Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo History and Past (2008 and before)

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Just found another blast from the past, a video of someones zoo visit on May 31, 1990... which is exactly 19 years ago today. It shows alot of stuff from the past and lots of past species.

Part 1

Part 2
 
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Wow, absolutly incredable. You can see the change of exhibits from a old zoo to a zoo with not only animals but plants too! Like the old zebra exhibit, it was all gravel. The number of fish species was preaty incredable then too. The zoo had a lot of saltwater fish, and to get a climsp of the "Edge of Night" exhibit again, that trickling river. The ugly cages for tigers have changed extreamly. Did the zoo have a petting zoo back then? The anamatronic exhibit looks soo realistic. Was that in the group events tent? The entrance hasn't changed much.
 
The old childrens zoo was called Littlefootland
 
Wow, your on a history roll!

Haha, sure am :D I was gathering some pics of the old polar bear exhibit in advance to compare it to the new polar bear exhibit.

Great pictures and the chinese leopard picture was especially good considering i've been trying to find a picture of there enclosure for ever! Much different from the current red panda enclosures

I know! I was really glad I found that picture, too. I remembered the cats themselves, just not the exhibit they were in.

Those videos are incredible! Glad they got rid of that cagey part in the tiger exhibit and replaced it with the much nicer maternity section. I remember the armatronic display!
 
Im pretty sure the cagey part is still there, I think its just behind the holding building and is used only as a holding yard. remember seeing it on Zoo Diaries when Tonghua and Tatiana were being introduced
 
Good prep. Meaghan! I was trying to find some old polar bear pictures too! I will probably have a very detailed review of the Tundra. Pros and Cons! Compare all exhibits with there new ones. Even from the beginning i new that the wolf exhibit will be good because its almost 20 times as big!
 
Oh, got it :) In that case function over form! I think the big tiger was Brum, the Amur they had before Tonghua.

Thanks Quartz :) I'm planning on doing that, too -- and especially share your feelings with the wolf exhibit!
 
I remember hearing about Brum being destined to die at one point and thn living alot longer
 
I wondering what other pictures are in there? The price is a bit steep!
 
Great Videos. Boy did those bring back memories. Was at the Zoo today with my family after winning passes from CHFI. Wish the weather was better, anyways, I kind of miss the way the zoo used to be like in those videos. I wish I could find some picture of the old Monorail trains. I love the old Monorail and I miss it. Took many pics today of the old Station near the Americas Pavilion.
 
WOW. Thank you so much for posting that. Wasnt that back in 1984 or something? I wonder what is at the Pandas exhibit now? I remember the shirts they used to sell and the toys too. I notice that the Zoomobile still looks the same.
 
You're VERY welcome!

1985 :) I was two at the time, but my parents didn't take me there. I would probably be too young to remember them anyways but it would have been nice if my dad took some pics of them so that I would have them to show to you guys.

The dholes occupy the panda exhibit now. There used to be muntjacs (or another small ungulate), Red Pandas and some time of bird if I remember.

I noticed that about the Zoomobile :P I read something sometime back that they might be getting another vehicle that sounds a lot like the new monorail. Not sure if it will replace the Zoomobile or just be another way of getting around the zoo.
 
I like the Zoomobile :)

The new part they have for the kids, what used to be there? And what used to be where the Stingrays are?

I was dating my hubby to be in 1985 :)
 
I do too :) I always like the ride along the back of the valley, the overview of the zoo, the behind the scenes look . . .

I think the kid's area was part of Littlefoot Land, which had a variety of farm animals, but a few exotics; Corella were described in an 80s guidebook (which I need to track down), and I think, birds of prey. I also remember a sign where they showed how far an animal can jump and encouraged the kids to jump and see how high they went in comparison.

For as long as I can remember, the stingray area was used for banquets, special events (such as animatronic prehistoric animal displays).

Aw, how neat :)
 
Thank you so much for the videos Meaghan! These are like treasures!

Just to awnser a few questions

The only animals other animals that I know of either than giant pandas that have inhabited the exhibit are red panda (Where the only births for the zoo occured) and the current dholes. There may have been more species for all I know

If anyone happened to watch the video about the poalr bear cub, that is actually Inukshuk! I have more pictures of him as a cub, just gotta find them

Im pretty sure the actual site for Stingray Bay used to be the old kids zoo
"Littlefootland" (what ever happened to this thing?) but the tent has also had Dinosaurs Alive and many special events

And sorry to be a burden, but what exactly were the giant pandas names?

I've heard Qinn&Quan Quan, Quang Quang&Shayan and so many more variations its not even funny?!?

Also, it showed the holding areas for the pandas, I wonder if it still looks the same for the dholes?
 
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