I suppose that there has also been talk what will happen to the elephant space once they have left. Any plans?
Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo New Animals, Departures and Deaths 2011
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I suppose that there has also been talk what will happen to the elephant space once they have left. Any plans?
Meaghan Edwards
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My thoughts for the elephants are is that I want what's best for them. They've rehomed animals before for the animal's best interest, such as the case with the snapping turtle, gharial, etc. I applaud the Toronto Zoo for making the move, even if they are still being slammed for it. 
Species that I think would make a good occupation for the elephant enclosure aside from my idea of the space being occupied by the hippos or giraffes include Cape Buffalo, or maybe another mixed exhibit with wildebeest and other hooved animals (perhaps the Springbok could be brought back). It'd need to be radically altered but I think leopards and wild dogs would also be a good addition, as well as maybe a walk through bird exhibit with guinea fowl, honey guides, etc.
Species that I think would make a good occupation for the elephant enclosure aside from my idea of the space being occupied by the hippos or giraffes include Cape Buffalo, or maybe another mixed exhibit with wildebeest and other hooved animals (perhaps the Springbok could be brought back). It'd need to be radically altered but I think leopards and wild dogs would also be a good addition, as well as maybe a walk through bird exhibit with guinea fowl, honey guides, etc.
JMANPROJECT88
Well-Known Member
I am glad that the ISSUE is finally being delt with. everytime I turn on the TV I wasn't hearing, lets do whats best for the elephants, I was hearing, Toronto zoo is a horrible zoo. I am happy that the focus has to turned to conservation and the best interest of our elephants. I can only hope thatt the move doesn't stress out the elephants to much.
HyakkoShachi
Well-Known Member
Is it known for certain that the elephants will be moved outside of the country? They should do fine anywhere that has the right facilities...
Colin
Active Member
I agree with Meagan, and am happy that our elephants will have a good retirement. The zoo's enclosure need to be updated and i think it's better to address the issue now, before we lose another animal and drop below AZA/CZA standards.
What I would like to see happen to the old enclosure is an expansion for the hippo's maybe even have a winter viewing barn, and maybe see some new blood and babies?
I would also like to see an African savannah with a mixture of giraffes or zebras. Then put something get a new species in the giraffe exhibit maybe a aviary or pavilion. If they move the Zebra then they could use their current area for the white rhino.
There are lots of possibilities and I'm excited to hear what options the zoo will come up with.
What I would like to see happen to the old enclosure is an expansion for the hippo's maybe even have a winter viewing barn, and maybe see some new blood and babies?
I would also like to see an African savannah with a mixture of giraffes or zebras. Then put something get a new species in the giraffe exhibit maybe a aviary or pavilion. If they move the Zebra then they could use their current area for the white rhino.
There are lots of possibilities and I'm excited to hear what options the zoo will come up with.
Dallaspachyderm
Well-Known Member
There are no other facilities holding African elephants in Canada. So they have to move to the lower 48
Cleveland, Dallas, North Carolina, Indianapolis, Reid park (when the new habitat is completed), Oakland, and Disney are probably all being considered.
@Dallaspachyderm: you are mistaken when you say that there are no other facilities holding African elephants in Canada. Zoo Granby in Quebec has 2 (0.2) and Parc Safari in Quebec has 3 (1.2). For Asian elephants in Canada Bowmanville Zoo has 3 (2.1), Calgary has 4 (1.3), Edmonton's Valley Zoo has 1 (0.1) and African Lion Safari has a large herd.
Dallaspachyderm
Well-Known Member
Sorry, I forgot about the Africans in Granby and Parc safari... regardless, I thought they wanted to get the elephants to warmer weather?
Meaghan Edwards
Well-Known Member
Yeah no kidding, that enclosure is a lot smaller, but I suppose hippos aren't as "sexy" or whatever.
HyakkoShachi
Well-Known Member
I think Hemmingford has a breeding male though,how old are the africans at Toronto?
JMANPROJECT88
Well-Known Member
I've been reading and watching the news and it seriously looks like they want to keep the elephants in Canada. I've heard Calgary mentioned a whole bunch of times on the news (as well as Granby) as places where they could go.
Dallaspachyderm
Well-Known Member
HyakkoShachi
Well-Known Member
Granby would'nt be a bad idea,they have enough space for three more.
Bowmanville no longer has the Asian bulls, they are deceased. The current elephants consist of two cows, one Asian and one African.
There is a lot of posts here and I am going to try my best to answer them all.
@snowleopard, it is 100% sure that the 3 current elephants will be leaving the zoo, however there still is the possibility for spending the 20 million to update the exhibit and bring a new herd back. The reasoning behind this is that AZA is doing a study on all captive elephants in North America and the study will be completed in late 2013 after then the zoo will know all the new standards put into place by this study and they might indeed build a new exhibit as it will take up to 2 years to move/train the elephants and when the elephants are moved future plans for what will go there will be considered.
