Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo Future Developments 2011

Are there plans on getting a new pair of Snowy Owls? I knew they were off display for a while but now they've been taken off ISIS unless I keep skimming past them.

 

I am sure the zoo will be acquiring a new pair of birds.

 

Just got my collections magazine today and in addition t othe African penguins, we'll also be getting the Pink-backed Pelicans back (which were in the savannah before when it first opened, in with teh rhinos and zebras if I can recall) and a new (?) species, the Cape Shelduck.

 

That's great news! its been a long time since we had pelicans back at the zoo, and
does anyone know what the penguin exhibit is going to looks like?

 

does anyone know if the seats at the old Fur Seal exhibit is still going to be there when the penguins come in?

 

yes, it probably won't be exactly the same, but from what I remember, the seats should still be there for the most part...

 

does anyone know if Toronto zoo is still getting there giant pandas>?

 

I was reading an article where it seems like the pandas are to arrive next year. Not sure though. Anyone know the status of the pandas?

 

Just read an article in the National Post which suggests a new mandrill exhibit.Is this legit? We really enjoyed the troop in the African Pavilion and were upset when they shipped them out.

Team Tapir

 

Panda Project: still to be finalized arriving more likely in 2013 or 2014.

Mandrills: the exhibit that the lemurs are in is the exhibit that was the "new" mandrill exhibit but they got shipped out, no future plans to bring them back at this point.

 

I don't know where else to post this, but I wish the website carried zoo blogs and is the penguin exhibit still scheduled to open this Saturday? If so I'll be sure to grab some shots of the penguin exhibit and the south side of the Rainforest Pavilion.

 

The exhibit opens on the 21st of May!

 

Does the zoo have any plans of renovating the Indian Rhino, tapir, and possibly the Lion-tailed macaque (even though the zoo installed the geo-thermal heating system into the exhibit) enclosures?

 

No exhibit has plans to be redone to my knowledge, nothing major at least.

 

I wonder if the zoo has ever considered mixing the savannah hoofstock species with each other, i.e, kudu with white rhinos. I mean the savannah exhibits all look like all one huge exhibit, why not mix species to encourage this illusion of the savannah plains.

 

They did use to have the zebras mixed in with the rhinos in the old African savannah in the old rhino exhibit, along with, I believe, ostrich. I believe they did have the rhinos in with the zebras for a number of years until a zebra was killed. Or was it that they brought in a rhino that killed a zebra?

 

Oh, what a shame. The zoo isn't willing to risk another death I guess.

 

Not sure about this . . .

Privatize zoo, councillors urged | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun

New vet hospital planned:

InsideToronto Article: Zoo banks on public interest in viewing animal surgeries

 

I think the privitization of anything is a load of b**l s**t!


On a positive note the new wildlife animal hospital is an exciting project! I love the way the videos are made, it still makes me be in awe when I watch the WHY video...

 

I had an interesting discussion with a senior keeper I wanted to share.

I expressed my wish that the TZ begin offering behind the scene tours like the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. I shared that I thought this would be a great new way to generate money for the cash-strapped TZ. I also shared that I wished the TZ would widen its focus from what the TZ can do for moms and kids to include how to get young professionals with disposable income to attend and spend their money.

The senior keeper told me that the TZ had looked into offering behind the scene tours but the TZ could not do it because the keepers (the people who would be giving the tour) earn about $10 per hour more than the ones in San Diego and so the cost was prohibitive. The senior keeper also said the new CEO recognized that targeting young professionals without children was a good idea.

It will be interesting to see what new ideas the new CEO comes up with!