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

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There used to be Polar Bears, where the existing exhibit is (before the addition), Llama and Mara where the reindeer are now, and Dall's Sheep where the Arctic Wolf holding is over towards the Snowy Owls, you can still see the mountains.
 
Off by hand, the only missing species I can think of are the Dall's Sheep. Jags, Spider Monkeys, Flamingos, which are still at the zoo (not sure if you went in that area this time around), are located beside the Tundra Trek. Quartz beat me to it with the Llama and Mara! Capybara used to be alongside the Jags as well.

Some more blasts from the past!

Elephant on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
gm_08726 Toronto Zoo Tigers 1980 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
gm_08730 Toronto Zoo Yak 1980 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
gm_08729 Toronto Zoo Yak 1980 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
gm_08728 Toronto Zoo Yak 1980
1990-04
Toronto_Zoo_2
Toronto_Zoo_3
Scan20006a on
Toronto_Zoo_1
Toronto_Zoo_4 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
 
It looks like the otters used to be where the beavers are in those pictures. The wall on the right side is only in the beaver exhibit, there only right wall in the otter exhibit is made of glass not concrete?! Weird.
 
Love those pictures Meaghan, thanks for posting them. If anybody finds pics of the old Africa Paddocks, could you please post them? I really dont remember anything about it.
 
I think there are a few in the other posts in this thread!
 
The Jaguars and Flamingos are up near the waterfall. I dont remember that being there back in the 1980s. I still miss the old zoo

I also forgot to mention when I was in Public school we were always having fund raisers for buying an animal for the zoo. That goes to show just how old I am ;)
 
Wow, you must know a lot of history about the zoo :p! You probably have a tonne of old pictures too! The Mayan Temple Complex opened up in 1987. So most of it should look similar they have added much more around the waterfall then when it opened!
 
Officially, the giant panda's names were Quin Quin and Quan Quan as Meaghan said ... pronunciation and phonetic spelling are probably the root behind all of the differences!

Re: Littlefootland
Before the redevelopment of the front area, there used to be a very large lawn (the "main meadow") where the Waterside Theatre and Splash Island are now. A pathway went directly from the front entrance (by the turnstiles) to the Siberian tiger exhibit, past the pony rides and Littlefootland (not sure what the capitalization was for it!).

The entrance to Littlefootland was about where the entrance to the current kids zoo is. There was a round cage with wild turkeys on the right side between the path and waterway. The current "bird barn" used to house most of the domestics (the pictures with the bright yellow rail fencing were taken in the barn). A playground (with the jumping graphics described by Meaghan) were between the pony rides and barn, along with a series of aviaries which housed a variety of birds (including bald eagles, kookaburras, and kestrels). (I think they show the aviaries with a kookaburra in a Zoo Diaries episode). The site of the current Group Events Tents (Stingrays) had a variety of yards for other domestics (including miniature horses and rabbits), as well as a contact yard with sheep and/or goats).

The Group Events Tent used to be where Splash Island is now, but oriented in a North-South (rather than East-West) direction. Yes, this is where the first dinosaurs and sea creatures were.
 
Thanks for the clarification! I have one question, was the Littlefootland open before the new kids zoo went into development, meaning when did it close? I don't remember a kids zoo being there however I do remember the bird show.

And another question, the bleachers in Eurasia what were they used for, I am guessing some type of show? Sorry if it has already been answered!
 
Yes, the bleachers used to be for the animal demos (Really wish they'd take these blachers out as there quite ugly now)
 
rockybudgeboa said:
I still miss the old zoo. Now if only someone had pics of the Monorail while it was up and running.
Click to expand...

Somewhere there's a photo album around here that has pictures taken from the monorail, I really need to find it and scan the pics for you guys :) I've scanned a postcard featuring the monorail!

http://www.zoochat.com/532/toronto-zoo-postcards-39643/

I did find some pics!

Urban Exploration Resource: Forum - View Thread

I miss the old zoo too! I loved those Aldabra Giant Tortoise, I thought the mongoose was neat, adored the Chinese Leopards and loved the Bongo; I was sad to see them leave, they were one of my favorites. I love the existing pride of lions, but I was really impressed when I saw a full pride of them. The Africa had more species; I was puzzled when I went to the opening of the new savannah and wondered where the Gemsbok, gazelle, etc, were, as much as I enjoyed the new exhibit.

More old-school Toronto Zoo that I uploaded:

http://www.zoochat.com/532/siberian-tiger-cubs-62186/
http://www.zoochat.com/532/toronto-zoo-postcards-39651/
http://www.zoochat.com/532/toronto-zoo-postcard-animal-39652/
http://www.zoochat.com/532/toronto-zoo-postcards-39647/
http://www.zoochat.com/532/toronto-zoo-39648/
http://www.zoochat.com/532/toronto-zoo-map-39649/
http://www.zoochat.com/532/toronto-zoo-postcards-39646/
http://www.zoochat.com/532/toronto-zoo-postcards-39644/
http://www.zoochat.com/532/toronto-zoo-postcards-39642/
http://www.zoochat.com/532/toronto-zoo-postcards-39641/
http://www.zoochat.com/532/toronto-zoo-postcards-39638/
http://www.zoochat.com/532/toronto-zoo-postcards-39637/
http://www.zoochat.com/532/toronto-zoo-postcards-39636/
 
The gazelles were in the zoo when the new Savanna opened. As for the rest, it's sad the zoo no longer has Aldabra Giant Tortoise, and Mongooses. O would love to see those, hopefully I'll see Bongo at the Calgary zoo when I go in about a weeks time!
 
I think the gazelles just died out and the zoo never acquired more

The bongo and aldabra tortoise were moved in preparation for the reconstruction of the African Rainforest Pavilion and they were never brought back (Altough I think they were originally supposed to be included in the reno, There exhibits are now the garden/empty areas around the pavilion and the red river hog outdoor exhibit)

And as for the mongoose, which ones are we talking about? As far as I know, the zoo has only kept "Albert" the liberian mongoose who was the only captive specimen ever for his species, I think her died around 1994?
 
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