Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo New Animals, Departures and Deaths 2012

Kifaru Bwana said:
Interesting that a newspaper article should publicly complain about info they cannot get or zoo staff do not wish to comment on as yet. I find it a rather obsolete piece of journalism, jingoistic and not at all newsworthy to even bother to put to paper (other than the ego of the reporter has been severely damaged :D).
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I didn't enjoy the tone of the article either. BUT, the zoo is terrible about sharing news, events that are happening, being planned etc. It truly is frustrating. There may be lots of reasons to keep something quiet. But the moment the zoo shares the information with visitors to the zoo then they should be actively sharing it with the world and they don't.

The best example I can give relates to the new polar bear cub. The first week of January a media relations zoo staff member gave an interview acknowledging the cub had lived and would be on exhibit soon. Then I read here that guest services was telling visitors that the cub would be on display around March break. The moment the zoo was prepared to acknowledge to ANYONE that the cub was alive it should have been shouting it from the rooftops and getting people excited to visit. One should not have to actually visit the zoo to find out about the cub or other happenings at the zoo. After caring for the animals and conservation efforts, getting people to the zoo should be the next priority. Increasing visitors equals increased revenue.

I wrote the zoo about this and shared my disappointment with how they were handling the cub news. The response back was an announcement was imminent. And it was - the cub was announced the next day. But the point was missed. The zoo kept quiet about the cub for more than a month after they first acknowledged to the public that he was alive and thriving. Visitors to the zoo knew more about the cub then the media and the public at large. The zoo needs to use the media to get people to the zoo. The zoo needs to build excitement about new exhibits, new babies, new animals as a way to generate excitement to get people to the zoo.

I'm willing to bet, that the white lions will not be announced until they are actually on exhibit. There will be no excitement in advance of them being on exhibit. And why not, because the zoo receives public money and does not have to act like a business that lives or dies by it's own actions and choices. And before everyone begins to yell at me, I would point to the San Diego Zoo as an example of what I think our zoo can be like. They announce breeding efforts, results, failures. They announce births before they are put on exhibit. They show pictures and videos of new exhibits and babies before the exhibits open. They post their renovation plans on their website with updates on how things are progressing. They know how to make someone like me (just me no kids) part with my money, something I have begged our zoo to do.

I love the zoo. I just want them to live up to their full potential. So long as they remain city owned and unionized, I doubt they will live up to that full potential. The handling of the announcement of the polar bear cub and the interview with the Star about the white lions are examples of the problems I see at the zoo.
 
kk, I see your point. Point taken.

I agree that a zoo should more actively try to interest the potential visitor / zoo going public.


Whether that should be before or after a cub's/calf's birth ... will/should and can only be at the discretion of zoo / curatorial management. As not in every case is it wise to announce a birth before the known critical period of whether the youngster will survive is through (f.e. polar cub or giraffe).
 
I do agree with a lot that has been brought up, yes the zoo should announce more births plans etc but this is limited due to it being city run. However, the same argument can be applied to this from the other side, imagine the hype it is to be generated when the animals are actually there. A LOT and I mean A LOT of people get confused when information is posted about new animas for instance the penguins drove many people who work at the zoo nuts because they were not on exhibit until the May long weekend. Same thing applies for the future. If it was announced early on people would expect them to be put out on display when they arrive, that unfortunately is human nature. Do you guys understand my point, if we hype this up at the beginning it can be confusing? Especially with births you do not know if the animal will survive, and once people get the notice from above to not say anything, well they really can't say anything. I however do know that there are many surprises to come in 2012 so lets just wait and see what happens :)

@Flixox No the zoo does not have a arctic wolves that can breed. The arctic foxes were originally brother/sister but I believe one has been replaced with an unrelated fox. I have no information on the new tiger, at this point I know that the Tatiana the female siberian will be moved the the sumatran exhibit and Vitali to the WHC for construction to start on their exhibit for the pandas.
 
If you interpreted my short comments correctly, you would have found that I see - quite clearly - that there are real arguments for not prematurely bring out news items ...

What I really look forward to is the new Eurasia section!
 
Quartz92 and KB - I agree the zoo has a difficult balancing act to manage.

If I remember correctly the zoo announced the penguins but did not do a very good job of saying when they would be on display. So I'm not surprised that there was confusion. If you're going to announce animals coming, the same announcement and all signage should include the date the exhibit opens.

