Nature's Wild Backyard rehabilitates the original 1959 Storyland Zoo infrastructure, creating an immersive, child-focused experience and building on the success of the Project Overview
Nature's Wild Backyard will be comprised of 4 zones where visitors can explore how animals make their homes under, on, between and above the surface. Each area will be layered with play and educational activities.
- In the "Under" Zone, visitors will experience a gradual descent underground, offering eye to eye views with prairie dogs, burrowing owls, red foxes and naked mole rats.
- The "Between" Zone celebrates the unique adaptations of animals that live both on land and in water including capybaras, agoutis, beavers and waterfowl. The Between Zone features split-level viewing, an oversized Brazil nut puzzle challenge and giant lily pads for visitors to hop their way along the water's edge.
- The "On" Zone will showcase wild animals that demonstrate a range of strategies for locomotion on the ground including wallabies, emus, and fallow deer. The On Zone will also feature an Urban Farm that provides a renewed home for the zoo's popular existing Urban Farm exhibit.
- The "Above" Zone will transport visitors into the spectacular tree canopy so they can explore the world of species that fly, leap and climb including lemurs, red pandas, gibbons, and exotic birds. The Backyard will also renew and upgrade guest amenities that have reached the end of their lifespan such as washrooms, concession and carousel.