About the Toronto Zoo
Key facts
| Opened | August 15, 1974, as the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo |
|---|---|
| Location | 2000 Meadowvale Road, Rouge Valley, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Size | Approximately 287 hectares (710 acres) |
| Collection | More than 5,000 animals of 500+ species |
| Layout | Eight zoogeographic regions |
| Owner | The City of Toronto |
| Accreditation | CAZA-accredited; member of the AZA |
| Neighbour | Rouge National Urban Park (Parks Canada) |
From Riverdale to the Rouge Valley
Toronto's first public zoo, the Riverdale Zoo, opened in 1888 on a small riverside site. By the 1960s its cage-based layout was considered outdated, and the region decided to build a modern zoological park in the forested Rouge Valley in the city's east end.
The Metropolitan Toronto Zoo opened on August 15, 1974. Its founding idea was zoogeography - exhibits grouped by continent of origin, with landscapes planted to resemble native habitats. The concept still shapes the zoo's layout today.
After the 1998 amalgamation of Metro Toronto's municipalities, the zoo's name was shortened to the Toronto Zoo. Giant pandas Er Shun and Da Mao lived at the zoo from 2013 to 2018 as part of a conservation loan agreement with China.
Detailed, well-referenced history: Toronto Zoo on Wikipedia and the official zoo website.
Milestones
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1888 | Riverdale Zoo opens - Toronto's first public zoo. |
| 1974 | Metropolitan Toronto Zoo opens in the Rouge Valley on August 15. |
| 1998 | Renamed the Toronto Zoo after municipal amalgamation. |
| 2013-2018 | Giant pandas Er Shun and Da Mao live at the zoo on a conservation loan from China. |
| 2015 | Rouge National Urban Park, Canada's first national urban park, is established beside the zoo. |
Location, mission and governance
The site
The zoo occupies a forested plateau above the Rouge River. Walking trails stretch for several kilometres, and the terrain is hilly - plan footwear accordingly. The zoo borders Rouge National Urban Park.
Mission
The zoo's stated mission is connecting people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction. It pursues this through conservation breeding, wildlife health and research, education, and field conservation funding.
Governance: the zoo is owned by the City of Toronto and run on the city's behalf. It is accredited by CAZA and is a member of the AZA.