Toronto Zoo
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The Main Entrance to the Toronto Zoo
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| Date opened | August 15, 1974 |
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| Location | 361A Old Finch Avenue Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1B 5K7 |
| Coordinates | 43°49′13.00″N 79°10′58.00″W / 43.8202778°N 79.1827778°WCoordinates: 43°49′13.00″N 79°10′58.00″W / 43.8202778°N 79.1827778°W |
| Land area | 287 hectares (710 acres) |
| Number of animals | 5,000+ |
| Number of species | 460+ |
| Memberships | CAZA,WAZA |
| Public transit access |
 85B Sheppard East, 86A Scarborough
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| Website | www |
The Toronto Zoo is a zoo located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded by Hugh A. Crothers, an industrialist who became the first Chairman of the Metro Toronto Zoological Society in 1966, the zoo opened on August 15, 1974 as the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo, or simply Metro Toronto Zoo, and is owned by the City of Toronto. The word "Metropolitan" was dropped from its name when the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto was amalgamated to the current city in 1998. The zoo is located near the Rouge River, along the western border of Rouge Park in the city's east end district of Scarborough.
Encompassing 287 hectares (710 acres), the Toronto Zoo is the largest zoo in Canada. It is divided into seven zoogeographic regions: Indo-Malaya, Africa, Americas, Tundra Trek, Australasia, Eurasia, and the Canadian Domain. Some animals are displayed indoors in tropical pavilions and outdoors in what would be their naturalistic environments, with viewing at many levels. It also has areas such as the Kids Zoo, Waterside Theatre, and Splash Island. It has one of the most taxonomically diverse collection of animals on display of any zoo; it is currently home to over 5,000 animals (including invertebrates and fish) representing over 450 species.
The zoo is open every day of the year, except December 25.
In 1888, the Riverdale Zoo opened in Toronto, as a typical example of a zoo during this time, with animals displayed as curiosities in dark cages and cramped enclosures.
In 1963, a private citizen's brief to build a new zoo was introduced by Hugh Crothers to the Chairman of the Council of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, William Allen. Mr. Allen asked Mr. Crothers to head up a committee to investigate the feasibility of a new zoo. By 1966, a group of eleven people became The Metro Toronto Zoological Society with Mr. Crothers as the first Chairman.
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