Extreme weather cuts Toronto Zoo visits in 2026, officials say

TORONTO · The Toronto Zoo has seen fewer visitors this year due to extreme weather, according to a report submitted to the city. By the end of September, attendance was nine percent below the zoo's target, with 1,095,286 people visiting. Chief transformation officer Jamie Austin said wildfire smoke and extreme heat in July were the main reasons for the drop. "When there are advisories for people to avoid the amount of time they’re spending outdoors, a trip to the zoo just isn’t on the top of their list," Austin said. Visitor numbers for July alone were 14 percent below target.

Smoke from northern Ontario wildfires blanketed Toronto in mid-July, creating hazardous air quality. Austin noted the first three months of the year also saw a cold, long and snowy winter. The zoo had to close a couple of times due to unsafe snow accumulation, which he called very rare in its history. A cool and rainy spring that followed further discouraged outdoor visits. The facility is now preparing for more climate resilience to maintain attendance year-round.

Despite the slow start, the zoo saw a rebound in September with nearly 162,000 guests, a figure 13 percent higher than predicted. Austin said this suggests a strong October is ahead. Events like the Glow in the Wild lantern festival, running Thursdays through Sundays until January 2027, are helping to draw crowds. He emphasized the zoo is working to become less reliant on the summer season by making the site more comfortable for guests no matter the weather.

READ MORE: Wildfire smoke deaths in Canada surge 275 percent since early 2000s, report finds

READ MORE: Los Angeles wildfires show growing health threat of wildfire smoke

Climate change also affected attendance in 2025, when visits fell to just over 1.25 million from about 1.36 million the year before. In January, zoo CEO Dolf DeJong cited heat waves and a November ice storm for that decline. The City of Toronto notes Canada is warming at twice the global average, leading to more extreme weather. Austin said the zoo's long-term vision includes adding cooling stations, warming stations, and more shading and shelter to increase resilience for both animals and visitors.

Austin encouraged residents to visit this fall, highlighting comfortable weather and new animals like a baby wombat. "I’d say it’s my favorite time of year to visit the zoo. The comfortable weather, the beautiful colors as the trees change and active animals…we’re seeing good attendance," he said. The zoo has many indoor spaces, but its Rouge National Urban Park campus still features exposed outdoor trails.

With files from Global News