Toronto Zoo seeks donations to help feed animals

The Toronto Zoo has launched the second phase of its Zoo Food for Life campaign to help cover the cost of thousands of mouths to feed.

Toronto Zoo CEO Dolf DeJong said revenue from parking fees is traditionally used to pay animal food costs, but that source of funding dried up with the first lockdown last March.

The zoo was able to raise about $750,000 last year to help with the $100,000-amonth bill of feeding 4,000plus animals their 430 kinds of diets, he said.

“We’re so grateful for that community support,” DeJong said. “So new year, new closure, same appetite.”

Donations can be made at torontozoo.com

January is usually a slow month for zoo attendance with losses made up during March Break and in the spring and summer months, he said.

A popular drive-thru program was introduced but even that is shut down now, he said.

The animals still need food and onsite staff to care for them, and the zoo is offering online educational opportunities, he said.

The zoo also stores cryogenically frozen animal genetic material, he said.

“When populations, when they do crash, we’re going to have sperm, eggs, viable tissue, embryos in storage to help bring those populations back,” DeJong said. “We’re now providing that insurance policy for our community, as well.”

Important conservation breeding efforts have continued through the lockdowns, like a program that introduces at least 50 Blanding’s Turtles to the Rouge Park area every year, he said.

“They can’t afford a holiday — these animals need all the help they can get to maintain any foothold on the planet, so we’ve been able to protect those thus far thanks to our amazing staff and community support,” DeJong said. “And the scary part is, I think, the pandemic shone the light on we need to be doing more of that work, not less.”