TORONTO, ON, Friday, September 30, 2016 - The Toronto Zoo is sad to announce the recent death of three wood bison (two females and one male). The bison were found this morning in a holding area of the outdoor exhibit. This area is not accessible to the public.
Staff are saddened by this rare and unfortunate occurrence and as a result the Zoo has initiated a review to determine the events that led to the deaths. The three bison have been sent to the University of Guelph for a postmortem. The Toronto Zoo currently has 20 wood bison in the conservation program.
At this time there are no additional details.
The Toronto Zoo has been involved in a wood bison conservation program for more than 40 years. This conservation program started in the 1970s with wood bison recovery which led to re-introductions in the 1980s and 90s. In 2007, the Zoo joined the Wood Bison Reproduction Research Group, a network that includes the University of Saskatchewan, University of Calgary, Calgary Zoo, Government of Northwest Terrritories, and Parks Canada to accelerate the development and application of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Each of these members brought their own specialties to the group: animal facilities, equipment, technical expertise, critical thinking and access to disease-free wood bison.
The wood bison population in Canada is estimated to be around 10,000 and they are currently classified as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
Contact: Jennifer Tracey 416-669-7074.
The Toronto Zoo is Canada’s premier zoo and a national leader in saving wildlife to ensure the rich diversity of nature for future generations. More than a tourist attraction, the Toronto Zoo boasts a number of leading programs for helping wildlife and their natural habitats – from species reintroduction to reproductive research. A world-class educational centre for people of all ages, the Toronto Zoo is open every day except December 25 and attracts approximately 1.3 million visitors each year.
Toronto Zoo is accredited by CAZA (Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums) and AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums). Look for these logos whenever you visit a Canadian zoo as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. For more information, visit caza.ca and aza.org
