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

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Really cool plan, I wish they had a world of oceans pavilion i would never leave (I think that was the original plan for what is now the Austrilasia pavilion. I would never leave lol. I do think the zoo needs a madagasgar pavilion. The map is really hazzy I wish it could be more clearer, Ungulate can you read the exhibits on the top of the map, like the phase 2 stuff?
 
nevermind I got a clearer verson now. I just clicked original and expanded it. It looks like Eurasia is going to get the animals it once was supposed to have! I don't think there is one exhibit the same with the same animals in it at all!
 
Does anyone have information on Tantor the elephant at toronto zoo?I was just wondering as I never really heard about him.Here are what i'd like to know about him,Was the reason for two paddocks that one was for Tantor and the other for the rest and how and when did he die?
 
Does Zoo Diaries still air? On animal planet it is scedualed to start running again? They should create more episodes.
 
I wish it still made episodes.There is so much going on at the zoo right now.I haven't seen it for a long time now.
 
Quartz92 said:
Tantor came to the zoo as an orphan like the rest of the elephants. He weighed 6,800 kg. making him the largest elephant in Canada. He died in 1989. The article link below brings you to a really good story about the zoo elephants.

globeandmail.com: Those who knew her will never forget Tequila the elephant
Click to expand...

A very nice article. Thanks for posting it, Quartz.
No, the two sections of the paddock were not designed to eventually be split, so far as I know. I think when the zoo opened they were a bit naive about the whole thing, and the elephants all lived together without any major problems for over ten years. When it became apparent that Tantor would have to be separated, the zoo built the upper elephant house (the "pavilion") with a yard for him. He died, as Quatrz said, in 1989, as a result of a tusk infection, for which he was operated on successfully, but succumbed to problems during recovery. His skeleton is presently held at the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum).
 
Its too bad that he died.I hope they have plans to acquire a new male when the new elephant enclosure opens.Vus'Musi from SWP would probably be a really good choice as his mother and father were wild born.
 
Ungulate, do you know why the zoo never sought out another male to replace Tantor? And does Toronto ever plan to get another male? for Thika.
 
The current plans for the elephants are very much up in the air, and I'm not sure if and how Tequila's death may affect whatever decisions have already been made. All of our elephants - including Thika - are considered "post reproductive", either because of irregular or acyclic reproductive patterns, uterine problems, or age. Thika, as a 27-year-old nulliparous cow is considered too old to safely breed. We were working heavily on A.I. work with her, and then - while import permits for sperm were being arranged - the elephant TAG made the recommendation that nulliparous cows over 25 should not be bred due to the high risk of losing the calf and/or the mother. At the time she was 25 or 26, and the zoo decided not to take the risk. A shame, from my perspective. (FYI, her sister, Tumpe, is at Disney right now living with a male pretty much full-time, I believe. If she doesn't conceive this year - and from what I've heard things are not looking good - she will also be retired from the potential breeding circuit).

When I last heard, the new elephant facility will be built to accommodate at least one (and probably two or more) adult bulls. However, there are whisperings of moving to Asian elephants once the current five die out. I really don't know what the future has in store for us.

Back in 1989 when Tantor died, I suspect the zoo felt they had "enough" elephants ... at the time there were nine females, including two youngsters, and the exhibit was past capacity. Also, having produced three surviving calves in five years, the mindset was probably "if we need more, it won't be a problem". And now we're stuck. :(
 
Ungulate, do you know why zoos commonly switch from african to asian elephants? I really hope they stay away from asians, I personally don't like them, I prefer africans. Is the new facility a go ahead or is it still in planning?
 
Aw, I can't imagine TZ without their ellie girls. I hope something soon is worked out with them.

That 1972 map is interesting. I've heard many complaints about how far apart the exhibits are, they look like they might have even been further apart! The proposed species exhibit is interesting; Cape Buffalo, Kulan, and the Vietnamese Monkey (a species I never heard of before). I wonder if the zoo would get them in the future (although I can imagine the Cape Buffalo would be hard to contain like the Musk Ox).
 
Quartz, I think the humming and hawing over Asians is because one of the major breeding centres for Asian elephants is an hour down the road (African Lion Safari), and Calgary also breeds. I strongly prefer Africans as well, but it would admittedly be more practical to go with Asians simply on the basis of imports/exports.

The elephant feasibility study (not the plans, just the feasibility study) is done, but the results have not yet been released.
 
I think the zoo should just keep breeding africans as alot of other zoos are already breeding asian.If they ever got the money though after there done the whole renovation thing.Maybe they could build an asian elephant complex over in Eurasia or Indo-Malaya
 
Does anyone remember any of the older temprorary exhibits like Sea Creatures,Dinamation,Golden Monkeys,Giant Pandas or White Lions of Timbavati.I was just wondering what they were like because they were all before I was born
 
I've never seen this on the website?Looks like they haven't updated since 2005.
 
It seems like the 1980s/early 1990s were the zoos "glory days" if you wish to call it that.They seemed to have a huge attendance and in the past few years since the SARS Crisis they've have a few setbacks in attendance and I haven't seen a single major exhibit open since 2001 when Gorilla Rainforest opened.I think there going to have a huge comeback in future years thyough and the attendance will be like the 80s
 
Attendence will soar once the zoo gets the polar bears again, thats the reasoning for Dinosaurs Alive and Stingray Bay, because of the drop in addendance by 1000's of people. I think we should create the next history list what happened in 2006, 2007, and 2008?
In 2007 Dinosaurs Alive opened.
In 2008 the Austrilasian Pavilion underwent renovation and reopened.
" " Stingray Bay opened.
" " the Year of the Frog exhibit opened.

and which year was the Quarentine Building complete? 2006 right?
 
Does anyone know anything that happened in these years? 2006? 2007? 2008?
 
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