Review the Toronto Zoo — Put Animal Welfare First
The Issue
We are asking Toronto to investigate before committing hundreds of millions more to the Zoo's future.
We are calling on the City of Toronto to commission an independent, transparent review of the Toronto Zoo and its future as a public animal-exhibition facility.
If that review determines that continued operation is not in the best interests of the animals or the public, we ask Toronto to develop a phased, humane closure plan and transition animals to appropriate sanctuaries, conservation programs, retirement facilities, or other suitable placements.
This petition is not an accusation against individual Zoo employees, veterinarians or animal-care professionals. It is a request for independent scrutiny of an important public institution and its long-term direction.
WHY NOW?
The Toronto Zoo is a major public institution.
In 2024, it recorded approximately 1.36 million visitors. The City's 2026 budget targets approximately 1.395 million visitors.
The Zoo is clearly valued by many people.
But popularity should not prevent Toronto from asking difficult questions about animal welfare, safety, public spending, conservation, and whether there are better alternatives for the future.
RECENT ANIMAL DEATHS DESERVE SERIOUS REVIEW
Several significant animal deaths and incidents have occurred in recent years.
Matu — Masai giraffe
On July 25, 2024, two-year-old Masai giraffe Matu died while under general anesthesia during a castration procedure.
The Toronto Zoo stated that general anesthesia carries risks, particularly for large vertebrates, and announced that a necropsy would be conducted.
We are not claiming that Matu's death was caused by negligence.
We are asking whether the risks involved in keeping and medically managing large animals in captivity should be independently examined.
Bucky — Sulawesi babirusa
On February 22, 2025, 17-year-old Bucky sustained a fatal injury after gaining access to a space occupied by a male rhinoceros.
The Toronto Zoo stated that its early investigation indicated that human error played a role and that a full investigation had been launched.
This raises legitimate questions about access controls, procedures, staff training and safeguards designed to prevent potentially catastrophic incidents.
Kiko — Masai giraffe
On January 1, 2026, 13-year-old Kiko became caught in an opening door while being given access to an additional area of his behind-the-scenes habitat.
The Zoo reported that Kiko panicked, sustained fatal injuries and was sent to the University of Guelph for a postmortem. The Zoo also initiated an investigation through its Health and Safety Services team.
Again, we are not alleging negligence.
But another serious incident involving a large animal and habitat-management infrastructure deserves public scrutiny.
THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT IS SUBSTANTIAL
Toronto's 2026 budget provides the Zoo with:
$75.836 million in gross operating expenditures
$62.608 million in operating revenue
$13.228 million in net operating expenditures
463 approved operating positions
The City's 2026–2035 capital plan for the Toronto Zoo totals approximately $315.9 million.
According to the City's budget document, this includes approximately:
$315.9 million in gross capital expenditures
$243.9 million in debt financing
$72.0 million from other sources
These are significant long-term public commitments.
We are not saying that every dollar spent on the Zoo is unnecessary.
We are asking a straightforward public-policy question:
Before Toronto commits hundreds of millions more to the Zoo, shouldn't residents have an independent assessment of whether continuing this model is the best option?
CONSERVATION MATTERS — BUT SO DOES HOW WE ACHIEVE IT
The Toronto Zoo conducts conservation breeding, research, education and reintroduction programs.
Those efforts deserve consideration.
The Zoo's own budget identifies conservation breeding and reintroduction, conservation science research and education among its services.
The question is whether all of these objectives require a large public zoo in which animals are maintained for public exhibition.
An independent review should compare the current model with alternatives, including:
Conservation programs in the wild
Habitat protection
Species-recovery programs
Wildlife rehabilitation
Reputable sanctuaries
Retirement facilities
Indigenous-led conservation initiatives
Other evidence-based conservation approaches
We should preserve conservation programs that demonstrably benefit wildlife.
But we should also be willing to ask whether some resources could achieve greater conservation impact elsewhere.
TORONTO HAS DONE THIS BEFORE
This would not be the first time Toronto City Council has intervened in decisions concerning animals at the Zoo.
