Visit The Toronto Zoo it's Open All Year Round
Winter Activities in Ontario: Fun for the Whole Family at the Zoo
The new Great Barrier Reef Exhibit, featuring a 27 foot fish tank, live coral garden and moon jelly fish is located inside the Australasia pavilion. One of five different buildings at the Toronto Zoo, each pavilion is home to animals, plants and insects that are on display all year and the temperature is always like a warm summer day.
Dressing for the Canadian winter only to peel off the layers inside may be a hassle, but it’s worth the effort. Suddenly the animals are eager to see who has entered their domain. Even the staff and volunteers at the zoo will heartily agree that winter may be the best time to spend a day here.
Wear Comfortable Shoes
1.2 million people visit each year, which means that during the busy summer season, weekends and holidays the throngs of people can make it feel crowded. Try arriving on a weekday, during the winter and the experience is more like a personal safari.
There are 460 different species of animal at the zoo, a massive plant collection and 10 km of walking trails that lead through the buildings as well as the forest of the Rouge Valley where the zoo is located. The Toronto Zoo opened in 1974 and is home to more than 5000 animals, making it the third largest zoo in the world.
Preserve and Protect
A not for profit organization, the initial idea to exhibit and conserve not only on site but also in the wild is still the main focus for The Toronto Zoo. Conservation is always a work in progress and the zoo is no different. Often animals are off display and buildings are under construction. There is a large white board located at the zoo’s main gate that will list which areas are not open due to construction.
Soon visitors will be able watch the Polar Bears swim in an interactive ice cave. The expanded Tundra Biome with a larger Polar Bear habitat is projected to reopen by the end of 2009. Other animals new to the zoo will be wolverines and Arctic foxes.
Dan Ross, a zoo keeper who has worked at the zoo for the last ten years is anticipating the return of the Polar Bear.
“I miss the bears,” he says, “but there will be a new den area for shelter,” and a larger bear house means that Ross and the other keepers will have easier access for the care and feeding of the animals. He also adds that the timing will be great. A winter opening for the exhibit makes perfect sense.
Getting There
The Toronto Zoo is located in the east end of the city, north of Hwy 401 on Meadowvale Road. It’s open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm everyday (except December 25th) with extended hours during the summer. Although the Toronto Transit System (TTC) has a bus stop at the zoo’s front entrance, the ride from downtown will take at least 90 minutes. It’s much easier and faster to drive. Another winter plus is that parking is free until March 1, 2009.
Taking a day trip to the Toronto Zoo is a great winter activity and an Ontario destination that’s fun for the whole family.
Sources
The Toronto Zoo- 416-392-5929
Toronto Transit Commission- 416-393- 4636
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