Toronto Wildlife Centre sustains worst damage in 33 years from Wednesday storm

The Toronto Wildlife Centre in Downsview Park sustained the most severe damage in its 33-year history when intense wind and hail swept through Wednesday, completely destroying one outdoor aviary and forcing five recovering pigeons to escape.

The facility experienced flooding, roof damage, a collapsed garage door, and 12 windows blown inward. At least one other outdoor enclosure sustained moderate damage, and a large portion of security fencing around the enclosures was knocked down. All animals currently at the facility have been transported elsewhere because of the damage.

Nathalie Karvonen, the centre's founder and executive director, told reporters the damage is still unfolding. "We're finding new problems every day," she said. "We've never sustained this kind of damage." She added that the centre was fortunate not to have had more animals outdoors at the time.

The timing compounds the crisis: September is when the wildlife centre sees a surge in animal admissions while simultaneously becoming understaffed as students return to school. The centre has received community donations in the aftermath.

Parts of the GTA received more than 100 millimetres of rain Wednesday in just a few hours. The city has not disclosed the total estimated cost of damage to the facility or provided a timeline for repairs and reopening of outdoor enclosures.