Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Future Developments 2014

Went to the zoo again today. Really putting the new lens to work. Found out some interesting things.

A panel from the boarded up Clouded Leopard exhibit has been removed allowing people to see into the exhibit. I’m guessing they’ll be removing panels slowly, allowing the Clouded Leopards to slowly adjust to having people watch them. I got some great pictures I’ll post today.

Noticed 4 new Chinese Gliding Frogs in the exhibit. The new ones are smaller and have a blue complexion, rather than a green complexion like the larger ones.

Entire Kudu family was out today. Rosalita is pretty confident in exploring the exhibit by herself. She at one point got into a little scuff with Marabou Stork Artie, and almost started one with Lloyd the White-Headed Vulture. She also pretty energetic.

Went to the Keeper talk at the Grizzly Bears, and someone asked whether there are plans to mate Samson (M) and Shintay (F). Keeper said that Samson is neutered, so cubs are not in the future. Never knew Samson was neutered.

Spoke with a Senior African Savanna Keeper and found out some info on the Jungle Cat World White Lion, Gopa. Toronto Zoo does indeed own him. Gopa came with Fintan, Makali, and Lemon. None of them are related. The reason Gopa was sent away was because Fintan was chosen to be the prime breeder with Makali and Lemon. Later on, they decided to spay Lemon due to her health situation. Even after performing surgery on both her front legs to fix her bow-leg problem. If Fintan and Makali turn out to be problematic in breeding and having cubs, the Zoo’s first option is to check out Gopa. If he passes inspection and the Keepers and Vets are satisfied with him, they’ll bring him in to breed with Makali. So basically Gopa was second to Fintan in the initial process when the White Lions all came to the zoo.

In speaking with the same Keeper, I found out that Elands are still being brought in to be with the Giraffes, although that may not happen until Spring, the earliest. No word on how many Elands are planned to be brought in.

Also found out some info on the Watusi. The 3 that were brought in will be finishing quarantine this week. Keepers will be voting on whether they should move to their exhibit, or if they should stay off exhibit until next spring, as the old Giraffe house still needs to be torn down and a new structure put up to house them. There will also be added fencing and other landscaping to accommodate the Watusi. The Zoo will also be getting 2 additional Watusi making a total of 5 to all be on exhibit in the future. They Keeper preferred keeper the Watusi off exhibit until their exhibit is fully ready to receive them.

The same Keeper also mentioned that the zoo has acquired 3 Wildebeest. They are not at the zoo but will be arriving soon. The current plan, which is subject to change, is to have the Wildebeest in the yard where Norm the Warthog is. Part of the plan is to possibly have Norm’s yard combined with the Ostrich yard to make a large mixed species yard. 3 Wildebeest, Norm the Warthog, the 3 Ostriches, and possibly a single Zebra. Sounds pretty awesome, although I wish they did this somewhere more people will walk by. If the yards aren’t combined, the 3 Wildebeest will be in Norm’s yard with, hopefully the Ostriches.
 
All of that news is awesome!!!!! Thank you so much for finding it out and posting it for us.

It's good that more Watusi will be brought in because just having three in such a large exhibit sounds like wasted space. I agree with the keeper that it would be better to wait and put the Watusi in the exhibit once the barn is fixed.

I'm glad that there are still plans to mix eland with the giraffes. I was never expecting to see them on exhibit until the spring.

Wildebeest would be an excellent addition to the toronto zoo and I am especially excited since they're my favourite antelope. I'm surprised that they would go in the second warthog exhibit since the only barn close to it is for the ostriches, which is too small to also hold wildebeest and the warthog. It would be really nice though to see wildebeest, ostriches, warthogs and zebras all mixed together.
 
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All great info Cypher.

Glad to hear the clouded leopards are slowly being unveiled. Probably will be easier on them that way. Besides not many people know they are back yet and it is the off season so it will be quieter for them.

Grizzlies and black bears in zoos are usually kept in single sex groups or altered to prevent breeding. The reason is that they dont want breeding. There are plenty of orphan bears available for adoption every year that can replace losses. If they bred there just wouldnt be the space for the orphans. Eventually when Samson and Shintay pass the zoo would look for orphan grizzlies or black bears to replace them. Some mother will have been hit by a car or shot for being a problem bear leaving behind young cubs in need of a home. Its why you dont see a lot of births down in the Domain really. There are usually enough orphans available to meet the needs of zoos.