You're right that it's human nature to want to see something new. But what the zoo does is cater to the stupid. The zoo doesn't like to announce breeding efforts, births, deaths, renovations, new exhibits, new animals etc just in case something changes. The zoo seems to be afraid that we won't understand the cycle of life, or that things change. Why is it that our zoo is afraid and others treat their visitors with respect? I'm certainly not suggesting that the zoo should announce every fanciful wish list dream. But there comes a point at which the decisions should be announced. The white lions are here. They are in quarantine - why not tell everyone? Do we really think that zoo visitors wouldn't understand that they need to be in quarantine before they can be put on exhibit? And if the zoo does it right, they put up a sign at the lion exhibit announcing the white lions and when they will be on exhibit. Sure some people will be disappointed that they aren't on exhibit. But catering to the lowest common denominator is not the answer when the zoo is need of money.
 
@kknudsen I agree with everything you have said, the zoo needs to stop basing everything on the LCD, and start doing what it needs to do to make it a better place, but politics plays a huge role and I know that if you are told not to say anything from above, you really cannot.

Another important item that I believe we have all forgotten about is the fact that everything costs money, and money the zoo does not have. I am saying this in terms of advertisements, it adds up if they are to make signs all the time for births, new animals etc, however I would love to see a HUGE coming soon sign for both the pandas and the lions. One thing that I personally think the zoo should do is make a huge billboard sign and post it outside of the zoo grounds about the pandas, even billboards off the highway!
 
I assure you I haven't forgotten that advertising costs money. It's about choices. And I for one think the Family Day signs at the zoo that are being shown on Facebook are a wasted choice. The signs do not appear to be advertising anything new at the zoo, and instead talk about the animals they are showcasing. Okay, that's important, but since they are dated for this weekend only how is that a good choice? I would have rather the zoo use that money for signs to advertise new exhibits, renovations and new animals and not signs that are only good for three days.
 
The dated signs have always been a huge issue with me, and even more so when they are only put out on the days that the zoo is running that event, not when they are trying to promote the event. That has always dumbfounded me.
 
Advertising for a zoo is ALWAYS about choices. Even on a meager budget you can do some amazing things with Facebook, Twitter and the like to create interest. That interest will be picked up by the general media and instead of the Zoo having to interest them they will get back for info and hard advertising time for the Zoo. Simple and effective AND cost-effective PR management.
 
Just got my copy of Winter Collections it says they acquired a Shingleback Skink and a Wattled Crane does anyone know if there going to be put on display or if they already have where?
 
The wattled crane will most likely be displayed in the African Savanna paddocks, the shingleback skink in Australasia, as I do recall the zoo wanted to replace the other skink species there right now to a more endangered species.
 
A shingleback Skink is already on display with the frilled lizard in australasia. It looks like a new exhibit is replacing the Cane Toad exhibit (as it is empty with toad signage removed), perhaps it will have a permanent home there.
 
Thanks to Quartz92 and JMANPROJECT88 for the information
The Winter Collections also said they acquired 14 Splash Back Poison Frogs and 30 Madagascar Golden Frogs will any of they be put on display or will they all be for breeding projects?
 
I would assume they may eventually make it out on exhibit. After quarantine and hopefully successful breeding.
 
I really dig seeing people look out for frogs and wish the zoo would promote their conservation more, frogs included. Another reason you guys have a one up over the ARists :D
 
The African Penguin is indeed on display. It has its own exhibit, seperated from the other penguins. According to the sign, there are two other baby penguins not on display yet.

In addition to the penguin, there is a new turtle species on display in the Nile Monitor exhibit, but there were no signs.

Also, Signs for the White Lions are up, they will arrive and be on display in May according to the signage.
 
JMANPROJECT88 said:
The African Penguin is indeed on display. It has its own exhibit, seperated from the other penguins. According to the sign, there are two other baby penguins not on display yet.

In addition to the penguin, there is a new turtle species on display in the Nile Monitor exhibit, but there were no signs.

Also, Signs for the White Lions are up, they will arrive and be on display in May according to the signage.
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Excellent news all around! Thanks for sharing!
 
I apologize if this has been mentioned already, but I saw a baby ring tailed lemur today attached to it's mother. Tiny little thing. :)
 
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