In October 2011, City Council formally directed the Toronto Zoo Board to arrange the transfer of elephants Iringa, Toka and Thika to the Performing Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in California, including transfer of legal ownership and arrangements for safe and humane transportation.
That decision demonstrates that Toronto has previously considered the future of individual Zoo animals at the City Council level.
We believe Toronto can have that conversation again.
WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANIMALS TO BE ABANDONED
Closing a zoo responsibly cannot happen overnight.
We are not asking for captive animals to be released into the wild.
We are asking for a professional, carefully planned transition.
Each animal should be assessed individually.
Where relocation is appropriate and safe, animals should be considered for reputable sanctuaries, conservation facilities, retirement facilities or other suitable institutions.
Animals whose age, health, behaviour or other circumstances make relocation inappropriate should remain where qualified professionals determine they can receive the best possible care.
The welfare of every individual animal must come first.
OUR DEMANDS
We call on Toronto City Council and the Toronto Zoo Board of Management to:
1. COMMISSION AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW
Conduct an independent review of the Toronto Zoo's continued operation, examining:
Animal welfare
Serious animal incidents and deaths
Habitat and enclosure safety
Veterinary and emergency procedures
Staff training and safety procedures
Operating finances
Capital spending
Public funding
Conservation outcomes
Attendance
Alternatives to animal exhibition
The feasibility, cost and consequences of a phased closure
2. MAKE THE RESULTS PUBLIC
Publish the complete review, including its evidence, methodology, findings and recommendations.
3. EXAMINE MAJOR FUTURE CAPITAL COMMITMENTS
Before committing Toronto to further major long-term investments, assess whether those investments remain justified in light of the independent review.
4. EXAMINE ALTERNATIVES TO CAPTIVITY
Determine whether conservation, education and species-recovery objectives could be achieved through approaches that reduce or eliminate the need to keep animals for public exhibition.
5. DEVELOP A HUMANE CLOSURE PLAN IF WARRANTED
If the independent review concludes that closure is appropriate, develop a phased closure plan that prioritizes the welfare of every animal.
6. GIVE TORONTO RESIDENTS A MEANINGFUL VOICE
Hold public consultations involving residents, veterinarians, animal-welfare experts, conservation scientists, Indigenous communities, sanctuary representatives and other relevant experts.
THIS PETITION IS ABOUT ASKING THE QUESTION
The Toronto Zoo has operated for decades.
It has conservation programs.
It attracts more than a million visitors.
Its employees and animal-care professionals work with animals every day.
None of those facts means Toronto should stop asking whether the institution's current model is the best one for the future.
The City is making substantial long-term financial commitments. Animals continue to live in captivity. Serious incidents have occurred. And the City is planning the Zoo's future for decades to come.
Before that future is locked in, Toronto residents deserve an independent examination of the alternatives.
If an independent review determines that the current model is the best option for animal welfare, conservation and the public interest, let the evidence demonstrate that.
If the evidence supports a different future, Toronto should be prepared to change course.
SIGN THIS PETITION
Ask Toronto City Council to:
✔ Independently review the future of the Toronto Zoo
✔ Put animal welfare at the centre of the decision
✔ Examine the use of public funds
✔ Investigate alternatives to animal exhibition
✔ And, if warranted, create a humane pathway toward closure
For the animals.
For responsible conservation.
For transparency.
For Toronto.
Links:
1. Matu — giraffe death, July 2024
https://www.torontozoo.com/mediaroom/press2024/20240725
2. Bucky — babirusa death, February 2025
https://www.torontozoo.com/mediaroom/press2025/20250223
3. Kiko — giraffe death, January 2026
https://www.torontozoo.com/mediaroom/press2026/20260102-kiko
4. Toronto Zoo 2026 Budget — operating & capital finances
https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/8f83-2026-Public-Book-Zoo-V1.pdf
5. Toronto City Council — 2026 Budget Decision
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/report.do?meeting=2026.CC38&type=decisions&
6. Toronto City Council — 2011 Elephant Transfer Decision
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2011.MM13.9&
7. Toronto Zoo 2026–2035 Capital Plan detail
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-261739.pdf
8. Toronto Zoo 2026 Budget Notes
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-261738.pdf
57
The Issue
We are asking Toronto to investigate before committing hundreds of millions more to the Zoo's future.
