Toronto, as one of the most populated and also one of the most visited cities in Canada, is an extraordinary travel destination as it offers one a unique experience.
Toronto has great sites and sceneries to explore, this includes; museums for art and history lovers, beaches, and astonishing culinary and nightlife scenes.
What’s more, if one is searching for a bit of rustic in this metropolitan scene, then, there are the various zoos in Toronto and homesteads (farms) there too.
Toronto offers the most ideal visit destinations with kids, family and loved ones.
The List of Top Zoos In Toronto
In this section are a few zoos in Toronto, Canada. Read on to find out about these fascinating spots.
High Park Zoo
High Park Zoo was established in 1893 for deer; the Zoo’s animal paddocks have always been a popular attraction.
Today, over 125 years later, the Zoo’s eleven paddocks are home to a variety of animal species from around the world.
The Zoo is free to the public and attracts over 600,000 visitors each year.
The park has lovely trails for one to walk and explore. The animals here are looked after and it is a great community park and zoo.
The park also allows dogs and there are designated areas where they can roam freely, without a leash.
It is a great place to head to with kids and one can even carry their food and enjoy a picnic in the shade.
- Location: 25 Deer Pen Rd, Toronto, ON
- Entry Fee: Free
- Visit The Website.
Toronto Zoo
Toronto Zoo had over 5,000 animals and 450 species and is regarded as one of the most famous zoos in Toronto. Spread over an area of 710 acres, Toronto zoo is one of the largest zoos in the world, spread over an area of 710 acres.
The place is divided into zoogeographic regions and one can watch a wide variety of animals in their natural environment. Toronto Zoo is a great place to visit with kids, It is both fun and informative.
Like animals, the Toronto Zoo houses a variety of plant species from around the world, it is home to one of the largest tropical plant collections in Canada.
The Toronto Zoo has a whole horticulture team full of plant experts to ensure they are taken care of, especially since Canada has a much different climate than many of the areas the plants come from.
The Toronto Zoo is an agency of the City of Toronto.
- African Rainforest Pavilion, African clawed frog, Aldabra tortoise, Black Crake, Blue-bellied roller, Golden-breasted starling, Grey-necked crowned car, hamerkop, Lake Malawi cichlid, seller’s chameleon, naked mole-rat, Ngege, Nile soft-shelled turtle, Pygmy hippopotamus, used river hog, Ring-tailed lemur, Royal python, Sacred in, slender-tailed meerkat, Speckled mousebird, Spotted-necked Otter, The Straw coloured fruit bat, West African dwarf crocodile, western lowland gorilla, White-cheeked turaco, African Savanna, African lion, African Penguin, Cheetah, Greater kudu, Grevy’s Zebra, Marabou stork, Masai giraffe, Olive baboon, Ostrich, River hippopotamus, Southern Ground hornbill, Spotted hyena, Warthog, White rhinoceros, White-breasted cormorants, White-headed vulture
- Americas Pavilion, Aggregate anemone, American alligator, Axolotl, Beaver, Black-footed ferret, Blanding’s turtle, Blue poison dart frog, Boa constrictor, Brazilian giant cockroach, Common Marmoset, Crested tinamou, Cuvier’s smooth-fronted caiman (dwarf caiman), Desert grassland whiptail, Dyeing poison dart frog, Electric eel, Eyelash viper, Florida gar, Florida lumber, Giant bird-eating spider, Golden lion tamarin, Green and black poison dart frog, Green surf anemone, Jamaican Boa, Leather sea star, Massasauga rattlesnake, Midland painted turtle, North American River Otter, Northern Pacific rattlesnake, Panamanian golden frog, Plush-crested jay, Prehensile-tailed porcupine, Pumpkinseed sunfish, Red-breasted piranha, Reticulate Gila monster, San Esteban Island chuckwalla, Scarlet ibis, Silver beak manager, Snapping turtle, Spectacled owl, Spiny soft-shelled turtle, Spotted turtle, Two-toed sloth, Vinegaroon, White-faced saki, White-lined manager, Mayan Temple Ruins, American flamingo, Blue and yellow macaw, Jaguar
- Australasia Pavilion, Brownbanded bamboo shark, Central bearded dragon, Clown triggerfish, Emerald tree boa, Fly River turtle (pig-nosed turtle), Green tree python, Green-winged dove (grey-capped emerald dove), Komodo dragon, Kookaburra, Lionfish, Live reef corals, Longnose butterflyfish, MacLeay’s spectrum, Matschie’s tree kangaroo, Moon jellyfish, Pennant coral fish, Pot-bellied seahorse, Red claw yabby, Short-beaked echidna, Solomon Island leaf frog, Southern hairy-nosed wombat, Thorny devil stick insect, Victoria crowned pigeon, White’s tree frog, Australasia Outdoor, Bennett’s fallacy, Western grey kangaroo
- American Moose, Grizzly bear, Northern bald eagle, Raccoon, Trumpeter swan, Wood bison
