Not Bay Station

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Address: 14 Bellair Street.
Date: Jan 2017
Website: deciem.com

  We were walking through Yorkville in Toronto when we came across two signs.  One sign lead down to the TTC's Bay subway station and the other was over a store for The Abnormal Beauty Company.  The Abnormal Beauty Company is a Toronto based cosmetics manufacturer and above their store the sign read "Not Bay".  We wondered if each evening they had a rush of commuters coming into their store and then stopping with confused looks on their faces when they realized this was not a subway entrance.  The sign would be a helpful way to let people know that this was not Bay station before they even entered the store.  The more likely reason for the sign, that appears in a similar font and style to the subway entrance sign, is clever marketing.  We just bet that they are hoping people will see the sign, find it amusing and then post photos of it online or even write a blog post about their store.  It might just work.

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This location is near Bay subway. Visit other Toronto TTC stations.

Map of Our World
Not Bay Station

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Post # 155

Toronto Zoo's White Lion Pride

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Address: 2000 Meadowvale Rd.
Date: Jan 2017
Website: www.torontozoo.com

  The four white lions born at the Toronto Zoo in 2015 were part of a baby boom. They were all males and have the colour mutation, like their parents, that makes them rare.  The Toronto Zoo is one of only a few zoos in North America where you can see white lions on display.

  The Toronto Zoo has seven white lions, but very soon the four brothers will be leaving. We visited one last time to say goodbye to Hank, Harrison, Oliver and Gus.  The whole family was outside huddled together for a family portrait.  Only their mother couldn't sit still to pose for a good photo.

  Aside from their colour, white lions are just the same as regular African lions.  This means they like to sleep in the sun on a hot summer's day and are no more susceptible to sunburn than other lions.  The Toronto Zoo has both white and regular lions that take turns sharing the display so this means that you will see different lions on different days.  White lions also tend to be more of a beige colour so it can sometimes be difficult to tell which lions you are seeing.

Above is a picture of a regular African lion male for comparison.
Below is a male white lion.

 

  We enjoyed our last visit with the white lion cubs and it was great to see all of the brothers together one last time.  Soon they will be off to start prides of their very own.

 

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Click here to take a virtual tour and see our collection of Toronto Zoo animal photos.

Map of Our World
 Toronto Zoo (Lion House)

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Post # 154

Canada Lynx

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Address: 2000 Meadowvale Rd.
Date: Nov 2016
Website: www.torontozoo.com

  A Canada lynx is a medium sized cat which closely resembles a bobcat.  The easiest way to tell a lynx and a bobcat apart is that lynx have longer legs and their back legs are actually longer than their front ones.  They appear to be on a bit of a slant when running or walking.  Like most large cats they are beautiful to look at, but scary to come across in the wild.

   We have only ever encountered lynx at the zoo as it is very rare to see one in the wild.  The Canada lynx above was at the Toronto Zoo and may be one of the parents of the two babies that were born in 2016.

  Canada lynx can be found throughout Canada as well as in the northern United States.  The lynx above was from the Assiniboine Zoo in Winnipeg and was already wearing his winter coat which made him look twice as large.

  In 2016, the Toronto Zoo was lucky enough to have two lynx kittens born at the zoo.  The Canada Lynx can be found in the zoo's Canadian Domain on a very steep hill that goes down into the valley.  The lynx are one of the first animals on the way down the hill for those that fear they may never make it back up if they venture down to the bottom.

  When we visited, the babies were already about 3 months old.  They were still as cute as ever.  A Canada Lynx's favourite meal is snowshoe hare.  As you can see from the picture above, this baby lynx has already developed a taste. 

The video above shows the babies walking around and giving wide eyed looks.

  We visited again when the lynx kittens were about 7 months old.  The two kittens loved to play fight and chase each other around the enclosure.

  The Canada Lynx usually prefers a quiet, solitary life and likes to stay hidden.  While these two juveniles are in the exhibit it is a great time to see these animals in action.

 

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Click here to take a virtual tour and see our collection of Toronto Zoo animal photos.

Map of Our World
Assiniboine Park Zoo (Grasslands & Boreal Forest) , Toronto Zoo (Canadian Domain)

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Post # 153