High Park Zoo now with baby Highland cows

Free admission gets you into the High Park Animal Display where the cutest new additions to join the zoo are a couple of West Highland Calves; MacDuff and Molly McMoo. The breed originally came from Scotland and has a double fur coat to help protect them from cold and insects. This is Canada's oldest animal display and one of the smaller ones, it's like a small street long, but it is also near the playground area so you can combine the visits if you have children.

One of the new babies gets some grooming

Toronto's website says, "The animals are out engaging with visitors regardless of the weather. Spring is a particularly exciting time at the animal display as many baby animals are born. Come and see our keepers interact with and feed the babies. Meet the newborns and watch them grow up!"

Free admission Open every day 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Animals: Barbary Sheep, Bison, Capybaras, Emus, Llamas, Mouflon Sheep, Peacocks, Reindeer, West Highlands Cattle and Yaks.

See more of the animals after the jump.

High Park Zoo Boo

Several different animals and birds are kept in the tiny zoo that leads down from the top of High Park near Grenadier Cafe along Deer Pen Road to the east. Admission to the High Park Zoo is free and it is open every day from 9am to 7pm.

The West Highland Cattle liked the soccer ball full of food

While there is not a lot of animals it is always fun to make a quick trip by the zoo to learn about the animals that are there and High Park is such a nice place to visit anyways. My current faves are the bison and the West Highland Cattle.

Some Barbary Sheep were enjoying the sun

On Sunday, October 20 there will be a Halloween-themed day of fun at the zoo called the High Park Zoo Boo. Come in a costume and you play games, make masks, enjoy a bouncy castle and the Llama Pen will be open for part of the day. The event runs from noon to 3pm - rain or shine.

Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat

Three polar bears are currently in the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat in Northern Ontario - Ganuk, Henry and Inukshuk. These bears are in the facility that cares for polar bears that require human assistance and the site includes a small lake that they swim and play in, although it is hard to see them as they are farther away.

Holding a watermelon. You can watch the tik tok video of the polar bear diving for a watermelon here.

They wander several different areas in the 24 acre facility including a pool area with windows into a viewing area where you can watch the staff throw watermelons into the water and have the bears jump into the pool to grab them. There is also an adjacent area with a window into the grassed area and you can avoid the double row of fences for better photos.

See more of the polar bear after the jump.

Boo at the Toronto Zoo coming soon

As Halloween approaches so to does the Toronto 'Boo at the Zoo' event happening on the last two weekends of October at the Toronto Zoo. Special rides on the BOOmobile will entertain with knowledge of the animals and you can also learn about some scary ghosts that haunt the zoo.

Mom and baby gorilla

Boo at the Zoo will bring kids in costumes to meet the many animals while taking in a ride on the zoomobile which has been made much scarier with the likes of the 'Zoo Kreeper'. It is a family friendly day at Canada's largest zoo. Children will also get to ride on the Conservation Carousel and meet 'Explorer Bear' the scare-bear. This might be one of the scariest animals at the zoo but never forget the worst animal at the zoo - the litterbug.

Our family just paid a visit to the Toronto Zoo on a damp Sunday in September and it was a great time to go as the crowds were down from the usual peak attendance during summer. Seats on the regular zoomobile were plentiful and the animal viewpoints weren't jammed to capacity, plus the animals weren't hiding from the hot sun. Keeping out of the rain was easier by taking more rides or waiting at the zoomobile stations.

Plenty of animals built of plastic highlight the amount of waste plastic found in the World's oceans

Photo Vault - African Lion Safari

It is great fun to go to the zoo and two of the best zoos are the Toronto Zoo and African Lion Safari. You can take a bus or drive through the zoo getting up close to lions, zebras and a whole lot of other animals. Don't forget about those damn monkies.

See some ferocious lions after the jump and no they aren't lazy lions - these guys are ready to chew your ass off in a moments notice.

Polar Bears at the Toronto Zoo

My daughter had gone on a recent trip to the Toronto Zoo and watched the Polar Bears play in their new habitat - here are some of Erin's pictures. On Fathers Day the polar bears remind me of dads. The play jokes on each other, have fun and then do some snoozin - toss in some brews and they would definitely qualify to be dads. The way they are stretched out you could tell they would like some shorts and socks with sandals.

Photo Vault - Toronto Zoo

Every couple of years I get a hankering to visit the Toronto Zoo. I missed the Polar Bears the last time as the zoo was rebuilding their pool and they moved them to some other town during construction. The Toronto Zoo is open every day except for Christmas so check out their hours and drop by. During March Break you can see the new baby Gorilla.

A visit to the zoo is a full day experience as the property is immense - it is one of the largest zoos in the world, and it is a good idea to get tickets to their shuttle the zoomobile, it makes the journey a little easier. During the hot summer days a lot of the animals hide away from the sun and get some serious sleep time so spring and fall are some of the best times to visit.

It costs $21 for the entrance fee, $10 for parking, $7 for the zoomobile and a small mortgage if you take the family.






And don't forget the zoo right in the heart of Toronto - the High Park Zoo. You can see some more of my pictures in a previous post.

High Park Holiday

It was a busy day in the jewel of Toronto's park system - High Park. The sunny start of our 4 day Easter Weekend brought many out to enjoy the attractions of this park which includes nature trails, leash free dog zones and a wide variety of animals in the small zoo.

The park is a perfect place to take the family for a full day of free fun - if you can get parking. The leash free area is full of dozens of dogs sniffing butts and chasing each other while their owners get to know each other. After looking at the dogs and the zoo you can head over to the children's play area full of wooden castles and swings.






It's definitely a park like no other.