# @thetorontozoo on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DadAxaWkWPc
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/67556656-thetorontozoo-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/7b7bcbabda.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-07-06T13:35:40.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Toronto Zoo (@thetorontozoo) — https://gondola.cc/thetorontozoo

## Caption

On this #MarmotMonday, we are thrilled to celebrate another incredible milestone for one of Canada’s most endangered mammals - 16 Vancouver Island marmot pups have been born at your Toronto Zoo in 2026 🐾

This year’s pups were born across four litters, and 16 babies marks our second-highest annual pup count in 25 consecutive years of breeding Vancouver Island marmots. 

It’s an extraordinary accomplishment that reflects the dedication and expertise of our Wildlife Care and Conservation Science teams, working together to help recover this critically endangered Canadian species.

The oldest pups are now becoming increasingly active and playful, emerging from their nest boxes to explore their habitats, wrestle with their siblings, and eagerly enjoy fresh vegetables alongside their parents. As with every breeding season, our Wildlife Care team carefully monitors the pups using remote cameras to minimize human interaction, allowing them to develop the natural behaviours they’ll need for life in the wild.

Did you know? Breeding pairs of Vancouver Island marmots at your Toronto Zoo live in specialized conservation breeding facilities away from public view, where their habitats are designed to encourage natural behaviours like digging, nesting, foraging and vigilance for predators. We initially confirm births by listening for the tiny squeaks coming from each pair’s nest box, only peeking into the nest box several weeks later to minimize disturbance to the growing families.

Later this summer, the Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Program will determine which of this year’s pups will remain within the managed conservation breeding population and which will eventually make the journey to Vancouver Island. Those destined for the wild will spend time at a pre-release facility before being released into the mountainous habitats where this remarkable species belongs.

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## Tags

marmotmonday

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