I have heard that keepers have begun rotating to Aquarium Du Quebec for training with the walruses. Each of the keepers who work with the polar bears will eventually cycle through to learn about their new charges well before their arrival. The zoo is hoping that when polar bear Taiga arrives they can get her to socialize with Juno so they can be displayed as a pair. Naturally if Taiga arrives with cubs that plan is out the window. Juno is a socially savvy bear growing up in Winnipeg so the zoo is hopeful. And Taiga is social with Eddy and did grow up with brother Ganuk who she was with until moving to Aquarium du Quebec. If the pairing of the girls works then the zoo would like to attempt mixing all 4 girls. I'm not sure how successful that would be but it would definitely help with the space concerns when the walruses arrive.
Here's a good for a giggle article about the zoo animals new years resolutions. Toronto Zoo animals share New Year's resolutions in adorable photo series While funny I have some very different resolutions for the animals... most involve giving us babies or leaving to make room for more babies.
Here is an interview with the zoo's CEO Dolf DeJong about his vision of how the zoo can make an impact and what it's role is in today's world. As you read through you can see the impact his vision is already having from the introduction of wild encounters to a more visible and interesting social media profile. He might really push the zoo forward in a lot of ways. Toronto Zoo | Dolf DeJong looks to the future | blooloop
Fun little video of winter at the zoo. The Weather Network - How tropical animals at the Toronto Zoo stay warm in the winter
According to the zoo's facebook page gorilla, Nneka, has broken her arm. Luckily it's not a complete break so after consulting with specialist they have decided to leave her alone and let it heal on its own. Would have been very difficult to get a cast on her arm and keep her quiet enough to let it heal. She's being given pain meds and is being closely monitored. Her condition will be reevaluated in the next few weeks or as necessary. Keepers are unsure how she hurt herself as it happened overnight. For anyone visiting the zoo in the coming weeks this situation might be a good reason to stop by the health unit in the morning to see if shes in for the next round of xrays. That would definitely be a really cool day to visit the health unit.
@Jungle Man, there were cubs. Charlotte died and Levy was moved to I think Safari Niagara or Parc Safari. I feel like Safari Niagara. Currently Pavarti and Mingma are a non breeding pair but that could change down the line.
There's a new pair of doves in the Americas front aviary I posted a picture, not the best at doves but are these just ring necks from the Discovery Zone or are they an North /Central /South American species?
The zoo in conjunction with the Toronto Star have introduced a live lemur cam from 10 am to 2 pm daily to help bring the zoo to us. Here is the link.
Yes, they're from the Kids Zoo. One is a ring-neck dove, the other a mourning dove (Northern Nightmare, I believe).
The zoo is stepping up its game to protect its animals against Covid 19. Toronto Zoo taking precautions with big cats after tiger in N.Y. gets COVID-19
I may just be on edge because of Sally's passing and then the news about Vera but I didn't notice Josephine or Johari on webcam today and the Ngzoi, Charlie and Nneka seemed on edge. Does anyone know anything we're they seperated into three groups for the day or something? Also thanks to LDTZ for the dove information.
I noticed the same today, I don't know anything and don't want to speculate because there could be so many innocent reasons...but will just add that none of the "family" were on exhibit all weekend at all, only the boys. (And it was literally freezing, so they weren't outside.) Thinking good thoughts!
