Thanks for the warm welcome! I've been visiting the TZ since a young age and it's one of my favorite places in the world. Glad to see that there's lots to look forward to in 2019! Would love to see some additional species added into the mix as well but I do understand that it can be pricey.
Not to be crass in saying this, but I'm glad to hear Kiki has passed away. Hopefully this will be the push Toronto needs to get another, viable, female. Kilat is one of only two offspring of his mother, and he's no spring chicken either. Hopefully he gets a lady sooner than later! Also FWIW, when I visited a month ago, the Dragon that was on display gave the distinct impression of being aged. I know Kilat and Kiki were the same age, but I strongly suspect it was Kiki I saw. The animal was pigeon toed and very slow and labored in its movements, with a strong sag in its back. None of the Komodo's I've worked around have given that impression before, it was something else to see.
@Hyak_II, I am right with you on Kiki's passing. She was preventing Kilat from passing on his very valuable genetics. Time is ticking against him now. Kiki was 13 and Kilat is 14. Difference it a female komodos average life expectancy is 12 but a males is nearly 20, not that both genders could live into their 30s. Prior to her death though there was a plan to swap her out for a different female since she never liked Kilat and never seemed to show any reproductive potential. Heck they had to do MRI's and genetic testing because they were worried she was really a small male. I couldn't tell you which komodo you saw. Others might be able to confirm which one it was by your description.
There is a lynx kitten. I've seen her a number of times. She was born in May, but has only been in the lynx habitat since the end of September.
Thanks LDTZ. I hadn't heard anything about the kitten since hearing of the birth so I wondered if it had survived. Guess with the big babies this summer she's kinda been ignored.
The zoo has a new female Arctic Fox named Elsa. For an exhibit that had been boring and empty for so long we now boast three foxes. Not sure if there is any plans or chance breeding is in the future. She's also from Parc Safari where Orage and Tempete came from so they could well be siblings.
@Yi Qi, no clue. I have heard one female was supposed to go back to Parc Safari but could be that is Emarah's future home. But with the arrival of Bakari, Emarah has a potential mate. Toronto might be getting back a female or two from this years litter from Akeelah at Parc Safari as well. My guess is a home is being sought for Dougie, Flash and Chester. They have no hope for breeding here even if Toronto got back females from Parc Safari. Dad Patonga is the half brother of Cleo and Akeelah so their daughters could never breed with the boys. Given Laini's genetic value the boys might do well in the states as a bachelor group of breeding males.
Southern ground hornbill's Biko and Catelyn have welcomed their 6th chick. Older siblings Tyrion and Bran are helping to raise the chick.
A really great breeding achievement! Breeding ground hornbills is not an easy husbandry task to accomplish!
Just thought I would give the year end tally of birth, deaths and transfers I have been able to keep track of this year. Births While the list isnt impressively long there were a number of significant births of very popular babies. 1 White Rhino (end of 2016 but let's count him) - Theodore 1 Indian Rhino - Kiran 2 Southern Ground Hornbill - Winter chick DNS and Fall chick 1 Lynx 6 Wolf Gorilla - Charlie 6 Tur 1 Golden Lion Tamarin 1 Pygmy Hippo - Penelope 5 Jamaican boas Tentacled snakes Bleeding heart dove 5 common marmosets (triplets and twins) Blandings Turtles Vancover Island Marmots Black Footed Ferrets Eastern Loggerhead Shrikes Massasauga Rattlesnakes Puerto Rican Crested Toads Deaths I think it's been a pretty bad year for the zoo in terms of deaths. Some old age deaths. A few infants that didnt survive. And a few very unexpected deaths among some of the younger animals. Plus a few deaths due to predatory behavior in three unexpected events. 2 Ostrich - Miss Ellie and Orville 1 Southern Ground Hornbill - chick from last winter 2 Bactrian Camel - Alice and Rebecca 2 Mouflon - Dorothy. Peter and Julius 1 Mata Mata - O 1 Bald Eagle - Gronk 2 Egyptian Geese - Annoying and another unnamed. 1 Chamois - Wily 1 Przewalski’s Horse - Taschi At least 1 Black footed ferret - Donatello 1 Saki Monkey - Tia 2 Tur calves 1 Barbary Sheep - Desiree 1 Siamese Catfish - Big Cat 1 Honeyeater - Bonnie 1 Tahr - Packer 1 Clouded Leopard - Charlotte Several Nicobar Pigeons 1 Tragopan Several Crested Partridges 1 Bleeding Heart Dove 2 common marmoset infants, possibly 3 1 sugar glider - jughead 1 Sloth - Bob 1 Komodo - Kiki Notable Departures Other than the pandas there wasn't any major transfers out. Just little ones most wouldn't notice. 2 lemurs - Lionel and Lenny to Granby Eurasian Eagle Owl - Edgar Giant Pandas - Da Mao, Er Shun, Jia Panpan, and Jia Yueyue to Calgary Von Deckens Hornbill - Francine to LA Cheetah - Tika to Vancouver Pygmy Marmoset - Masala to Moncton Notable arrivals There were some nice transfers in this year which should promote breeding. Turkey Vulture - Ted 6 Bison - all females Cheetah - Bakari from Washington Alpaca - Gerald and Reggie Grey Kangaroo - from Gladys Porter Plush crested Jay - Silent Bob Polar bear - Juno from Winnipeg 11 caribou - Daphne, Henna, Mimi, Mitella, Muriel, Rowan, Raven, Hyacinth, Delilah, Meadow, and Rosa Arctic fox - Elsa 2 Przewalski's horse - Winona and Winnie from Calgary Generally a good year for the zoo. Hopefully lots to come in 2019.
