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TORONTO ZOO HISTORY

MILESTONES OF THE TORONTO ZOO

2005
  • New male gorilla born March 7, later named Sadiki.
  • New interactive drumming program, Drum Cafe,introduced for the summer at Waterside Theatre
  • New Animal Trax - Concerts@ the Zoo introduced with Jesse Cook, Ron Sexsmith and the Cowboy Junkies performing
  • Record-breaking heat waves in June and July
2004
  • Opening of Kids Zoo, Final Phase of Zellers Discovery Zone
  • Toronto Zoo celebrates 30th Birthday
  • Toronto Zooarts Festival tested on-site for the summer season
  • "Zoos and Aquariums Take Action" project led by Toronto Zoo and wins CAZA's Thomas R. Baines Award for outstanding effort
2003
  • Opening of Amphitheater, Phase 2 of the Zellers Discovery Zone
  • SARS crisis in Toronto rocks tourism industry
  • First birth of 3 Sumatran Tigers in Canada
  • First hatchings of Komodo Dragons in Canada
  • Toronto Zoo rescues male polar bear cub, later named Inukshuk
2002
  • Opening of Zellers Splash Island, Phase 1 of Zellers Discovery Zone
  • Two Koalas on exhibit for the summer
  • Interactive Lorikeet feeding and Aussie walkabout exhibits opened
2001
  • Gorilla Rainforest exhibit opens. Exhibit wins CAZA's (Canadian Association of Zoos & Aquariums) prestigious Thomas R. Baines Award for outstanding effort.
  • Toronto Zoo rescues two female polar bear cubs, later named Aurora & Nikita
2000
  • Construction completed on Gorilla Rainforest.
  • Canadian Society of Landscape Architects honours the Zoo and Marshall, Macklin Mongahan Ltd. with the National Merit and Regional Honour awards for the African Savanna Exhibit.
  • Eyelash vipers go on display.
  • Havana Zoo donates Caribbean flamingos.
1999
  • Toronto Zoo celebrates 25th birthday.
  • Construction begins on Gorilla Rainforest.
1998
  • African Savanna opens.
  • Serengeti Bush Camp opens for first season.
  • Amalgamation of Metro Municipalities results in name change for Toronto Zoo.
1997
  • Komodo dragons become feature exhibit.
1996
  • Koalas on exhibit for the summer.
  • Naked mole rats go on exhibit.
  • Zoological Society amalgamates with Toronto Zoo.
  • Ducks Unlimited funds Wetlands exhibit.
1995
  • White Lions of Timbavati on exhibit for the summer.
  • First birth of Tasmanian devils in North America.
  • "Charles" the gorilla raises $37,000 through his artwork.
1994
  • Orange-kneed tarantula bred - first breeding in North America.
  • Sumatran tigers arrive.
  • Celebration of Cats exhibit.
  • Wombats produce young for first time.
1993
  • Metro Toronto Zoo receives the AZA Conservation Award for the Black-footed ferrets.
  • Red Panda exhibit re-opens.
  • Malayan Woods Pavilion opens.
1992
  • Metro Toronto Zoo hosts AAZPA/CAZPA Conference.
1991
  • Warthogs arrive. Special show, "Celebration of Pigs", opens for four months.
1990
  • Spotted-neck otter exhibit opens.
  • Sea Creatures: a display of animated pre-historic sea animals opens for four months.
1989
  • Caracal lynx exhibit opens.
  • Dinamation, a display of animated dinosaurs, opens for four months.
1988
  • Opening of Americas Pavilion Primate Wing.
  • Pair of Koalas arrive on summer loan from San Diego Zoo.
  • New reptile exhibits completed in Australasia Pavilion.
1987
  • Maya Temple exhibit opens. Wolf Woods exhibit opens.
1986
  • Golden Monkeys arrive on loan from China for 100 days.
  • New Society Building officially opened.
  • Calvin White appointed General Manager.Renovations to the Fur seal exhibit completed.
1985
  • Pair of giant pandas arrive on loan for three months from the Peoples' Republic of China.
1984
  • The Children's Zoological Centre opens,Indian Rhinoceros Pavilion opens.
  • The Adopt an Animal Program launched by Zoo. Society.
1983
  • Elephant House is officially opened. Ron Barbaro appointed Interim Director.
  • Australasia Pavilion's "Edge of Night" nocturnal section opens.
1982
  • Littlefootland and snow leopard exhibit open.
1981
  • Dr. Peter Crowcroft appointed General Director.
1980
  • Official opening of guar house and Zoomobile ride.
  • Metro Toronto Zoo receives accreditation from American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA)
1977
  • Governing powers transferred from the Zoological Society to newly formed Metropolitan Toronto Zoo Board of Management. Ron Barbaro is Chairman.
1976
  • Canadian Domain Train (Monorail) opens to public.
  • Mr. T. W. (Tommy) Thompson appointed Interim Director.
1975
  • Dr. Phillip Ogilvie appointed General Director.
1974
  • METRO TORONTO ZOO OPENS TO PUBLIC ON AUGUST 15.
  • First Volunteers trained for Volunteer program.
1973
  • Management Committee formed.
1971
  • First major contract awarded.
1970
  • Dr. Gunter Voss appointed Director of Zoo. Clearing and grading begins.
1969
  • Metropolitan Toronto Zoological Society incorporated.
  • Cecilia Long becomes Chairperson.
  • Johnson, Sustronk, Weinstein and Associates Ltd. prepare Masterplan approved in September.
1968
  • Feasibility Study on new Zoo submitted by architect Raymond Moriyama
1967
  • Metro Council approves Glen Rouge as site for new zoo.
1966
  • Eleven citizens meet at City Hall to form Metropolitan Toronto Zoological Society.
  • Mr. Crothers is first Chairman.
1963
  • Mr. Hugh Crothers presents private citizen's brief to build a new zoo.
1952
  • Dr. Norman Scollard appointed Curator of Riverdale Zoo.
1949
  • Citizen's committee formed to look into construction of a major new zoo.
1888
  • Alderman Lamb donates deer; Riverdale Zoo is born.