Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo is a large zoological park in the eastern part of the City of Toronto, Ontario, occupying an extensive site in the Scarborough district. It opened in the 1970s and is organized around geographic regions that group animals by continent and habitat type.

Major areas include themed regions such as African Savanna, Indo-Malaya, Eurasia, Americas, Australasia, the Canadian Domain and a specialized Tundra Trek. The zoo contains both indoor pavilions and large outdoor enclosures and runs conservation, breeding and education programs.

Facilities include visitor services, interpretive displays and seasonal events; the site is spread out and most visitors plan several hours to see main exhibits. The zoo is accessible by car from Toronto and by public transit with further local connections to the park entrance.

Located in the eastern part of Toronto near the city’s outer ring and in proximity to provincial highways, the zoo serves as a major urban attraction for families, school groups and researchers.

• Size: The zoo occupies roughly 287 hectares and is one of the largest zoo sites in the world by land area, so expect extensive walking between exhibits.
• Collections and history: It opened in the 1970s and houses thousands of animals representing several hundred species across region-themed pavilions and outdoor enclosures.

What to See #

• African Savanna: African Savanna and African Lion exhibits featuring mixed-species habitats designed to represent East and West African ecosystems.
• Tundra Trek: Tundra Trek focusing on northern species such as polar bears, seals and Arctic birds in recreated cold-climate enclosures.
• Canadian Domain: Canadian Domain showcasing native Canadian mammals and birds in larger, more naturalistic enclosures.
• Global Regions: Indo-Malaya, Eurasia, Americas and Australasia zones presenting regional collections of mammals, birds and reptiles across global habitats.
• Discovery and education areas: Discovery Zone and Kids Zoo with interactive displays and smaller animal encounters aimed at families and school groups.