- Waterside Theatre, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Great horned owl, Green-winged macaw, Harris’s hawk, Lanner Falcon, Miniature donkey, Turkey Vulture, Kids Zoo, Alpaca, Crested seriema, Domestic ferret, Secretary bird, Striped skunk, Woodchuck
- Amur Tiger, Bactrian camel, Barbary sheep, Chamois, Domestic yak, Mouflon, Przewalski’s horse, Red Panda, Snow leopard, West Caucasian tur
- Asian brown tortoise, Bighead Carp, Black Carp, Black-throated laughing thrush, Burmese star tortoise, Concave casqued hornbill, Crested wood partridge, Grass Carp, Malayan crested fireback pheasant, Malaysian painted turtle, Mandarin duck, Mekong barb, Nicobar pigeon, Reticulated Python, Siamese catfish, Spiny turtle, Sumatran orangutan, Sumatran Tiger, Tentacled snake, Tinfoil barb, Tri-colour shark, White-handed gin on, Indo-Malaya Outdoor, Greater one-horned rhinoceros, Himalayan that, Indian peafowl, Malayan Woods Pavilion, Clouded Leopard, Jumbo gourami.
- Arctic wolf, European reindeer, Lesser snow goose, Polar bear
- Orchid Collection –
- Dr Schofield Memorial Garden
- Eurasia Daylily Garden / Collection
- Corpse Flower
Toronto Zoo encourages Wildlife Conservancy and fights extinction. They Create a center of excellence in conservation, sustainability, animal care, and science.
- Location: 2000 Meadowvale Rd, Toronto.
- An admission fee is required.
- Visit The Website.
Riverdale Farm
The Riverdale Farm is located in the heart of the city of Toronto, sprawling over an area of 7.5 acres. It is an amazing destination for those looking for places to visit in Toronto with kids.
Riverdale Farm is a working farm located in Toronto’s downtown Cabbagetown neighborhood.
Visitors get a first-hand taste of farm life, with different livestock animals (cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens) to the year-round handwork and craft programs in The Meeting House.
A beautiful rural retreat and an escape from urban city life, this farm is a perfect place to visit on a weekend.
The property features flower, vegetable, and herb gardens, as well as wooded areas and ponds connected to the city’s rich ravine system.
It is a popular community meeting place for families from across Toronto and beyond. Visitors can also participate in workshops like pottery and weaving.
- Location: 201 Winchester St, Toronto
- Entry Fee: Free
- Visit The Website.
Lionel’s Farm
Lionel’s Farm is one of the petting zoos in Toronto. A family-run farm, it is a great place to visit in Toronto with kids. Admission of children under the age of 1 is free. The farm has been operating for over 50 years and one can experience the true farm life here.
There are Horses, Ponies, an array of Farm Animals, Birds and Poultry, goats, sheep, rabbits, ducks, and more.
Other than being a fun place, it is also an informative place where kids and adults can learn about animal behavior. Lionel’s Farm is a clean and safe fun Petting Farm. You can Feed and pet the animals and experience farm life.
- Location: 11714 McCowan Rd, Whitchurch-Stouffville
- Entry Fee: INR 358 (approx)
- Visit The Website.
Reptilia Zoo
Reptilia Zoo is a collection of Canada’s largest reptile zoos and conservation centers.
They focus on animal representation, conservation, education, and magical Guest experiences.
These unique facilities host over 250 species of reptiles, amphibians, and arachnids from all around the world, representing animals that cannot be found in other Canadian Zoos.
It is an amazing place that takes one through deserts, jungles, and more in a single day. Various exhibits take place here including workshops and more. They have been providing magical moments to education and recreational Guests for over 20 years.
As a zoological institution, Reptilia has an obligation to the animals it houses. The animals receive the highest standards of care by Reptilia’s Facility Operation Manuals which incorporate those established by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA – CAZA.CA) of which Reptilia is a member
- Location: 2501 Rutherford Road, Vaughan, Ontario L4K
- Entry Fee: INR 1,000
- Visit The Website.
Ripley’s Aquarium Of Canada
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada provides a world-class experience that will foster education, conservation, and research while providing fun and entertainment for locals and tourists of all ages.
By showcasing the beauty and significance of our aquatic world and the animals within it, they also entertain and inspire while encouraging visitors to respect and protect the waters of the world.
Visitors can explore 20,000 aquatic animals and discover a unique underwater adventure. The Aquarium boasts more than 5.7 million litres of water, North America’s longest underwater viewing tunnel, and more than 100 interactive opportunities.
