The exhibit opened on May 16, 2008, alongside the reopening of the Australasia Pavilion. Some of its most popular residents are the white-faced sakis, golden lion tamarins, two-toed sloths, American alligators, beavers, and river otters. The new state-of-the-art exhibits are larger in order to encourage breeding. In 2008, the Toronto Zoo participated in 2008 Year of the Frog, where researchers were sent to study a deadly fungus causing problems to amphibians and reptiles worldwide. A limited number of Electric scooters are available for a rental fee of $35.00 ($30.97 +$4.03 HST). In the exciting VR game, you can be a polar bear and hunt for seals on the sea ice! Your Toronto Zoo is continuing to support community vaccination efforts by hosting GOVAXX mobile bus clinic Sunday March 13 through Sunday March 20 at Your Zoo! https://www.torontozoo.com/wildencounters. Full schedule can be found at www.torontozoo.com/ExploreTheZoo/MeettheKeeper/. Snap a photo with any of the above and share it on social media with hashtag #SpotTheStripes for your chance to win a Wild Encounter or tiger-themed retail prize pack! In 2011, the city started looking at the process of selling the zoo to a third party after Toronto Mayor Rob Ford claimed there were many interested buyers. While enjoying your Toronto Zoo, we strongly encourage guests to continue the following practices of: Please respect individual choices regarding the wearing of masks. In 1976, the Zoo opened the Canadian Domain Ride, a monorail-like automated guideway transit service that travelled into the Zoo's Canadian Domain area, located in the Rouge Valley. In 2003, a Komodo dragon was hatched for the first time in Canada. The zoo reopened as a drive-through experience beginning May 23, 2020, and began re-admitting walkthrough guests beginning July 4, 2020, with the drive-through experience continuing to run until October 5, 2020. The Indo-Malayan area contains an outdoor area, as well as a pavilion that exhibits plants and animals from South and Southeast Asia. Any unclaimed prizes as of 2022-04-01 will be deemed forfeited by the winner. 4. Our daily talks include lions, cheetah, polar bears, giraffes and more! Electric Convenience Vehicle (ECV) $30.97 + tax, Small: 17.5 X 15 X 29.75 Medium: 23 X 15 X 29.75 Large: 23 X 19 X 29.75, Kangaroo walk through (kangaroos are still visible). In 1985, Qing Qing and Quan Quan[12] a pair of giant pandas, on loan for three months from the People's Republic of China, were displayed at the Zoo. The Toronto Zoo strives to provide experiences and events that are accessible to all guests. The exhibit returned to the zoo on a regular basis but closed permanently on October 8, 2012, to make room for the Giant Panda Research Center. [57], In July 2015 two wood bison calves were born as the result of artificial insemination using frozen-thawed sperm that had been collected from a male wood bison in Elk Island, Alberta, in 1980.

This area became the sixth region of the zoo, and showcases a variety of Arctic animals including porcupine caribou, polar bears, snow geese, and Arctic wolves. Premier Event: Saturday, March 16 to Sunday, March 17, 2019

On August 15, 2009, the Toronto Zoo celebrated its 35-year anniversary. In 1966, Mr. Crothers and the 10 other citizens met at City Hall to form the Metropolitan Toronto Zoological Society. The Toronto Zoo is visiting us with some of their animals from the Northern Climate. Address: 2000 Meadowvale Road, Toronto, Ontario, M1B 5K7. After youve finished, head back to Tidmouth Sheds (Special Events Centre) for more Thomas & Friends fun like colouring sheets, live animal visitors and a live screening area featuring the latest season of Thomas & Friends. 5. The Frank Schofield Memorial/Asian Gardens opened the first phase in June 2010, and includes a statue erected in Schofield's honour. In 2012, on a trade mission to China, it was announced that the Toronto Zoo and the Calgary Zoo would be lent two giant pandas from China for the span of ten years, with the pandas splitting the time equally between the two facilities. Featured species in this area include Western grey kangaroos, red-necked wallabies, short-beaked echidnas, southern hairy-nosed wombats, kookaburras, Victoria crowned pigeons, Matschie's tree-kangaroos, and Komodo dragons. 8. Other participating wildlife organizations include the San Diego Zoo and the Philadelphia Zoo. Under 5 | It has one of the most taxonomically diverse collection of animals on display of any zoo worldwide; it is currently home to over 5,000 animals (including invertebrates and fish) representing over 500 species. Toronto Zoo employees and their immediate family members (spouses, parents, children) are welcome to participate however are not eligible to win a prize pack. The experience closed early on March 14, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and returned on August 14, 2020.[27]. Reopening for bookings as of March 12th and running every day through March Break, be sure to check out this unique opportunity! The zoo is located near the Rouge River on the western border of Rouge Park in the city's east end district of Scarborough. Held every Saturday and Sunday guests can watch as our carnivores of the animal kingdom react to receiving a meaty bone as a treat. The Toronto Zoos one-of-a-kind tours will take you behind-the-scenes to experience some of our amazing animals and habitats up close! Daily Wildlife Health Centre: Please note the following animals are currently not on display due to various reasons including Avian Bird Flu, and Covid-19 sensitivity: Wearing of facial coverings or masks, for persons 2+ years of age when indoors, in closed spaces or in crowds. From May 18, 2013, to March 18, 2018, the area included two giant pandas: Er Shun (female) and Da Mao (male). Too excited to wait for March Break? A third area, the Kids Zoo, consists of a variety of animals that children can interact with, such as guinea pigs, skunks, and alpacas. Terra Lumina closes for the season in April, so dont miss out on this enchanting experience. In September 2013, plans were finalized to move Toka, Thika and Iringa to a facility in California in October 2013. Submissions are only accepted as participation if they are posted on or between 2022-03-12 to 2022-03-20 from a public/open profile on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. This pavilion once had an "Edge of Night" section to highlight crepuscular and nocturnal marsupials, but this was later converted into the Great Barrier Reef exhibit featuring seahorses, a jellyfish tank, lionfish, brownbanded bamboo sharks, and a 7-metre (23ft) long community tank.