With the new year approaching and a busy couple of days for me, I thought I would get the ball rolling on what we might be able to expect in 2019 in terms of births and transfers. Can't predict deaths but we all know there will be some. Births I know of no current pregnancies at the moment but there are some sure thing births that we can almost always expect. There have also been some moves which should increase the odds of births as well as some moves that should be coming that will open up breeding opportunities. Most likely Blandings Turtles Vancouver Island Marmots Black Footed Ferrets - several new pairings are coming following some transfers Eastern Loggerheaded Shrikes Massassagua Rattlesnakes Bison Tur - there's always a chance Higher odds Zebra - if already pregnant Red River Hog - they are finally mating Cheetah - only if most if not all of the quints leave this winter or should be leaving to homes soon. Southern Ground Hornbill - despite 6 chicks they are a genetically valuable pair. Giraffe - if pregnant but odds are now higher Mstari will be pregnant sometime this year. Bleeding Heart Dove River Otter - RJ and Talise did enjoy each other a lot last winter. Common Marmoset - Why they are breeding them still baffles me.They should be phased out. Golden Lion Tamarin Sunbittern Plush Crested Jay Grey Kangaroo - new breeding male Pygmy Marmoset - pending arrival and bonding Longer shots Indian rhino - based on Kiran's conception Asha could be pregnant or get pregnant with #3 White rhino - Sabi has been bred to Tom but no word Orang - just don't think Budi is mature enough to get the job done Marabou Stork - not sure why this genetically valuable pair isn't being bred African Penguin - some would need to go to free up space Bactrian Camel - Ziggy is still a little young but Tilly is old enough, plus long pregnancy. Przewalski's Horse - only if breeding began almost immediately after arrival. Red Panda - SSP doesn't think Ralphie will breed given his age Wolf - Unlikely given the 6 pups are still there but possible. Wombat - So long and nothing. Tree Kangaroo - Unlikely given the upcoming transfer but still possible. African Spoonbill - dont seem interested in breeding them Sacred Ibis - see above Various Asian turtles and tortoises Babirusa - nothing seems to be happening there No Longer Possible Just thought I would add in a category of the species we know are now out of the running. Sumatran Tiger - Kemala has been deemed a non breeder Clouded Leopard - Mingma and Pavarti are a genetically undesirable pairing, cousins, duh SSP. Lions - Makali is spayed like Lemon now. Sloth - Bob's dead but they were really a long shot. Ostrich - Orville's dead Komodo - pending arrival of a new female Sea Eagle - An egg was laid last year but it was eaten by a coon so no idea if it was fertile. They are still young. Crested Porcupine - genetically valuable pairing but the zoo is considering getting a different species for that exhibit hence the long shot. Transfers In Female Tree Kangaroo Female Komodo Male Kudu Male Black footed ferrets Male Scarlet Ibis Ostrich - I would think they will try to get Eunice company Male Snow Leopard - coming in from Metro Richmond and breeding will begin again. Meerkats - some sort of breeding swap Pgymy Marmosets - Breeding pair arriving Transfers Out Tree Kangaroo - Nokopo Various cheetah Zebra - Leia and Rey should go Indian Rhino - Nandu (might wait til late fall and move both boys together) White Rhino - With Tom as a proven sire there is no real need for Tony so its possible to free up space for Teddy. 6 Penguins - Edmonton is supposed to take a group Polar bears - hopefully homes are found for Hudson and Humphrey Wolf pups Clouded Leopard - rumor has it Safari Niagra is working on a clouded leopard exhibit so Charlotte would be perfect Snow leopards - homes have been chosen for Mylo and Kita Meerkats - to facilitate breeding Bettongs Bleeding heart doves - any chicks Eagle Owl - Edgar they want out of Eagle owls Warthog - if breeding is wanted the boys would have to go Hyena - I keep hoping Echo will not be wasted and Moja and Pinduli will leave!!!!!!!!! That or the SSP will smarten up and take Kanzi away from Toronto so she's not wasted. It will be interesting to see if there is a big birth this year with none expected at the moment to my knowledge. It might be a really quiet year after three or four really big ones.