We are calling on the City of Toronto to commission an independent, transparent review of the Toronto Zoo and its future as a public animal-exhibition facility.
If that review determines that continued operation is not in the best interests of the animals or the public, we ask Toronto to develop a phased, humane closure plan and transition animals to appropriate sanctuaries, conservation programs, retirement facilities, or other suitable placements.
This petition is not an accusation against individual Zoo employees, veterinarians or animal-care professionals. It is a request for independent scrutiny of an important public institution and its long-term direction.
WHY NOW?
The Toronto Zoo is a major public institution.
In 2024, it recorded approximately 1.36 million visitors. The City's 2026 budget targets approximately 1.395 million visitors.
The Zoo is clearly valued by many people.
But popularity should not prevent Toronto from asking difficult questions about animal welfare, safety, public spending, conservation, and whether there are better alternatives for the future.
RECENT ANIMAL DEATHS DESERVE SERIOUS REVIEW
Several significant animal deaths and incidents have occurred in recent years.
Matu — Masai giraffe
On July 25, 2024, two-year-old Masai giraffe Matu died while under general anesthesia during a castration procedure.
The Toronto Zoo stated that general anesthesia carries risks, particularly for large vertebrates, and announced that a necropsy would be conducted.
We are not claiming that Matu's death was caused by negligence.
We are asking whether the risks involved in keeping and medically managing large animals in captivity should be independently examined.
Bucky — Sulawesi babirusa
On February 22, 2025, 17-year-old Bucky sustained a fatal injury after gaining access to a space occupied by a male rhinoceros.
The Toronto Zoo stated that its early investigation indicated that human error played a role and that a full investigation had been launched.
This raises legitimate questions about access controls, procedures, staff training and safeguards designed to prevent potentially catastrophic incidents.
Kiko — Masai giraffe
On January 1, 2026, 13-year-old Kiko became caught in an opening door while being given access to an additional area of his behind-the-scenes habitat.
The Zoo reported that Kiko panicked, sustained fatal injuries and was sent to the University of Guelph for a postmortem. The Zoo also initiated an investigation through its Health and Safety Services team.
Again, we are not alleging negligence.
But another serious incident involving a large animal and habitat-management infrastructure deserves public scrutiny.
THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT IS SUBSTANTIAL
Toronto's 2026 budget provides the Zoo with:
$75.836 million in gross operating expenditures
$62.608 million in operating revenue
$13.228 million in net operating expenditures
463 approved operating positions
The City's 2026–2035 capital plan for the Toronto Zoo totals approximately $315.9 million.
According to the City's budget document, this includes approximately:
$315.9 million in gross capital expenditures
$243.9 million in debt financing
$72.0 million from other sources
These are significant long-term public commitments.
We are not saying that every dollar spent on the Zoo is unnecessary.
We are asking a straightforward public-policy question:
Before Toronto commits hundreds of millions more to the Zoo, shouldn't residents have an independent assessment of whether continuing this model is the best option?
CONSERVATION MATTERS — BUT SO DOES HOW WE ACHIEVE IT
The Toronto Zoo conducts conservation breeding, research, education and reintroduction programs.
Those efforts deserve consideration.
The Zoo's own budget identifies conservation breeding and reintroduction, conservation science research and education among its services.
The question is whether all of these objectives require a large public zoo in which animals are maintained for public exhibition.
An independent review should compare the current model with alternatives, including:
Conservation programs in the wild
Habitat protection
Species-recovery programs
Wildlife rehabilitation
Reputable sanctuaries
Retirement facilities
Indigenous-led conservation initiatives
Other evidence-based conservation approaches
We should preserve conservation programs that demonstrably benefit wildlife.
But we should also be willing to ask whether some resources could achieve greater conservation impact elsewhere.
TORONTO HAS DONE THIS BEFORE
This would not be the first time Toronto City Council has intervened in decisions concerning animals at the Zoo.
In October 2011, City Council formally directed the Toronto Zoo Board to arrange the transfer of elephants Iringa, Toka and Thika to the Performing Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in California, including transfer of legal ownership and arrangements for safe and humane transportation.
