. I can't believe people are still doing this.
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This unfortunately happens a lot more often than you would think at the Zoo, even though there is a dog kennel just up the road.
 
Got a new lens, so I decided to try it out at the zoo. Couple notes on my observations.

In the distance of the visible section of Eurasia, I saw what looked like a white rocky structure that I don’t remember seeing before. Plus there was aviary mesh behind the white rocky structure. This was all beside the red rocks of the Barbary Sheep exhibit. Anyone else remember seeing any of this before, or is it new?

So I found out that the Lionfish has died. Apparently, the time I saw it laying along the bottom of the tank was when it died. I saw it still slightly breathing, so it must’ve died shortly after. The Moray Eel is still in the exhibit and will soon have new tank mates. A Keeper told me that they are going to be getting 2 more Lionfish in a day or 2. Once they clear quarantine, they’ll be put on exhibit. No info on names, genders, or location they’re coming from.

Hyena Trio seemed a lot calmer today. No constant howling from Echo. And no more chasing each other around the exhibit.
 
When I visited Eurasia this summer, I did not see any white rocks or aviary mesh, so I'm guessing they have been recently added.

It's too bad that the old lionfish passed away, but hopefully with two new ones, the exhibit will seem a little more exciting. I'm still hoping that eventually I will be able to see the eel.

I'm glad that the hyenas are starting to calm down.
 
So the structures are new. That's interesting. I'll try getting a picture of it next visit.

The eel is located at the bottom left side of the rock. It moves in and out of the rock, making it hard to notice.
 
Its sad the old lion fish passed away but if it brings in two new ones that fine. They are interesting looking fish and two is even better than one.

How did the new lens work for you?
 
Oh, the new lens worked beautifully, as it should. Camera gear can get expensive. Thanks for asking TZFan.
 
I don't think Eurasia is opening next week. I believe they aren't celebrating Red Panda Day today, because the pathway to the Red Pandas, which is the path behind the Mandarin, is under construction. The pavement has been ripped up for new paving. The area is currently fenced off. I'm guessing the construction will be done by next weekend, to open the pathway to the Red Pandas.
 
It is interesting that they have the red panda day listed there in the events. You think they would pull it if you cant access the exhibit. But without a webmaster this could have been overlooked. They might have put it up during the summer thinking by not surely it would be open and maybe its just been forgotten about? If you were looking to go next weekend for Red Panda Day (Im guessing so you can get a look at Eurasia while you are at it) your best bet would be to call the zoo and ask them. The person they connect you with should know how they are handling Red Panda Day. It would be nice if it is being held and some of you can get in there to take a sneak peak.
 
Last year, there was a red panda day at the zoo and what they did was just open up the path the red panda exhibit and not let people see the rest of eurasia. I'm pretty sure there isn't any construction happening in that area now.
 
I remember the sign at the zoo reading that they will be hold Red Panda Day next Saturday.
 
I visited the zoo this past Monday, and I noted that the giant pacific octopus had eggs and was clearly in the process of fading away, as this species does after laying their eggs.

Is anyone aware of the zoo's protocols with GPOs? Do they generally just acquire them as bycatch/etc and keep them until they run out their days, or do they keep multiple and practice the 'catch and release' protocol that a lot of aquaria do? I saw a couple nice GPOs at Seattle Aquarium a few weeks ago and the keepers I talked to said they catch them, keep them and attempt to breed them if they can, and then release them before they lay their eggs, to let them finish their life cycle in the ocean.

Anyway, I just find the latter method quite interesting. There's a lot of really great husbandry breakthroughs happening with cephalopods in aquaria, but I'm assuming that the TZ girl's eggs are infertile?

Also, I got a number of peeks at the clouded leopards too! I got chirped at a number of times! I just stood near the exhibit silently, and they came and looked at me a few times. I got a couple pics but they are pretty bad.
 
I'm not positive how they always handle the octopus but the previous one died at the zoo and it appears this one will too. Probably because the zoo is so far from the pacific coast they just let nature take its course.

I know nothing about possible breeding attempts. I dont know if there are more behind scenes. The zoo is one of the top fish breeders in North America in terms of species so anything is possible.

Glad you had an interesting day at the zoo and got a sneak peak at the leopards.
 
cypher said:
I remember the sign at the zoo reading that they will be hold Red Panda Day next Saturday.
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Red Panda Day is being held next Saturday (Sept 27) and according to the event page, the exhibit will be open (Toronto Zoo | Special Events). The event page is updated regularly (yesterday's event has already been removed), so what's listed there should be the most up to date information. As arcticwolf said, the path to the red pandas was opened specifically for this event last year and I am guessing the same will be done this year.

I believe that the most likely reason behind the Zoo not celebrating red panda day yesterday was the fact that it was the Oasis Zoo Run, which blocks off sections of the Zoo in the morning and causes all sorts of logistical issues.
 
I had forgotten that they opened up the Red Panda exhibit last year. For some reason I thought they held it at the clouded leopard exhibit... but now I remember Merriweather was still around in the fall and Maki moved over in the early winter so that wouldnt have happened. So much to remember.

Hopefully if any of you attend even though the path will be restricted you can see some other things going on.

Good to know that at least on the events page things are constantly updated. You just never know on the website what isnt given as much attention due to the lack of a webmaster.
 
Went to the zoo today. Here’s what I found out.

The white structure I saw during my last visit is now painted black. I took a picture that I’ll post. I’m starting to think that the structure isn’t new, just being renovated or re-purposed.

Haven’t noticed the female Snowy Owl during my last couple visits. Wondering if anyone knows anything about that.

Hyena Trio continues to get along with each other. They were even all laying around calmly.

New Kudu calf was out in the yard for the first time today. Keeper said the female calf’s name is Rosalita. She’s just under a month old. I have some pictures I’ll post.
 
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