Riverview Park and Zoo Reopened After Being Temporarily Closed From Fire

UPDATE: 11:02 a.m. 08/05/23

Riverview Park and Zoo announced that it has reopened after being temporarily closed by a fire according to a Monday morning tweet.

IN CAPTIVITY, RIVER OTTERS HAVE A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF ABOUT 25 YEARS. PHOTO COURTESY OF Riverview Park and Zoo.

No animals or staff were harmed from the fire according to a tweet just before 11 a.m. Monday.

The Park and Zoo is now open. Due to a fire at the zoo was temporarily closed this morning. Emergency response plans were successful and all animals and staff are safe. Thanks for your patience and understanding while we care for our team. Please check our website for updates.

— Riverview Park & Zoo (@RiverviewZoo) May 8, 2023

The zoo stated in a Tweet that they were closed just before 9:30 a.m. Monday morning. “We are closed until further notice. please keep an eye on social media for updates. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

The closure affected the gated zoo area however the playground remained open, according to the zoo’s comment on their Facebook post.

Since 1933, Riverview Park and Zoo is Canada’s only free-admission accredited zoo with nearly a quarter of a million annual visitors. It features a disc golf course, a park, a miniature train, splash pads and live music alongside its animal exhibits.

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Peterborough Zoo Constructing Sloped Wheelchair-Accessible Walkway Beginning Monday

The Riverview Park and Zoo are beginning construction on a sloped wheelchair-accessible walkway connecting the north parking lot to the playground with work scheduled to begin on Monday.

File Photo.

The zoo estimates its completion on May 12 according to a press release.

Access to existing accessible parking spaces is maintained at all times but alternate spaces and detours will be provided during this time. Access to the Electric Charging Stations are not affected but the public will be notified if this changes.

Funding for the project has been supported by Enabling Accessibility Fund, Employment and Social Development Canada.

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Riverview Park And Zoo Releases Second Jigsaw Puzzle Fundraiser For New Locomotive Next Season

The Riverview Park and Zoo have released a puzzle of their miniature train ride puzzle for a second consecutive year, fundraising a replacement locomotive and its passenger coaches for next year announced Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of the Riverview Park & Zoo.

The 308-piece, 11 x 17-inch puzzle of the current 1860 locomotive replica is a limited-edition gift for $20. They are available at the Riverview gift shop beginning on Thanksgiving weekend (the gift shop closes for the season after Oct. 10) or at certain local retailers while quantities last.

“We felt that including the F86 Sabre Jet Plane, flown in the Korean War, would introduce a whole new point of interest for our community,” says Shauna Moodie, Zoo advisory chair.

The zoo’s miniature train ride was established in 1974 and has provided regular income that sustains the operations and helps to make necessary capital improvements to exhibits and the park. The ride is just over two kilometres long and is $2 to ride or free for children under two.

There are six bench dedications left on the new train available for sponsorship, used to recognize anyone or your company’s contribution to the Park and Zoo or dedicate it in honour of a special project or a loved one. Dedications are $2,500 each.

Riverview Park and Zoo’s goal is to raise $300,000 with $225,000 already raised.

Since 1933, Riverview Park and Zoo is Canada’s only free-admission accredited zoo with nearly a quarter of a million annual visitors.

They received the fighter jet monument in 1971 and display it to honour the people from Peterborough who fought for Canada.

Donate to the train campaign: https://forms.riverviewparkandzoo.ca/Donations.

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Riverview Park and Zoo Announce Concert Remaining Lineup For Gazebo Concerts

Animals and people are rocking Riverview Park & Zoo’s gazebo concerts as they announced the rest of their lineup of five shows announced on Tuesday.

The Donny Woods Band from the Sunday concert at the Gazebo. Photo courtesy of the Riverview Park & Zoo.

The free shows are run on select Sundays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The following is the lineup of the zoo’s concert series:

• July 24 - Knightshift

• July 31 - Wylie Harold & Radio Flyer

• Aug. 7 - The Fade Kings

• Aug. 21 - Peterborough Concert Band

• Sept. 4 - Electric Swing City

Classic rock and country performances from Steve Waters and Cartwright Boundary respectively were one of the early concerts that happened on May 21.

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Rotary Club Of Peterborough Kawartha Commits $25,000 To A New Passenger Coach On Miniature Train At Riverview Park And Zoo

The Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha has committed $25,000 of support to sponsor a passenger coach of the new miniature train at Riverview Park and Zoo.

File Photo.

The passenger coach is one of three available for sponsorship as part of the Park and Zoo’s project to replace the existing locomotive and coaches.

The miniature train ride was first established in 1974 with the support of James Hamilton. After nearly 50 years and many kilometers of service, the existing locomotive and coaches now need to be replaced.

