City
Lauren O'Neil
Posted on March 21, 2020
Report Inaccuracy
toronto zoo coronavirus

Here's what Toronto Zoo animals have been getting up to during the coronavirus lockdown

City
Lauren O'Neil
Posted on March 21, 2020
Report Inaccuracy
Latest Videos

Toronto's award-winning zoo, like every other major attraction in the city, is currently closed under provincial orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amidst a global pandemic outbreak.

An absence of visitors doesn't mean the zoo has been quiet, however — far from it.

Animal caretakers are still working full-time to feed, nurture and enrich the lives of the more than 5,000 creatures who inhabit the sprawling Scarborough site.

With no civilian humans around, they've actually been able to let some zoo residents explore in ways they were previously unable to, much like the now-famous Shedd Aquarium pengiuns who recently went on an adorable "field trip" inside the Chicago facility.

The zoo first announced that it would be closing due to concerns about the 2019 novel coronavirus on March 13. The closure went into effect on Saturday.

"During this closure, Zoo staff will still be on-site to ensure the health and welfare of the 5,000 animals in our care," wrote the zoo in an announcement on Facebook.

"Full refunds will be issued for camps, corporate events, Terra Lumina ticket holders, and other paid event programming during this time."

What the zoo didn't reveal at the time was that it would be offering live, free educational programming on Facebook throughout the course of its shut down — each segment taking place at 1 p.m in a different part of the facility.

From polar bear training sessions...

To live interactive chats about endangered toads...

The zoo has been pumping out a steady stream of education and entertaining content for fans since it closed down to the public.

In addition to the Facebook Live broadcasts, zoo officials have also been active on TikTok — and needless to say, they're posting fire animal content.

Using the hashtag #ClosedButCaring, zoo workers have also been providing fans with more behind-the-scenes animal caretaking content than usual.

Today, they showed off a raven named Bran who can play Connect Four as well, if not better, than most humans.

This undefined period of social distancing may suck, in many ways, for people, but we can always count on the animal kingdom to brighten our days as usual.

Always.

Lead photo by

The Toronto Zoo
Latest Videos

Latest Videos

Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Ontario to start discouraging employers from asking for doctors' notes to prove illness

Secret walled-off staircase is all that remains of long-lost Toronto train station

Toronto's most cursed intersection appears to finally finish years-long construction

Ontario temperatures about to spike and it will feel like 30 degrees this weekend

Shocking video shows another brazen robbery at Toronto jewellery store

Ontario is about to change the speed limits on some major highways

Self-replicating predatory 'water fleas' are taking over Ontario lakes

TTC will shut down a large stretch of subway this weekend