Should the High Park Zoo Still Exist?
A small zoo has long been a feature of Toronto's High Park, but is it time to shut it down and send the animals back to their natural habitat?
That's certainly the verdict of one black-marker-armed visitor whose commentary I recently spotted on the sign (pictured above) in front of the llama cage. It's perhaps a reflection of the growing movement among the current generation of 20 and 30 somethings who believe that animals have an intrinsic right to live free in their natural habitat; and that the whole concept of zoos is therefore misguided.
It's a debate that obviously has two sides to the story - with many agreeing that a well run zoo does have a purpose beyond a mere entertainment and educational value. The primary benefit (and strongest argument for those in favour of zoos) is one of conservation - a mandate that the Toronto Zoo is very keen to communicate.
But looking closer at the High Park Zoo it's tough to rationalize that there's much in the way of conservation efforts going on here. None of the animals on display are anywhere close to nearing extinction, and some - including sheep, cattle, bison, peacocks and llamas are so common that it might surprise some visitors that they're even here.
The photos below are ones I took earlier this month. I have to say that in particular the bisons looked pretty unimpressed with the lack of room they have to roam.
Comments (22)
Some zoos do have an important conservation/education purpose, and many of the High Park zoo's animals are domesticated and effectively have no natural habitat. That being said, the HP zoo is a depressing eyesore and should be disbanded.
The land area currently occupied by this rather modest zoo would better serve a mandate of conservation by being restored to its natural state.
There is an argument to be made in favour of zoos for conservation and education, though I'm not entirely persauded, but I am clear this zoo meets neither of those goals, and children can go to Riverdale Farm to see farm animals and the Toronto Zoo to see other species.
This site has long since past its best before date.
The High Park Zoo is extremely depressing. The path is not well maintained, neither is the signage or even the pens the animals live in (pens, not environments) and the ostrich has worn several feet deep a tread into the ground by the fence. Time to get rid of it already.
I basically think zoos are fine. Humans have taken over the Earth, animals get to play second fiddle, and as long as the animals are well treated I have no problem with them.
That said, the High Park zoo is an eyesore. Perhaps a new facility could be designed, with a half-dozen secure enclosures, and the animals could be rotated from the Toronto Zoo. I.E., in May, there's a tiger. In June, there's a zebra. In July, there's a lion. Whatever. High Park humans would appreciate the variety. Toronto Zoo animals would probably appreciate a vacation.
I'm not sure animals crave vacations like we do. I know it takes house pets a while to adjust to new surroundings. I can imagine wild animals having a tough time with the rotation idea.
That said, I think (well-run) zoos are important in exposing people to the creatures that their actions could potentially affect. I think it's easier for people to be less destructive in their habits when they've first hand seen a baby Panda or Polar Bear, etc.
I'm pretty sure all those animals shown there are domesticated (including the Llama) for eating purposes and would otherwise be turned into Burgers were they not in that zoo.
An upgrade would be nice and I personally always find zoos depressing. But at least they're only farm animals.
When I was a kid, I lived a couple blocks from High Park. I was able to always visit the High Park Zoo. Because it was in my vicinity, it was worth a few minutes of my time to visit.
To visit the Metro Zoo, it can be an all day expedition to the far reaches of uncharted Scarborough.
I wish they could improve the High Park Zoo. I do hope that the animals are rotated with animals from the Metro Zoo.
Humans have taken over the EarthWould you care to elaborate? I wouldn't say that being (by some measures) the dominant species qualifies us as the conquerors of the Earth.
You could probably make just as convincing an argument that sea sponges have taken over the Earth.
Maybe you could dispense with some of the animals that aren't really well suited - llamas and ostriches perhaps.
But the goats aren't particularly demanding. I'd say they're fine to stay.
I grew up in Parkdale and the High Park Zoo was the biggest highlight of my childhood visits to the park. I still go and check out the animals every time I'm there. For an inner-city kid like myself, it was my only chance to see those animals - the yak was a family favourite. The Metro Zoo and Riverdale Farm were too far away. Freshen it up if needed, but I believe it needs to remain.
I grew up in Parkdale and the High Park Zoo was seriously lame. I didn't care that they had Zoo Animals in High Park. I didn't even remember until you brought up this story. I still go to High Park only for a quickie or a BBQ or a spark up every time I'm there.
For an inner-city punk like myself, I didn't care about these third rate zoo animals. The Metro Zoo and Riverdale Farm are probably classes above this - but of course I don't know where they are.
I guess you can freshen this "High Park Zoo" up a little bit, or else take it down, give these animals a real home, and make better use of the High Park definition.
Therefore Should the High Park Zoo Still Exist?
can be answered with High Park has a Zoo? .
