Spanish company eyeballing Toronto Zoo for takeover—but, fear not, it won’t stick a roller coaster out by the ostriches

A Spanish company that owns more than 80 theme parks—including BonBon Land, Waterworld and Dutch Wonderland—is interested in taking over the Toronto Zoo, which is up for grabs after a council vote last month. The Globe and Mail reports that the company’s theme park expertise adds to concerns that the zoo will move away from an emphasis on education and research and instead toward sorely needed Ferris wheels an emphasis on profit. Meanwhile, city manager Joe Pennachetti endorses a model wherein Toronto retains ownership while allowing an outside source to actually run the business. Apparently, similar non-profit business models have been used in San Diego, Dallas and Vancouver. In case that doesn’t put worried minds at ease, one theme park consultant offered these comforting words about the company interested in the zoo: “They are not going to come in and stick a roller coaster out by the ostriches.” To which we say: why not? Because that would be awesome. Read the entire story [Globe and Mail] »