Baby animal boom, good weather increases attendance at Toronto Zoo

TORONTO – The Toronto Zoo says attendance is up for the first time in several years, which it attributes to a baby animal boom and good weather.

The park says more than 1.3 million people visited the zoo in 2016, an increase of nearly 170,000 people compared to those who came to the zoo the previous year.

Zoo spokeswoman Jennifer Tracey says the births of two pandas, four white lion cubs and a rhinoceros calf are the main reasons for the attendance bump.

WATCH: Cuteness of Toronto Zoo’s giant panda cubs thrills visitors. (Oct. 13)

1:11 Cuteness of Toronto Zoo’s giant panda cubs thrills visitors

Attendance had been declining since 2013, when the zoo had seen a boost due to the arrival of two pandas from China.

Tracey says a warm fall, a dry summer and a moderate spring also helped the numbers for 2016.

She says the attendance bump led to increased revenues.