9. Around 1880, businessman Harry L. Piper (18391921) established a Zoological and Acclimatization Society (also as Toronto Zoological Garden) and open a zoological garden at Old Post Office Lane at Toronto Street north of King Street East, then in 1881 to a lot at Front Street and York Street next to the Queen's Hotel and finally to the eastern end of the Exhibition Grounds in 1885. [36][37][38] The cubs were raised by Er Shun, with "twin swapping" occurring through the first four months of their lives until they were large and healthy enough that zoo staff were confident of their survival. [22], On May 11, 2017, over 400 employees went on strike, and zoo management decided to close the zoo, due to job security negotiations falling out,[23] though conservation programs continued. It featured the largest T-Rex model in North America. Grand Prize: One (1) Wild Encounter behind-the-scenes experience at the Toronto Zoo for up to four (4) people and a tiger-themed retail prize pack (EST retail value: $400.00CAD). The Great Barrier Reef exhibit consists of a large seven-metre-long community tank featuring brownbanded bamboo sharks, damselfish, and triggerfish. The zoo is open to the public every day of the year except December 25. Visit us March 11th to 13th (tickets available for shows beginning at 7:15pm), and March 16th to 19th (tickets available for shows beginning at 8:15pm)! Later named Noru, it was sent to the Lincoln Zoo, and was paired with a mate named Milla who gave birth to twins a first for this species. This unregulated mining industry has a dramatic impact on the region's biodiversity. The Zoo broke all previous attendance records as thousands of visitors came to see these rare animals. Third Runner Up: A tiger-themed retail prize pack (EST retail value: $100.00CAD), Winners will be selected at random on 2022-03-21 and will be contacted directly on the profile that the entry was received. Purchase Admission Tickets Here [9] Piper was also Alderman for St. John's Ward from 1877 to 1880 and 18831888. On September 9, 2009, the south side of the African Rainforest Pavilion was closed for construction. Look for one of our well-known establishments, or bring your own picnic lunch! By 1966, a group of eleven people became The Metro Toronto Zoological Society with Crothers as the first chairman. Event Hours: 9:30AM-4:30PM daily The rides operations were placed on hold in July 1994 after an accident. Parent & Tot Pop Ups: Opened in 1998, the African Savanna became the zoo's largest expansion in history. Second Runner Up: A tiger-themed retail prize pack (EST retail value: $100.00CAD) Last 86 Scarborough bus is scheduled to leave the Toronto Zoo at 7:10pm each night during the March Break (March 9-17). Come on an adventure with Thomas and see the world through his eyes this March Break,discovering new friends, cultures and animals.The Special Events Centre has transformed into Tidmouth Sheds bringing with it fun for children and parents. Bring your own device, download the free On Thin Ice app (coming soon to Apple App Store and Google Play Store), and use free Tundra Trek Wi-Fi to play, learn, and enjoy! Twin cubs, one male (later named "Jia Panpan" indicating "Canadian Hope") and one female ("Jia Yueyue" indicating "Canadian Joy"), were born on October 13, 2015. The pavilion underwent two years of construction, resulting in new exhibits including a Great Barrier Reef area in the location of the former Edge of Night area. One zoo staff member has been key in preservation of critically endangered Malagasy freshwater fish species, both at the zoo and in Madagascar. Full schedule can be found at www.torontozoo.com/ExploreTheZoo/enrichment/?pg=Feedings. [21] Plans have been confirmed in November 2018 with the consortium (which includes Magna International and Lockheed Martin) paying for construction and the first 15 years of operation. September 2008: Tequila, cause of death not released. Space is limited, please register. Our Zoo is divided into seven zoogeographic regions as you will see on the Zoo Map. The zoo implemented a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy starting October 25, 2021, which requires all staff and visitors aged 12 and older to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to show their proof-of-vaccination documents in order to enter the entire Zoo grounds. The zoo also successfully bred Przewalski's horses in 2008, 2009 and 2020.