I never new that exhibit held so many animals, I knew about the Koalas but never the Komodo Dragons and the Tassi Devils, any other animails housed here before? I sort of thought that would be the case for the jellies.
Canadian Domain Review!
I have decided to do some more reviews of the zoo! I have not been to this part of the zoo for about a year so; the exhibits don't pop out in my head. The Canadian Domain is part of the North Zoo Redevelopment Site and may be Phase 3. It will be the conversion of the Canadian Domain into the mixed wood/Boreal Forest.
To start, the Toronto Zoo should acquire many more Canadian animals, not squirrels or chipmunks, but other species like the Mountain Goat, Dalls Sheep, Bighorn Sheep, Caribou, Whooping and Sandhill Cranes, some foxes, pelicans, and wolfs. Would all be a great addition to the zoo.
If I was in charge of building a new portion of the zoo it would have to be the Canadian Domain, because of the unique animals that Canada has. I would have all the animals into new exhibits, and add the animals I mentioned above. I absolutely love the Canadian Wilds section of the Calgary Zoo, and I would copy some exhibits from that.
I would have to add an aviary for many North American birds. Just take a piece of land and cover it with a roof so the zoo could hold many more species, (Like the Montreal Biodome) I would love to have it just like a pavilion, with some fox exhibits and have the otters and beavers in here to, as well as some other small exhibits.
I would also add a chairlift ride to go down to the Canadian Domain to replace the old track that is there now.
I will now start on the exhibits that the zoo has, all of the newer animals may come, but I am not the person to decide.
Cougar: This exhibit has much climbing space for the animals, but it should be much larger, and should have no mesh just glass walls, and an open air exhibit, adding lots of foliage to make it seem like an area out of their natural habitat.
Grizzly Bear: The grizzly bears have an okay exhibit, although it could be bigger, and have an underwater viewing area, where the public can watch them swim and the bears can catch some live fish. They can also add some foliage to the exhibit and make it much more natural. I would not move the exhibit from where it is today.
Bald Eagle: This exhibit could be a bit bigger but the use of vertical space is excellent. They should add a few trees and have a pond with live fish so the birds can catch them for enrichment.
Moose: The zoo moose exhibit is good in space wise, but they should mimic the Calgary Zoos moose exhibit and have a large pond for swimming. I do like Zoogoer's idea of having an observation tower here, maybe position the tower in between the moose and bison exhibits.
Arctic Wolf: These species are getting a new home in the "Tundra Trek" and I hope it will have a small forest for them and a patch of open land, I think their new exhibit will be outstanding when done, and I can’t wait to view them in the winter.
Musk Ox: These species are getting a new home in the "Tundra Trek" and they should have a small coniferous forest and the rest open field. Once again, I think their new exhibit will be outstanding when done, and I can’t wait to view them in the winter.
Elk/Bison: I have never seen the elk but I think they are with the bison, they should add a pond in this exhibit and with the observation tower it would be great.
The Weston pond area is excellent and it truly resembles Canadian live, I also like the aboriginal trail.
Overall: The Canadian Domain doesn't have many flaws but when they are finished this phase I think it will look amazing!
Americas/Tundra Review!
The Americas outdoor exhibits are mainly under constructions, all the old exhibits there were nothing special, even though it was cool to watch a Polar Bear swim. With the new exhibits for the Polar Bears, Musk Ox, Reindeer, and Arctic Wolf I think this area will look outstanding. With the addition of some new species and a duck pond, and another newer Inukshuk, the area will look very real. The Polar Bears exhibit will be tripled in size, as well as a much larger area for the Arctic Wolves, I do think that the zoo should acquire more Musk Ox, and start up breeding again. Although there are some exhibits that have managed to escape the construction, these are the Mayan Temple Exhibits.
Mayan Temple Exhibits: I absolutely love the theme here hopefully the zoo will come up with a great idea for this area, maybe keep it running and add a few exhibits here and have it part of the Tropical Americas.
Jaguar: The exhibit is small but great, if it was made larger it would suit the cats perfectly, if they decide to go ahead and build the new exhibit in the Americas Pavilion maybe have the glass wall (with no hotwire) and an underwater viewing for them.
Spider Monkeys: This exhibit is great for the monkeys, the mesh isn't great but the monkeys use it to climb. Maybe add a tree or two and the exhibit could be better. The water that flows around these exhibits is amazing too.
Flamingos: One of the best exhibits at the zoo, there is almost no fence and the birds still stay in there exhibit, the zoo is smart to have had a deeper section of water so the flamingoes could stay put. They could enlarge the exhibit but that is being picky.
Waterfall/Capybara exhibits: really cool ideas, nothing to change, but the smell of the waterfall.
I like this area because of its theme, and anything that could be changed is just being picky, except for the jaguar’s exhibit in size wise.
Overall: The American exhibits are undergoing construction for the new "Tundra Trek" and the few exhibits that are not, are still great.