May 22, 2012

Can zoo shake monkey off its back?

What should the new path be for T.O.’s maligned menagerie?

With John Tracogna preparing to step in this month as the Toronto Zoo’s first new chief executive in 24 years, we ask some local experts from different fields about the direction the new alpha male should take to restore order to the wild kingdom.

Rob Laidlaw, executive director, Zoocheck Canada

Splash parks, concerts, touch tanks, animal rides and expensive — but deficient — new exhibits, like Tundra Trek show the Toronto Zoo has lost its way. Past innovations have given way to dullness, mediocrity and an entertainment focus. The zoo needs a new vision and a new direction. A greatly reduced live collection, fewer exotics, bigger spaces, better animal welfare and a different philosophy are desperately needed.

Nelda Rodger, editor, Azure

The zoo represents a great opportunity to develop a protective space for urbanized species... the occasional beaver and the stray deer among us. As our species continues to crowd out the others, it becomes imperative to designate and design spaces within urban boundaries that provide a safe habitat for indigenous animals.

Dave Meslin, community advocate

The Toronto Zoo should play a major role in connecting visitors with organizations who are protecting natural habitats across the world. Each exhibit should not only include information about habitat destruction and endangered status, but also a rack of informational brochures about non-profit groups who are advocating for wildlife protection and against climate change. This way, a trip to the zoo opens the door to community engagement rather than just being a spectator experience.

Charles Pachter, artist

They should build a Raccoon World. Round up all the raccoons in downtown Toronto and send them to the zoo in Scarborough. Provide them with a thousand green bins full of trash and food leftovers, which they can open at leisure while the public watches. And the zoo should be closer to Toronto, perhaps the one in High Park should be enlarged. More moose!

 

This article appears in the April 2010 issue of Post City Magazines

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