No, humans have totally taken over the earth. You don't see anybody else with condos and ipods do you? I say if the llamas and porpoises and whatnot don't like it, they can either grow opposable thumbs or STFU.
Humans #1!!
The High Park Zoo need's to either be taken down, or get a severe overhaul. I've only been there once, and it was a rather depressing end to an otherwise nice day in the park.
Yeah we straggle by the zoo everytime we walk though HP and its pretty lame. The riverdale farm is far more interesting and hands on. I would rather pet a plain old cow than stare at a Himalyayn yak from 50 feet away behind a chain link fence.
Seeing that these are domesticated animals, why not turn the entire area into a naturalized grassland habitat and let the animals roam (provided they get along with each other) leaving park patrons to view from a farther distance.
I find the High Park zoo to be a nice attraction in an already wonderful park. Though it may be smaller than most, its maintenance team seems to provide well for the animals on all the occasions I've visited there has always been plenty of feed available as well as fresh water.
Perhaps we should be investing in more space for these domesticated animals but surely that would require funding.
Anyone suggesting that the Metro Toronto Zoo is a paradigm for animal happiness ought to watch "Zoo Diaries", the behind-the-scenes television documentary of the Toronto Zoo. The housing for the animals there is barbaric; small cells, cement floors - nothing close to their natural habitat.
Where are the animal advocates demanding better treatment for these exotic animals?
If they could pull off the kind of zoo that exist in Victoria BC - Beacon Hill Park - that would be beyond amazing.
The peacocks roam freely around there. It's hilarious.
I fear that the raccoons and coyotes and who knows what else roams in the night might put an end to that experiment, though.
Perhaps you can only pull that sort of thing off in downtown Victoria because it's on Vancouver Island...
[which leads to the amusing question: is there more "wild"/dangerous wildlife in Toronto than in Victoria???]
btw, just so no one gets the wrong idea, by "it's hilarious" I mean it's beyond awesome. But peacocks are very funny when they
1. stop traffic, or
2. pick a fight with a basketball.
It's not a zoo for conservation, it's for education and recreation. There are several children's tours that go through the zoo that are all about education. School teachers eagerly apply for the tour programs, as do the summer camps in High Park. They get a behind the scenes look at the zoo as they learn about the animals and their unique attributes, and what it takes to care for an animal. They also learn about respect for animals, and how people are not the only ones on the planet. Without animal education, these precious commodities would be moving to extinction at a greater rate. Zoos are a great tool to get people thinking about the natural world and what needs to be done to preserve it.
Although perhaps there should be tours for adults as well because I can see in several of the comments posted there are some discrepancies. Perhaps if you took the time to observe the animals, actually read the signs, and ask the zookeepers some questions, you would realize things like: there are no goats or ostriches, and that the peacocks only roam the grounds during the day and sleep safely in the trees or in their flights during the night. If you took the time, you might actually get an education, which it seems many of you need!
The animals may seem common to you, but in all honesty, when was the last time you saw a llama, barbary sheep, peacock or bison anywhere else but a zoo? They certainly aren't so common that people have them in their back yards.
The animals that are on display are not endangered because those animals are rare (hence the term endangered), and incredibly expensive to acquire and maintain. High Park Zoo is non profit, and the entry is free. And, just because an animal is not high up on the extinction list doesn't mean that it's not important, or that it cannot become endangered in the future.
And as for rotating animals from Toronto Zoo, first of all, the security at High Park is not that of Toronto Zoo. The zoo has to worry about dummies trying to get in as well as animals getting out. Even in the big zoos security can be an issue. Look at the tigers escaping in the zoo in California. And secondly, it takes a lot of work and incredible stress to both workers and the animals to move from one place to another. You can't just say, "Hey bison, get in that big, dark truck" and they comply. Animals have been known (livestock and exotic) to die during transportation due to stress. The less the animals move the better. And you also have to worry about disease and infections spreading, that's why there's a 3 month quarantine when new animals arrive at ANY zoo.
None of these animals were stolen from the wild ? they're all born and bred in zoos all over North America (as is the case with almost any zoo in the world). They have grown up in zoos and acclimated to zoos.
And as for the bison look unimpressed? They're bovines, not humans. They only have one expression on their face. Stop anthropomorphizing.
I know this is running on quite a bit, but I'm passionate about animal education and I think more people need to learn about animals.
And for those of you who think the zoo is depressing, boring, or an eyesore ? don't go back. Leave it for those of us who can appreciate it.
THERE SHOULD NOT BE ZOOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HATE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do you have any idea the amount of trauma animals go through when they are transported? Also think about the unnecessary use of tranquilizers. All for what?? The entertainment of selfish humans? Clearly that is not ideal.
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