WFL 17: Outreach And Discovery At The Toronto Zoo With Ashley Fell And Brendan Bonner
Release Date: 07/17/2019
Preventing the Vancouver Island Marmot form going extinct
Wild For Life
The Vancouver Island Marmot is designated Critically Endangered under the Canadian Species At Risk Act and the Toronto Zoo (and their partners) are making sure that the cute marmots increase in a population where they would be no longer considered endangered. Stacy Soh, zookeeper at the Toronto Zoo, joins me on the podcast to tell you why she loves the Vancouver Island Marmot so much and how the Zoo is trying to help increase its population. Stacey also talks about how she ended up working at the Toronto Zoo after leaving her home country of New Zealand and how she has an...
info_outline
The Black-Footed Ferret conservation program at the Toronto Zoo
Wild For Life
The Toronto Zoo is working to help protect the critically endangered Black-Footed Ferret from going extinct in the wild through a breeding program. Yeshy Beyersbergen joins me on the podcast to tell us about the program that raises the ferrets at the Zoo with the goal of releasing them into the wild to add to the population in North America. Yeshy describes the program and the criteria that each ferret must have before being released in the wild. She talks about the precautions that she and her colleagues have to take to keep the animals healthy and the number of new kits (babies) the...
info_outline
Why the Toronto Zoo is excited for the Jane Goodall Act
Wild For Life
The Jane Goodall Act will revolutionize animal welfare in institutions by revealing how accredited zoos, like the Toronto Zoo, prioritize animal welfare and conservation of their animals compared to roadside zoos and private owners of exotic animals such as big cats (tigers, lions, etc.), primates, and other animals that require trained zookeepers, veterinarians, and researchers that can care for the animals properly. I am joined by Dolf DeJong (CEO of the Toronto Zoo), Grant Furniss (CEO of the Assiniboine Park & Zoo), Dr. Clement Lanthier (CEO of the Calgary Zoo), and Marty...
info_outline
Find out about the new baby Sumatran orangutan at the Toronto Zoo
Wild For Life
Every time there is a new edition to the Toronto Zoo, the staff is very proud to speak about it. Today is no different. Amanda Caroll joins me on the podcast to discuss the journey to the birth of the new Sumatran orangutan at the Zoo. We discuss the pregnancy, birth, and how well Sekali (the mother) is taking care of her new bundle of joy.
info_outline
Protecting Turtles at the Toronto Zoo
Wild For Life
This episode is all about turtle conservation as every May 23rd we celebrate World Turtle Day. Donnell Gasbarrini joins me on the podcast to discuss the status of turtles around the world as well as the Toronto Zoo’s efforts to help protect turtles through their Adopt-A-Pond program (and app) and the Headstart program to help save the Blanding's turtle from going extinct. Donnell also provides some tips on how you can avoid running over turtles in the spring, summer, and fall when driving up to your cottages for some rest and relaxation.
info_outline
How the Toronto Zoo is Going Net Zero
Wild For Life
The Toronto Zoo has always been a conservation driven organization, where many of the initiatives started by the staff to reduce their impact on the surrounding environment and this is why I was not surprised when Kyla Greenham, Manager of Conservation and the Environment at the Zoo, told me about the release of their new program TZ Net0, a program where the total output of the Zoo will be zero. This program is not an easy one to pull off, but according to Kyla the staff have been the driving force behind many of the current accomplishments of the programs including reduce water...
info_outline
Studying the behaviour of Juno the polar bear
Wild For Life
Sophie De Vos joins me on the podcast to discuss her study on the behaviour of Juno, the polar bear, to ensure that the bear is doing well. Sophie is an undergraduate student from the Netherlands who flew over to the Toronto Zoo to study Juno on an overseas internship. Sophie recounts her journey from the Netherlands and how she is adapting to Canadian life. She also details the behaviour study and the type of behaviour patterns she is observing in Juno.
info_outline
The birth of a giraffe at The Toronto Zoo
Wild For Life
Jason Pootoolal, zookeeper, joins me once again on the podcast to talk about the new giraffe addition at your Toronto Zoo. Jason tells me the behind-the-scenes details of what it’s like to take care of a pregnant giraffe and how the baby is born. He also discusses what it’s like to take care of a newborn giraffe and how the birth of this newborn will help the conservation of these endangered giraffes in the wild one day.
info_outline
New Baby Cheetahs at The Toronto Zoo
Wild For Life
There are three new cheetah editions at your Toronto Zoo this year so you know I wanted to talk about these cute cubs in this episode. Keith Pickthorn, a zookeeper in the African Savannah area of your Zoo, joins us on this episode to discuss the pregnancy, birth, and rearing of the cute big cats. He talks about how zookeepers monitor the animals during the pregnancy and rearing period and what he looks forward to you seeing when the babies are introduced to their outdoor habitat.
info_outline
Immerse yourself at The Toronto Zoo with the new app, On Thin Ice
Wild For Life
I bet you didn’t think that The Toronto Zoo could get anymore interactive! Well, think again because the Zoo released a new app called “On Thin Ice” where you can play a virtual reality game on your phone at the Zoo in the Tundra area. The app is designed to teach you about Climate Change and how animals such as Polar Bears, Caribou, and Bowhead Whales are being affected by the consequences of climate change. Denise Hill-Fox and Dyann Powley join me on the podcast to discuss the various features of the app, including the virtual reality game, the See Your Impact section and...
info_outlineOne of the greatest things about a Zoo is to see how animals behave in an up close and personal environment. The Toronto Zoo produces daily shows that provide you with the opportunity to experience how their behaviours in the wild could be used to demonstrate conservation messages such as picking up litter and putting in the recycling bin.
I had the pleasure to sit down with Ashley Fell and Brendan Bonner, Zoo Keepers at the Toronto Zoo, this week to discuss how they work with the animals to show off their natural abilities. Ashley and Brendan discuss using positive reinforcement in the training as well as making calls as to whether the animals are feeling up for participating in the Wonders of Wildlife Show on a particular day. It’s a very interesting process.