That decision demonstrates that Toronto has previously considered the future of individual Zoo animals at the City Council level.
We believe Toronto can have that conversation again.
WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANIMALS TO BE ABANDONED
Closing a zoo responsibly cannot happen overnight.
We are not asking for captive animals to be released into the wild.
We are asking for a professional, carefully planned transition.
Each animal should be assessed individually.
Where relocation is appropriate and safe, animals should be considered for reputable sanctuaries, conservation facilities, retirement facilities or other suitable institutions.
Animals whose age, health, behaviour or other circumstances make relocation inappropriate should remain where qualified professionals determine they can receive the best possible care.
The welfare of every individual animal must come first.
OUR DEMANDS
We call on Toronto City Council and the Toronto Zoo Board of Management to:
1. COMMISSION AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW
Conduct an independent review of the Toronto Zoo's continued operation, examining:
Animal welfare
Serious animal incidents and deaths
Habitat and enclosure safety
Veterinary and emergency procedures
Staff training and safety procedures
Operating finances
Capital spending
Public funding
Conservation outcomes
Attendance
Alternatives to animal exhibition
The feasibility, cost and consequences of a phased closure
2. MAKE THE RESULTS PUBLIC
Publish the complete review, including its evidence, methodology, findings and recommendations.
3. EXAMINE MAJOR FUTURE CAPITAL COMMITMENTS
Before committing Toronto to further major long-term investments, assess whether those investments remain justified in light of the independent review.
4. EXAMINE ALTERNATIVES TO CAPTIVITY
Determine whether conservation, education and species-recovery objectives could be achieved through approaches that reduce or eliminate the need to keep animals for public exhibition.
5. DEVELOP A HUMANE CLOSURE PLAN IF WARRANTED
If the independent review concludes that closure is appropriate, develop a phased closure plan that prioritizes the welfare of every animal.
6. GIVE TORONTO RESIDENTS A MEANINGFUL VOICE
Hold public consultations involving residents, veterinarians, animal-welfare experts, conservation scientists, Indigenous communities, sanctuary representatives and other relevant experts.
THIS PETITION IS ABOUT ASKING THE QUESTION
The Toronto Zoo has operated for decades.
It has conservation programs.
It attracts more than a million visitors.
Its employees and animal-care professionals work with animals every day.
None of those facts means Toronto should stop asking whether the institution's current model is the best one for the future.
The City is making substantial long-term financial commitments. Animals continue to live in captivity. Serious incidents have occurred. And the City is planning the Zoo's future for decades to come.
Before that future is locked in, Toronto residents deserve an independent examination of the alternatives.
If an independent review determines that the current model is the best option for animal welfare, conservation and the public interest, let the evidence demonstrate that.
If the evidence supports a different future, Toronto should be prepared to change course.
SIGN THIS PETITION
Ask Toronto City Council to:
✔ Independently review the future of the Toronto Zoo
✔ Put animal welfare at the centre of the decision
✔ Examine the use of public funds
✔ Investigate alternatives to animal exhibition
✔ And, if warranted, create a humane pathway toward closure
For the animals.
For responsible conservation.
For transparency.
For Toronto.
Links:
1. Matu — giraffe death, July 2024
https://www.torontozoo.com/mediaroom/press2024/20240725
2. Bucky — babirusa death, February 2025
https://www.torontozoo.com/mediaroom/press2025/20250223
3. Kiko — giraffe death, January 2026
https://www.torontozoo.com/mediaroom/press2026/20260102-kiko
4. Toronto Zoo 2026 Budget — operating & capital finances
https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/8f83-2026-Public-Book-Zoo-V1.pdf
5. Toronto City Council — 2026 Budget Decision
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/report.do?meeting=2026.CC38&type=decisions&
6. Toronto City Council — 2011 Elephant Transfer Decision
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2011.MM13.9&
7. Toronto Zoo 2026–2035 Capital Plan detail
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-261739.pdf
8. Toronto Zoo 2026 Budget Notes
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-261738.pdf
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Petition created on October 4, 2026