I agree with Meaghan when she says that its for the animals best interests to move them, people also need to understand that the zoo chose to move the animals to provide them with a better home, i.e. more elephants not a warmer climate. This is one reason why I did not agree with why animal activists argue for a move because they state that elephants CANNOT live in cold climates, however they can given the right facilities. The activists also argued how the zoo supplies are elephants with inadequate care, I just wanted to make it clear that these so called activists need to have their facts straight before they actually accuse the zoo of certain things.
I know someone mentioned that the hippos were not argued for in this as well, if you look at it you can argue that cold conditions are no place for any warm climate animal and that is another reason why I think "cold weather" is not a stand alone argument.
Continuing on Meaghans thought about giraffes being moved there, I also thought that would be a good choice as the giraffes need a new exhibit anyways and if they were moved or even got more then it could be easier during construction. However, the elephant exhibit is very sloped making it difficult for the giraffes to use this area.
Other animals I thought could go there would be black rhinos, and buffalo as the zoo will probably not want to renovate the exhibit that much and would probably like to acquire an animal that would best fit in the current conditions IF a new species is to take the elephants place. I stressed IF because the only plans that are concrete right now is spending approx. 10 million dollars on an interactive elephant exhibit. In my opinion that is a huge waste of money.
@JMAN, stress is a huge issue with moving the elephants and I too hope that the elephants can make it to their destination.
@Flixox, the two hyenas are unrelated to my knowledge therefore mating is an option
As for where the elephants will go, it will be to an accredited facility within North America and if no home is found, sanctuaries are to be looked at next. However, only Quebec zoos have shown interest first into the elephants.
@Damian, the two white rhinos currently at the zoo are not a breeding pair, however there is plans to acquire 2 females from South Africa and they will hopefully be coming sometime this summer. The current female we have is post-reproductive and the male has been brought to the zoo in hopes of breeding with our future females. Currently we only have one male tapir at the zoo, however we plan on bringing in a female for him.
@Hykko, the elephants are all around 40 years of age and are all post-reproductive
@JMAN, Calgary has no interest in acquiring our african elephants as they only have asians
I hope I covered everyones questions.
@snowleopard, it is 100% sure that the 3 current elephants will be leaving the zoo, however there still is the possibility for spending the 20 million to update the exhibit and bring a new herd back. The reasoning behind this is that AZA is doing a study on all captive elephants in North America and the study will be completed in late 2013 after then the zoo will know all the new standards put into place by this study and they might indeed build a new exhibit as it will take up to 2 years to move/train the elephants and when the elephants are moved future plans for what will go there will be considered.
I agree with Meaghan when she says that its for the animals best interests to move them, people also need to understand that the zoo chose to move the animals to provide them with a better home, i.e. more elephants not a warmer climate. This is one reason why I did not agree with why animal activists argue for a move because they state that elephants CANNOT live in cold climates, however they can given the right facilities. The activists also argued how the zoo supplies are elephants with inadequate care, I just wanted to make it clear that these so called activists need to have their facts straight before they actually accuse the zoo of certain things.
I know someone mentioned that the hippos were not argued for in this as well, if you look at it you can argue that cold conditions are no place for any warm climate animal and that is another reason why I think "cold weather" is not a stand alone argument.
Continuing on Meaghans thought about giraffes being moved there, I also thought that would be a good choice as the giraffes need a new exhibit anyways and if they were moved or even got more then it could be easier during construction. However, the elephant exhibit is very sloped making it difficult for the giraffes to use this area.
Other animals I thought could go there would be black rhinos, and buffalo as the zoo will probably not want to renovate the exhibit that much and would probably like to acquire an animal that would best fit in the current conditions IF a new species is to take the elephants place. I stressed IF because the only plans that are concrete right now is spending approx. 10 million dollars on an interactive elephant exhibit. In my opinion that is a huge waste of money.
@JMAN, stress is a huge issue with moving the elephants and I too hope that the elephants can make it to their destination.
@Flixox, the two hyenas are unrelated to my knowledge therefore mating is an option
As for where the elephants will go, it will be to an accredited facility within North America and if no home is found, sanctuaries are to be looked at next. However, only Quebec zoos have shown interest first into the elephants.
@Damian, the two white rhinos currently at the zoo are not a breeding pair, however there is plans to acquire 2 females from South Africa and they will hopefully be coming sometime this summer. The current female we have is post-reproductive and the male has been brought to the zoo in hopes of breeding with our future females. Currently we only have one male tapir at the zoo, however we plan on bringing in a female for him.
@Hykko, the elephants are all around 40 years of age and are all post-reproductive
@JMAN, Calgary has no interest in acquiring our african elephants as they only have asians
I hope I covered everyones questions.
HyakkoShachi
Well-Known Member
Thank you for answering my question.
In that case,as far as Canadian facilities go, Granby zoo is the best option.
I don't really understand the complaints when it comes to weather though. They only need to stay inside through the worst of the winter,how's that any different from the northern states of the US?
In that case,as far as Canadian facilities go, Granby zoo is the best option.
I don't really understand the complaints when it comes to weather though. They only need to stay inside through the worst of the winter,how's that any different from the northern states of the US?
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