Every month I relish visiting the Saskatoon Zoo at least once to observe the animals and see what they are doing in all the seasons. I have learned about Pallas’s Cats which until I began this blog, I never even knew existed and now I am obsessed with them. We have one at the Zoo, and in the year-and-a-half I have been writing this blog I have only see it once. Part of it may be the time of day. I may need to find out when its feeding time is. Most often it is in its hammock, fastened to the top of its zoo home. These small, wild felines are known to have grumpy faces, or what we call in more recent times, “resting b—- face”. LOL I have already shown you the one picture I was able to take in one of my earlier blogs, so instead, I present this picture from the Facebook page Manulization – Pallas’s cats. Manul is another word for Pallas’s Cats.
It was a beautiful, sunny, early fall day when I was last at the zoo and the zebras were still in their outdoor habitat. I wanted to include them this month, because I imagine they will be heading to their winter home soon if they haven’t already. Here is something utterly important you should know about zebras. In a group they are called a dazzle. Of course they are! They ARE dazzling!
Don’t forget that Pumpkins After Dark runs from October 8 to October 31 at Prairieland Park. Use the code PUMPKINZOO26 for 15% off your tickets. A portion of your purchase will support the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation! Get your tickets here: PUMPKINS AFTER DARK TICKETS
The history of a Saskatoon Zoo begins in 1959, when the owner of Golden Gate Wild Animal and Bird Park and Stables near North Battleford moved everything to Saskatoon. According to Saskatoon History hosted by Terry Hokness on Facebook, the Wild Animal and Bird Park was located at what was then the City’s edge north of 33rd Street West and Junor Avenue. Admission was 25 cents. In the fall of 1965, the owner had to close the Zoo down because it wasn’t making enough money. The city bought all the animals and took over. Over the next few years, there was talk of a new facility. The federal government agreed to give Saskatoon 140 acres of the Sutherland Forest Nursery land in 1966. Then in 1970, the City asked the province if the Forestry Farm could be established as a regional park, which would include an area for the Zoo, and the government would pay a portion of the cost.
The animals moved to the new Forestry Farm in 1972, with the zoo opening August 31st of that year. And look how far it has come! The grounds are idyllic and we have loads of native and non-native species living at the zoo, which has moved from becoming a spectacle to a place of education, respect and wonder. The Zoo is dedicated to wildlife conservation and animal welfare.
I hope I have convinced you to check out the Saskatoon Zoo and Forestry Farm Park soon, and if you would like to support the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation, here is the link.
https://saskatoonzoofoundation.ca/donate/
The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation raises funds to help improve the living spaces for the animals and for the surrounding area. There are many ways to sponsor through the Foundation, so contact them if you are interested, and have a great October autumn!
Your Saskatoon Zoo Foundation blogger,
Carol Thomson
