Zootour Manitoba and Ontario

[Jonas Livet]

Hello,

I am planning to visit some zoological institutions and various nature places in Manitoba and Ontario (and New York State) end of July.

Here follows a list of the zoos and assimilated than I am planning to visit:

Assiniboine Park Zoo
FortWhyte Alive
Toronto Zoo
African Lion Safari
The Hamilton Aviary
Bird Kingdom Niagara Falls
MarineLand Canada
Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory
Aquarium of Niagara
Buffalo Zoo
Twin Valley Zoo = Twin Valley Nature Park
High Park Zoo in Toronto
Riverdale Farm Toronto
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
Far Enough Farm in Toronto

Here are also some other places and nature areas I am considering to visit:
Manitoba Museum in Winnipeg
Oak Hammock Marsh/Harry J. Enns Wetland Discovery Centre
Cootes Paradise/Royal Botanical Gardens
Niagara Glen Nature Centre
Buckhorn Island State Park
Niagara Falls State Park
Humber Bay Butterfly Habitat (HBBH) in Etobicoke
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto
Prehistoria Museum & SkullStore in Toronto

Do you have any feedback about these plans? Do I miss anything taking into consideration than I will be a couple of days in Winnipeg and six days around Toronto? Any suggestion, advise or feedback is definetely very appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Jonas

 

[TZFan]

Oh go see the ROM its a great place. The bull rhino they have at the front of the natural history stuff is Toronto's long time bull, Bull (yes really his name). When he was put down he was donated to the ROM. They have several former zoo animals. He's the only one I remember.

Add Safari Niagara to your list. You are planning on being in that neck of the woods anyway. They have some cool species that are harder to find in Canada like African wild dogs, African leopards, Andean condors, Brazilian tapir, Agile gibbons, Syrian brown bear and a neat bird collection.

Safari Niagara | Get Closer At One Of Ontario's Favourite Zoos

If you needed to cut something to make more time for it cut Twin Valley Zoo. Its barely a zoo.

I'd also skip Marineland based on principle. I tend to believe most bad things said about it and am personally sad that I ever went to that place. And its not the whales and dolphins in captivity issue for me. Its the questionable level of care that I cannot tolerate. But that's me and you are completely entitled to a different opinion and to do with your time and money what you want. No judgement on my part against people who visit there. I just cannot and will not visit there again unless something massive changes.

 

[BovidBabe]

I would recommend the Manitoba Museum! It has some great dioramas and excellent taxidermy specimens. If you can make a planetarium show at the museum, I'd really recommend it. There is also the ultimate dinosaur exhibit until September. Haven't been able to swing to the museum to see it yet, but it is probably pretty solid if it's anything like the other temporary galleries. However the zoo also does have a dinosaur gallery, while not extensive, it is free with admission.

If you are staying a few days in Winnipeg, well not animal related, I would recommend checking out the human rights museum. It's in the Forks, which is a beautiful area with very rich history. Just across one of the bridges from the Forks is St. Boniface, which has some french history museums and the very nice Cathedral and Louis Riel's tombstone if that piques your interest.

I have heard great things about Oak Hammond Marsh. Haven't been able to go since I am not a driver, but many people have praised it, especially birders.

If you have any Winnipeg questions let me know! I don't know too many hidden gems as I have only lived here a few years, but I seem to be the only active manitoban on this site