Latest Updates
High Park Zoo Awarded $2.6M in Project Funding
April 13, 2021: Friends of High Park Zoo (FHPZ) is pleased to announce that, in partnership with the City of Toronto, $2.6 million in Government of Canada and Province of Ontario infrastructure funding has been secured for our $3.6 million High Park Recreational Trail Improvements project in High Park Zoo.
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Notice – Zoo Closure
March 8, 2021: We have been advised that while Toronto is in the Grey Zone the zoo will remain closed to visitors by Provincial Order due to COVID-19 precautions. The Zoo’s staff is on site to care for the animals. We will update this page as well as Facebook as additional information becomes available.
Update – Llama Pen Activities
In order to ensure that our visitors, volunteers, zookeepers and animals remain as safe as possible, we made the difficult decision to not operate the llama pen activities in 2020.
Unfortunately this decision will impact our 2020 fundraising by $30,000. We are raising funds to enhance the Zoo under a phased capital Master Plan. If you are in a position to do so, please consider making a donation here.
Thank you and stay safe!
FHPZ
ABOUT FHPZ
Friends of High Park Zoo (FHPZ) was formed in 2012 to raise the necessary funds to ensure that the Zoo remained open in the wake of City budget cuts for the 2012 and 2013 operating years. With the City restoring operating funding in 2014, FHPZ now looks to raise sustainable funding from individuals, corporations and local businesses to enhance and sustain the Zoo.
FHPZ is still raising funds towards Phase 2 of our multi-phased Master Plan. This phase will include the removal of the asphalt roadway and concrete curbs, the installation of bioswales, rain gardens, raised beds, the planting of more trees and the expansion of the Bison enclosure.
FHPZ is a registered not-for-profit corporation created expressly to generate support for High Park Zoo. FHPZ accepts donations directly and through DonateTO (operated by the City of Toronto).
Please check our calendar frequently for a list of special events at the Zoo. The Zoo is open every day from 7:00 a.m. to dusk. The Llama Pen is open to the public on weekends and statutory holidays, weather permitting, allowing visitors to feed and pet the llamas from 12:00 p.m. (noon) to 2:00 p.m. beginning in April until the end of October.
Some little ones that arrived at the zoo! Help us select names for our newest Mouflon babies.
Thank you for naming the single lamb born on March 19! The selected name is Lupin – named after a native flower found in High Park.
PARTICIPATE
For information on how to make donations that will support High Park Zoo, please visit our donation page.
There are also Yellow Donation Boxes located in the Zoo.
ABOUT HIGH PARK ZOO
Established in the 1893 for deer, the Zoo’s animal paddocks have always been a popular attraction. Today, over 120 years later, the Zoo’s eleven paddocks are home to a variety of animal species from around the world including bison, llamas, peacocks, reindeer, highland cattle, emus and sheep.
HELP US OUT. JOIN US AS A VOLUNTEER.
Become a VolunteerLatest News
High Park Zoo Awarded $2.6M in Project Funding
● High Park Zoo project has been awarded $2.6 million in funding by the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) ● Project includes major infrastructure improvements at the Zoo ● Announced by the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Canada’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Arif Virani, Member of Parliament for Parkdale–High Park; [...]
ZOOVIEWS – Learn more about bison (live!) – June 5 at 1:00pm EST
ZOOVIEWS is Friends of High Park Zoo's live speaker series with the ability to ask questions of an expert! Join on Saturday, June 5 at 1:00pm EST, along with animal expert Helen Panter to learn more about bison. Have you ever heard about the free-roaming herd of Wood Bison making [...]
ZOOVIEWS – Learn more about capybaras (live!) – May 15 at 9:00am EST
ZOOVIEWS is Friends of High Park Zoo's live speaker series with the ability to ask questions of an expert! Join on Saturday, May 15 at 9:00am EST, along with animal expert Dr. Emilio A. Herrera Perez to learn more about capybaras. This talk will be about the capybara - its [...]
ZOOVIEWS – Learn more about animal-assisted intervention (live!) – May 1 at 1:00pm EST
ZOOVIEWS is Friends of High Park Zoo's live speaker series with the ability to ask questions of an expert! Join on Saturday, May 1 at 1:00pm EST, along with animal expert Dr. Taylor Chastain Griffin to learn more about llamas. This talk will be about the general effects of animal-assisted [...]
Thank You For Your Support!
During this unprecedented time, as the physical distance among us becomes greater, so too, does the importance of shared experience. When this is behind us, our work of inspiring connection, curiosity and new understanding will continue in earnest, as will our contributions to the fabric of our community. We thank you for your support and understanding, and ask that as individuals, families and communities, we continue to pull together.
