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Inside the Wildlife Health & Science Centre

Clinical Spaces
Modern treatment, surgical, and laboratory areas enhance our capacity to care for animals of all sizes. Outfitted with digital X-rays, ultrasounds, and specialized equipment, these spaces allow for efficient diagnosis, recovery, and high-precision procedures.

Veterinary Team Facilities
Thoughtfully designed workspaces give our veterinary team the room and resources they need to collaborate and innovate—whether responding to an emergency or advancing a new research initiative.

 

Viewing Gallery
Get a front-row look into real-time animal care. Through protective glass, visitors can observe diagnostics, treatments, lab work, and surgical procedures carried out by our expert team.

 

Wildlife Holding
Thirty dedicated holding areas accommodate animals of various sizes and needs. Each one is designed to provide privacy, reduce stress, and support post-operative recovery, complete with access to outdoor spaces.

 

Reproductive Science
Our labs support assisted reproduction, hormone analysis, and species recovery efforts. The Centre houses Canada’s only full-time zoo Reproductive Physiologist and a biobank storing genetic material from over 50 endangered species.

 

Preventative Medicine
From regular health checks and bloodwork to diagnostic imaging and neonatal care, our focus on prevention reduces illness and improves outcomes. Many animals are trained to participate voluntarily, making care more comfortable and effective.

 

Wildlife Nutrition
With two full-time zoo nutritionists on staff, the Centre supports individualized diets tailored by species, season, and life stage. Our Food Production and Nutrition Research Units work together to support health from the inside out.

 

Conservation Breeding
The Centre powers breeding programs for species like the black-footed ferret, wood bison, and Blanding’s turtle—combining field-tested techniques with lab-based expertise to safeguard endangered populations.

 

Field & Agency Collaboration
We work closely with conservation authorities to raise, rehabilitate, and reintroduce wildlife. These partnerships expand our reach and make the Centre a critical link between in-zoo care and field-based recovery.

 

Academic Partnerships
University and college students, interns, and visiting researchers contribute to and learn from our ongoing projects. These collaborations extend our impact and nurture the next generation of wildlife professionals.

 

Educational Access
Private guided tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at animal care and conservation in action, providing a rare and meaningful learning experience for guests of all ages.

 

Our Donors & Partners

Donors

The Toronto Zoo would like to acknowledge The Estate of Mary Millard, who generously supported $2 million dollars for the Windows On Wildlife Science Gallery.

The Toronto Zoo would like to acknowledge Pizza Pizza Limited, who has proudly supported Surgery in the Wildlife Health Centre with a contribution of $250 thousand dollars.

The Toronto Zoo would like to acknowledge the Barrick Gold Corporation, who has generously supported the Wildlife Health Centre’s Amphibian Rescue Centre (ARC) and Wetland Conservation Programming with a donation of $215 thousand dollars.

Community Partners

The Toronto Zoo would like to acknowledge the generosity of our Founding Donors for the establishment of a new fund to support endangered species native to China.

• Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto
• Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto
• RBC Royal Bank
• Compass Group Canada Ltd.
• Balmoral Multicultural Marketing
• Distinct Infrastructure Group
• FedEx Canada
• Holliswealth/Mr. Chris Li, Ms. Anna Dai, Ms. Angela Ye
• Phoenix Financial Inc.
• University of Toronto Scarborough

The funds were raised at an event hosted at the Toronto Zoo on October 15, 2016 to celebrate the first birthday of Jia Panpan (Canadian Hope) and Jia Yueyue (Canadian Joy), the first giant panda cubs born in Canada.

Wildlife Health Science & Research Partners

The Toronto Zoo’s Wildlife Health Centre Team is proud to work with the following partners on saving and protecting species:

• American College of Zoological Medicine
• Animal Eye Clinic of Waterloo Region*
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums
• Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums
• Canadian Council on Animal Care
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative
• Canadian Wildlife Service
• European College of Zoological Medicine
• Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
• Parks Canada
• The Scarborough Hospital*
• The Hospital for Sick Children*
• Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital*
• University of Guelph
  • Ontario Agricultural College
  • Ontario Veterinary College*
• University of Toronto
• Veterinary Emergency Clinic*
• York University


• *assist with medical service

Reproductive Program & Research Partners

Our work is enriched by collaboration with veterinary hospitals, government agencies, and universities across Canada and around the world. Key partners include:

• Dalhousie University
• Laurentian University
• McMaster University
• Parks Canada
• Trent University
• University of Calgary
• University of Guelph
• Université Laval
• University of Manitoba
• Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
• University of Saskatchewan

Wildlife Nutrition Centre Program & Research Partners

• Canadian Forest Service
• Nutrition Advisory Group (AZA)
• Parks Canada
• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
• University of Guelph
• University of Toronto
• University of Western Ontario
• York University