Millions of dollars are sought from City coffers by the Zoo to expand a tiger exhibit and boardwalk.
The Toronto Zoo is seeking almost $5 million for an expansion of a tiger boardwalk to hopefully attract more visitors.
Some $4.8 million is being sought from the City to complete a tiger boardwalk and habitat at the zoo, which is one of the largest in the world.
“The Zoo is requesting that the City reallocate funding from other cost centres to support this additional work,” according to the Board of Management of the Toronto Zoo. “Reallocations will be from projects that are either under budget or have scope revisions resulting in budget variances.”
The tigers are a popular zoo attraction and they require a special diet and care.
The Board of Management last October authorized Facilities and Infrastructure officials to enter into an agreement for a Tiger Winter Accessibility, Tiger Boardwalk and Habitat Expansion project.
Zoo officials said the funds will allow them to expand the Zoo’s boardwalk system to connect a Core Woods Hill Boardwalk and the Tiger Boardwalk.
“This connection would improve guest flow and alleviate heavily congested areas during peak season,” according to a report.
It said the addition will provide guests ‘a unique canopy walk experience with a design that protects the environmentally sensitive area found at the core of our site.’
The Toronto Zoo is one of the largest in the world which attracts some 1.2 million visitors yearly.
The Board said a separate Africa Village project which was approved in 2024 requires an accessible and elevated washroom connected to the boardwalk.
A memorial was held at the Zoo in August last year after a beloved tiger named Mila, which was moved a Colorado Zoo, had to be administered with anesthesia after it fell from a bench and suffered spinal injuries.
The Toronto Zoo is situated in a 710 acre park that was opened in 1974 and ranks as one of the largest zoos in the world. It replaced the overcrowded and outdated municipal Toronto Zoo at Riverdale.
Among the tigers in captivity at the zoo includes Sumatran tigers Hari and Kemala, who share a space with Amur tiger roommate, Mazy.
The zoo attracts about 1.2 million guests each year.