Thanks for the info on Gopa. I hope Fintan works out. I like him and its been wonderful watching him become a handsome male. It's kind of a shame we didnt keep Gopa too. They were all cubs and Gopa and Fintan likely would have behaved like brothers. Then we would have two impressive males. Probably a space issue though with Lindy and Jerroh in there too if things didnt work out then they would have had nowhere to put the surplus male.

They should leave the Eland, Wildebeest and Watusi until spring anyway and make it a feature. Come look at all the new hoofstock.

Glad to hear two more watusi are due to arrive. More is always better.


Im thrilled to hear Wildebeest are arriving. I had heard rumors of them... though I had heard they would join the giraffes. Its just great we are getting an interesting animal. It sounds great to have a mixed exhibit... a little dangerous that Norm will be part of that mix since warthogs are diggers and can become a trip hazard to the others or worse a broken leg. I dont mind seeing him with them but its just a risk the zoo is taking and we all know how opposed they are to risk. Although if the ostrich house is so cramped how would they add the wildebeest? A reno maybe? I still vote to have them join the giraffes and eland and while we are at it lets throw in the ostriches... Yes Im still stuck on that one.

Great day for info Cypher. Thanks so much for chatting up the keepers.
 
If Norm's exhibit doesn't work out, I would rather see the wildebeest with the Watusi than the giraffes. That way there won't be an exhibit that is only for a domestic animal.
 
No I want the watusi to go away all together and something cooler go in there.
 
You can either see the ostriches through a small hut in between the lions and baboons or on the walk from the African Savanna to the Canadian Domain.
 
You can also see them if your lucky as you wiz by on the zoomobile. Though thats not going to be an option for much longer this season. The zoomobiles are only a couple weekends away from being put away for the year.
 
I got my copy of Toronto Zoo's Newsprints in the mail today. It talks a bit about October being Member Appreciation Month. It list different days that allow members to check out different places in the zoo, such as the Greenghouse, Kangaroo walk-through, Camel Palace, Bird Barn and the new Giraffe House.

But what I found most interesting is that on Thursday October 9, Eurasia will be opening exclusively to members. I'm hoping to check that out. If Eurasia is ready for viewing to members on the 9th, then a Thanksgiving opening isn't that hard to believe.
 
I just realized the Newsprint lists the animals in the Eurasia Wilds.

They describe new comers the Eurasian Eagle Owl, Steller's Sea Eagle. It then mentions Red Panda's Cassie, Ralphie, and Maki, as well as Snow Leopards Tiga and Kota, who will be in their new enclosure. There's also the new Camel Palace were you can see a new baby Bactrian Camel. To end everything off they mention checking out the Dholes, Reindeer, Chamois, West Caucasian Tur, and Przewalski Horses.
 
I noticed the mention of Maki too and laughed. Clearly someone forgot to tell the writer Maki now lives at Safari Niagara.

I guess the chamois live. Wonder if its one or both who survived the reno.

It is funny they call the eagle owl new when one has been around for two or three years. I know they weren't formally on exhibit but it is still humorous to me.
 
Website Pages

FYI: the Wild for Life webpages, that were announced in Newsprints many months ago, are now fully updated and online. As you are all dedicated fans of the Zoo, I was wondering if you could review them and provide me some feedback? Toronto Zoo | WILD for Life

  • Content-wise... are they engaging, informative, error/typo free?
  • Fundraising-wise... are the donate options easy to find, do the links work, would the content motivate people to donate (in your opinion)?
Similarly, can you find the same projects and donation options at the matching Canada Helps website?
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-toronto-zoo/

October to December are the busiest time of the year for online donations. Your feedback can help us maximize our success online.

Thanks to those who participate :)
 
cypher said:
I just realized the Newsprint lists the animals in the Eurasia Wilds.

They describe new comers the Eurasian Eagle Owl, Steller's Sea Eagle. It then mentions Red Panda's Cassie, Ralphie, and Maki, as well as Snow Leopards Tiga and Kota, who will be in their new enclosure. There's also the new Camel Palace were you can see a new baby Bactrian Camel. To end everything off they mention checking out the Dholes, Reindeer, Chamois, West Caucasian Tur, and Przewalski Horses.
Click to expand...