Get up close and personal with several touch exhibits featuring scarlet cleaner shrimp and stingrays.
This awe-inspiring attraction consists of ten carefully curated galleries showcasing a cross-section of saltwater and freshwater environments from around the world, starting with species from Toronto’s backyard, the Great Lakes basin.
Location: 288 Bremner Boulevard, Toronto, ON M5V 3L9, CANADA.
Visit The Website.
Far Enough Farm
Originally established in 1959, Far Enough Farm is a longstanding Centre Island staple that is sure to please children and adults alike.
This unique petting farm is located just minutes from Toronto’s bustling downtown core. It provides city-dwelling children and visitors with the opportunity to get up close and personal with over 40 different species of farmyard animals and exotic birds.
Over 20 animals representing 40 Different Species
- Indian Runner Ducks
- Mini Pot Belly Pig
- Romanov Sheep
- Batam
- Laughing
- Peafowl
- Red Golden Pheasant
- Billy Goat
- Jacob Sheep
- Fantail Pigeon
- Goose
- Guinea Pig
- Colombian Cross Chicken
- African Pygmy Goat
- Miniature Goat
- Lion head Rabbit
- Llama
- Mini Donkey
- Khaki Campell Calling Ducks
- Cameroon Dwarf Goat
- Nubian-Boer Goat
- Golden Pheasant
- Alpaca
- Sheep
- Centreville Ponies
- Mini Pony
- Silver Pheasant
- Rex Rabbits
Location: 84 Advance Road Toronto, Ontario M8Z 2T7.
Visit The Website.
FAQs
What are the best places for zoos & aquariums in Toronto?
These places are best for zoos & aquariums in Toronto:
-Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
-Toronto Zoo
-High Park Zoo
Find out more in the article above.
Which is bigger Calgary Zoo or Toronto Zoo?
The Toronto Zoo is the biggest in Canada and is home to more than 5000 animals from more than 450 species. Find out more here.
Does the Toronto Zoo have elephants?
For nearly four decades, the Toronto Zoo had been home to a family of elephants. But recently the zoo has moved its final three surviving elephants to a U.S. sanctuary.
Find out more here.
Where Is The Biggest Zoo In Canada?
The Toronto Zoo is a zoo located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Encompassing 287 hectares (710 acres), the Toronto Zoo is the largest in Canada. Find out more here.
What Is The #1 Zoo In The World?
The number one so in the world is the San Diego Zoo, USA.
Founded in 1916, San Diego Zoo houses more than 3,500 animals across 650 different species and has often been awarded as one of the best zoos in the world. It was also one of the first zoos to have open-air, cageless exhibits and is situated in the beautiful Balboa Park. Find out more here.
What Is The Most Visited Zoo In The World?
Based on attendance figures published by the Themed Entertainment Association, the most visited zoo is Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA, which received 13,888,000 visitors in 2019. Find out more here.
How Many Animals Are In The Toronto Zoo?
There are about 5,000 animals in the Toronto Zoo. The Toronto Zoo is the largest in Canada, home to over 5,000 animals representing 500 species on more than 700 acres of land next to Canada’s Rouge National Urban Park. Find out more here.
How Long Do You Need To Spend At The Toronto Zoo?
You will need at least 2 hours. The zoo is very large, you will have to rush to see its entirety in a little time.
So if you want to spend quality time with friends and family, you might reconsider your time. Find out more here.
What Is The Largest Aquarium In Canada?
The Vancouver Aquarium is officially the largest in Canada and has become the largest in Canada and one of the five largest in North America. Find out more here.
What Are The Rules At The Toronto Zoo?
PETS: are not allowed anywhere on Zoo property. SWIMMING: swimming in any Zoo waterway is prohibited. CROSSING BARRIERS: entering restricted areas, or crossing public barriers, will not be tolerated and may result in ejection from the Zoo and prosecution. PLEASE DON’T FEED THE ANIMALS!
Find out more here.
Conclusion:
While you’re picking your next travel destination, planning around the best zoos, is a great place to start, whether domestic or worldwide.
Visiting the zoo is a childhood delight. However, it’s not just exciting for children, even adults are captivated by the animal world, particularly the more extraordinary creatures, which shows in the sheer number of zoos around the world.
Canada is a country that is sufficient to fulfill the desires of any sort of voyager. Be it amazing climbs, dazzling natural parks, or the mirror-like emerald cold lakes, Canada has got everything to make your vacation advantageous.
Most Canadian urban communities are home to well-maintained zoos that allow individuals an opportunity to unwrap some of nature’s creatures.
Zoos in Canada are the most effective way to admire, respect and connect with the special untamed life of this locale.