Adjusted Hours and Impacts

Penguin Plunge: The indoor Penguin Plunge habitat will be closed from Monday, November 3rd through to the end of day on Thursday, November 6th, to accommodate upgrades to the cooling system.

Rainforest Building: The Rainforest Building will open at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 4th, to give our western lowland gorilla troop the space, comfort, and privacy they need as they meet their newest member, ‘Johari’.

Prehistoric Park Seasonal Closure: Prehistoric Park will be closed for the season from October 27th, 2025, pending favorable weather conditions.

Animal Viewing Impacts:

PETRONAS Gateway to Asia Malayan Tapir Viewing: ‘Sempurna’ and her calf will have daily access to the main indoor habitat from 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. They’ll also have access to their behind-the-scenes space and may choose to spend time there, especially when the calf is nursing, so viewing isn’t always guaranteed. Thank you for your understanding.

Protecting our Birds: Viewing Updates Effective October 21
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in close proximity to the zoo. The health and well-being of the animals in our care remains our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution, we’re proactively implementing the following measures to protect our avian species:

The Rainforest Aviary and the Jihad Shibley Rocky Mountain Aviary are closed;
All birds have been moved indoors, where possible, and may not be viewable (including Chilean flamingoes, ostrich, African grey-crowned cranes, greater rheas, whooping crane, red-crowned cranes, Dalmatian pelicans, and peacocks); and
The indoor habitat at Penguin Plunge remains open with increased pathway disinfection and disinfectant mats at the entrance.

By limiting access to our beloved birds, we’re helping to protect them from potential contamination from outside the zoo. Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we work to keep the animals we all care about safe.

Exploration Asia
The Exploration Asia Redevelopment project is officially underway! While there are some viewing impacts in the area, you can still visit many of your favourite species.

Species Viewable: Bactrian camels, Komodo dragons, white-handed gibbons, Malayan tapirs, red-crowned cranes, Turkmenian markhors, Amur tigers, wild boar, and Pallas’s cats. Plus, our Dalmatian pelicans can be found in their temporary home at Land of Lemurs!
Species Not Viewable: Snow leopards and red pandas have been relocated during construction, but don’t worry – these beloved species will be back in 2026.

West Gate Closure

Due to significant construction activities in and around Exploration Asia, the zoo’s West Gate will remain closed for the 2025 season and is expected to remain closed until at least 2028/2029. This necessary step supports the safe movement of visitors while we undertake exciting improvements to animal habitats and visitor experiences.

In School Program

Biology 30: Population and Community Dynamics

Conservation is the primary focus, drawing on important concepts such as biological and genetic diversity to better understand this complicated process. While observing some of our animals, students will discuss key terms and explore population management strategies. The students will examine the many challenges we face in conservation work by reflecting on the question “What role can society play in maintaining wildlife populations?” and apply what they have learned in class to finding solutions.

Grade: 12
Length: 3 hours
Availability: Mondays, December to February
Capacity: Up to 37 students
Cost: $365 (1 program)

Curricular Connections:

Explain the basic rules and processes associated with the transmission of genetic characteristics
Explain classical genetics at the molecular level
Describe a community as a composite of populations in which individuals contribute to a gene pool that can change over time
Explain the interaction of individuals in a population with one another and with members of other populations
Explain, in quantitative terms, the change in populations over time

In School Program Information and FAQ

Biology 30: Population and Community Dynamics

Curricular Connections:

Categories

Related Programs

Bear Necessities

Biodiversity