That's a pretty good species list. I'm happy that most of the species from before will remain. It seems like the only ones not on the list are the barbary apes and barbary sheep. I'm a little surprised that the chamois are still around and I'm guessing something will have to replace them (it?) when they pass away.
 
WILDforLife said:
FYI: the Wild for Life webpages, that were announced in Newsprints many months ago, are now fully updated and online. As you are all dedicated fans of the Zoo, I was wondering if you could review them and provide me some feedback? Toronto Zoo | WILD for Life

  • Content-wise... are they engaging, informative, error/typo free?
  • Fundraising-wise... are the donate options easy to find, do the links work, would the content motivate people to donate (in your opinion)?
Similarly, can you find the same projects and donation options at the matching Canada Helps website?
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-toronto-zoo/

October to December are the busiest time of the year for online donations. Your feedback can help us maximize our success online.

Thanks to those who participate :)
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for sharing this with us. I appreciate that you value our opinions.

As far as I can tell, there weren't any errors or typos and all of the plans seem very exciting. I think that in the future it would be great for there to be maps and concept art for the new exhibits, but for now everything seemed very good.

The donate button was very easy to find and the link worked for me. I hope the plans will get people to donate. I know some people who would definitely like to help get these projects finished.

The Canada Helps link also worked for me and I was able to see the same information as the zoo's website.

I really liked the PDF document because it gave details on the Canadian Wilderness, Centre for Species Reproduction and hippo exhibit. In the bottom corner of the second page there is a small map showing where the new grizzly and bison/elk exhibits would be, which I thought was a nice touch. Also in the description for the Centre for Species Reproduction it mentions gazelles. They are a species that I would love to see come to the zoo. Hopefully as the plans for more areas are completed, they will also be posted on the zoo's website.
 
arcticwolf said:
Thank you very much for sharing this with us. I appreciate that you value our opinions.

As far as I can tell, there weren't any errors or typos and all of the plans seem very exciting. I think that in the future it would be great for there to be maps and concept art for the new exhibits, but for now everything seemed very good.

The donate button was very easy to find and the link worked for me. I hope the plans will get people to donate. I know some people who would definitely like to help get these projects finished.

The Canada Helps link also worked for me and I was able to see the same information as the zoo's website.

I really liked the PDF document because it gave details on the Canadian Wilderness, Centre for Species Reproduction and hippo exhibit. In the bottom corner of the second page there is a small map showing where the new grizzly and bison/elk exhibits would be, which I thought was a nice touch. Also in the description for the Centre for Species Reproduction it mentions gazelles. They are a species that I would love to see come to the zoo. Hopefully as the plans for more areas are completed, they will also be posted on the zoo's website.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that feedback. And yes, I do value your opinions. This is a passionate group of people on here who are great advocates of the Zoo online, and I am sure, with friends and family. I'd suggest most of you know things about the Zoo before I do :D

I am hoping some maps and concept drawings for Orangutans will surface in 2015. The Wildlife Health Centre does have both already. The Canadian Wilderness has a proposed map but isn't part of our public fundraising efforts just yet.

If you have people interested in helping as you say then Private Message me - I'd love to hear your thought on that of course.

I am also hoping to start promoting these projects more online between now and December. The bulk of giving happens in December so the timing is right. Someone mentioned crowdsourcing awhile back. Now that we have webpages, and donation pages, this may be something we can move towards finally. :)
 
You and your team deserve a lot of credit for the work you have been doing. The stuff is a good start to a much needed fund raising drive. I have given you a list of ideas privately but Im looking forward to seeing what else your team does in the next few months. Its clear you have a motivated staff.
 
Part of the zoo's accreditation needs have been met. The CAZA just renewed their membership. Now to get the AZA back on board.
 
That's great news! At least Toronto is accredited by one Zoological Association. Sadly AZA membership is more important if the zoo wants to be able to keep its current animals and acquire new ones.
 
Actually the CAZA is pretty important too. Membership with it allows the zoo to move animals period. There are other things it allows the zoo to do too but I dont remeber them off the top of my head. But for a whole list of reasons the AZA my be slightly more important. Hopefully zoo friendly politicans are elected and will agree to the zoos governance request.
 
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