“This generous offer of support by the Peterborough Kawartha Rotary Club is just one more example of a long tradition of the club’s support of our community at large, and the Park and Zoo in particular,” said Jim Moloney, Manager Curator Riverview Park and Zoo. “Their commitment is a big step in putting us on track to meeting our fundraising goal of $300,000.”

"We are excited to once again work with Riverview Park and Zoo. We have committed $25,000 for the purchase of the new miniature train which has always been a major attraction for visitors at the zoo, Community partnerships are very important to our club as shown in our past contributions,” Carl Brown, Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha President. “In the past, Kawartha Rotary has financed park benches and in 2019 provided $30,000 for the purchase and installation of an Outdoor Musical Playground. We know that the new train will provide countless joy to the community.”

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Riverview Park And Zoo Otter Twins Boldt And Lawrence Turn Four

Twin otters Boldt and Lawrence at Riverview Park and Zoo turn four on Tuesday.

In captivity River otters have a life expectancy of about 25 years. Photo courtesy of RPZ.

Both male otters came to RPZ in 2019 from the Aquatarium in Brockville.

They joined two river otters already living at the zoo, Splish and Melissa.

RPZ’s outdoor otter exhibit opened in 2007 and has two pools, a waterfall and a slide, as well as outdoor land areas for the animals to roam, play and hide.

The boys celebrated their birthday in their icy cold pool at the zoo.

River otters have two layers of fur that protect them from cold water.

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Riverview Park And Zoo Mourns The Loss Of Ferrari The Two-Toed Sloth

Riverview Park and Zoo announced the death of Ferrari the male two-toed sloth, on Tuesday.

Ferrari came to the Park and Zoo from the Calgary Zoo in the summer of 2013, following the Calgary flood.

The Animal Heath Team had been monitoring him closely as his condition had started to deteriorate somewhat. He then took a sudden turn for the worse and unfortunately passed away.

Ferrari died from the complications arising from several age-related conditions. He was thirty-two years old.

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Riverview Park And Zoo To Temporarily Close Monday In Response To COVID-19

Riverview Park And Zoo will close on Monday, they announced after the Ontario Government released new COVID-19 restrictions.

Photo courtesy of Riverview Park and Zoo.

In a social media post on Monday, zoo manager and curator Jim Moloney, said the zoo would close as COVID-19 cases surge and Ontario re-introduces the modified stage two restrictions.

The zoo re-opened in November, after being open for scheduled tours only since July. The zoo was completely closed to the public from March 2020 until then.

In the social media post, Moloney said “We’re disappointed to have to close again, and hope to welcome out visitors back soon.”

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Peterborough Zoo Offering Guided Tours This Summer

Beginning July 2, the Riverview Park and Zoo will offer pre-booked guided tours of the zoo area announced in a press release on Friday.

Riverview Park and Zoo is the only accredited zoo in Canada with free admission. File Photo.

Like the admission, tours of the zoo are free however donations are strongly encouraged. Families of up to 10 people will be accommodated and booking will be available starting Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. A link will become available on their tour page for bookings at that time.

“We are so excited to welcome guests back for oneway guided treks of the zoo this summer,” said Cathy Mitchell, Program Supervisor. “We are ramping up, hiring staff, training volunteers, putting up barriers to the exhibits and adding more sanitizer stations.”

Riverview Park and Zoo has been operating in Peterborough since 1933. File Photo.

Several zoo amenities remain closed until further notice such as the splash pad, gift shop, snack bar, train ride and picnic shelters. The playground, disc golf course, park areas and park trails remain open for use.

Mitchell urges families to continue social distancing with other patrons and animals as the latter are vulnerable to the virus.

“As we have eight species of animals who are susceptible to COVID-19, we are asking all visitors do their part to protect these animals and remain at a two-metre distance from the animal exhibits at all times while on tours,” she said.

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Riverview Park & Zoo To Offer Members Only Tours Starting August 15th

[Note: This post has been updated based on new media release from Peterborough Utilities Group.]

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The Riverview Park & Zoo has announced they are ready to welcome the City of Peterborough residents for guided tours of the zoo.

Their small team of staff and volunteers have been ramping up to offer exclusive, safe tours to the residents of Peterborough. Starting on Saturday, August 15th, they will be offering four tours per day, five days of the week, for groups of up to ten people, until September 7th.

Photo via Riverview Park & Zoo Facebook page

The tours will give preference to the residents of the City of Peterborough, annual donors and current animal adoptees.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. on Friday, August 14th. For more information or to book a tour, visit riverviewparkandzoo.ca.

Photo via Riverview Park & Zoo Facebook page

The zoo attractions remain closed at this time, including the splash pad, miniature train ride, buildings and facility rentals. The zoo will open these attractions when they are able to do so in a manner that ensures the safety of the public, staff and the animals in their care.

At this time, only essential staff are on-site, taking care of the 150 animals, their exhibits, the grounds and facilities. These limited resources mean that the zoo must continue to focus on what is most important, caring for the animals and protecting the staff who keep them safe.

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