I totally get both of you. It's hard with multiple deaths so close to not worry when you can't see who you expect to see. I saw today's post on tiger Hari and when it was long I worried they were preparing to tell me he died last night. Although that would have been very odd since they just live streamed with him yesterday and he looked fine. Thankfully he just had a sprain and they wanted to show off how their training enabled them to take xrays without knocking him out. The gorillas could be separated for a number of reasons. Highest likelihoods are someone is sick or injured just enough to keep the families apart or someone is having social issues with someone else and they are on time out. You guys didn't mention who Charles was with. You mentioned Jo and Johari were off exhibit (or possibly in the day room) and Ngozi, Nneka and Charlie were on exhibit and on edge. Charles not being mentioned would be the one that concerns me most. While he and Josephine are both very old, he's much further past the average life expectancy for a male then Josephine is past the average female lifespan. It's probably just someone isn't feeling well and needs a rest with a companion or the girls just don't want to get along at the moment and Charles is ignoring it. Sadiki and Nassir may have just been on exhibit all weekend simply because it was their days in the rotation to have the main exhibit. We do have to remember the zoo does have a number of animals nearing the end of their lives. Gorillas - Charles (48) and Josephine (49) Orang - Puppe (53) Polar bears - Nikita and Aurora (20 but could live another 10 year possibly) Chamois Baboons Barbary Macaques (never seen but 2 are still alive last I heard) Jaguar - Luca and Zambucca (16) African otter - Fred (19) Meekats - Bill, Lafayette and Tara (9-11) Cheetah - Emma (13) Elk Bison - a few older animals Cougar - Felicia (17) Przewalski's Horse - Phoenix (17) and Alexandria (18) Bettong - Toby and Julie (10) Great Hornbill - Jonah (47 but could live much longer) Hyena - Moja (20) Penguins - a few Grizzly - Shintay (20) and Samson (21) could both go much longer. Lion Tailed Macaque - Si Nikel (30) Tahr - all of them Barbary sheep - all of them Echidna - Annie (30's)
Just to qualify what the original poster said, and based on my observations of the family yesterday... Charles was there and seemed to be acting relatively normally: He sat and ate, then moved off camera as usual to have his lie down. Ngozi was making Charlie ride on her back almost everywhere more than a few steps - which was weird - and Nneka also stuck very close to them most of the time, much closer than normal. And the three of them sat mostly on the netting to eat (up near where Josephine usually sits). They also took a lot of walks around the back instead of lazing/playing like they usually do after eating. Ngozi was also repeatedly climbing the highest "trunks" with Charlie on her back, right to the top, something you don't usually see her doing these days. As said, the boys were the only ones out all weekend, and on Saturday the keepers didn't even come in to restock food, just threw more over the edge. But, that could've been for a number of reasons, and not the first time I've seen it. Sadiki and Nassir have also seemed a bit out of sorts - rather scary violent playing the other day, they were more "normal" yesterday, but rather subdued today....which, could also be my imagination! But - again today (Tuesday) , no family out at all. Only the boys this morning, and the boys again this afternoon instead of the regular switch out. Josephine and Johari appeared to be acting as usual when I last saw them on Friday. Like I said yesterday, thinking good thoughts!
Yes sorry for raising concern about Charles I also saw him on exhibit. I'm guessing because of the seperation, for whatever reason, the rest of the family is just a little on edge and sticking closer together. Corona is a concern only cause its in the public eye right now but if they actually suspected a threat I feel they would have Charles and Sadiki under much tighter restrictions, Charles because of his age and Sadiki because of his pervious bouts with pneumonia have probably left some lasting damage. The thing really playing on my nerves for Josephine was that the last time I saw her she appeared to be walking strangley I can't remember how exactly but it just seemed odd. If the Spotted Neck Otter video on Facebook is anything to go by science doesn't seem to have a good grasp on there lifespan and Fred is otherwise is in good condition. I also wasn't aware we still had Elk are they kept off exhibit?
Gorilla wise I have heard from friends that the reason the girls are separated is social issues. They just need a time out so we will see where that goes. Everyone is healthy they just aren't happy with each other. It happens. Otter, Fred, is definitely an older animal. They don't have fantastic info on wild African Spotted Necked Otters for sure but he is on the upper end. The AZA's oldest recorded individuals for this species is 23. Fred is wild born so he may be a little older than they think. The live stream was a little misleading about breeding. They loosely implied it was possible and they had a bit of hope. There is virtually zero chance he will breed with Lila and they know it. The oldest recorded sire is 13 and hes well past that and Lila is coming up on being post reproductive. She's 12 and the oldest recorded dam is 14. But to be fair breeding has been super hard with this species. Yeah there still are elk according to the bison live stream. I had been wondering myself... not that I go down to the domain to see. The keeper said that the male bison live with the elk. How many do they have? No clue. Is it a breeding herd? I have my severe doubts because they never have mentioned a calf. Might just be rescues.
