Toronto Zoo Loses Visitors as UPS Expands Holiday Delivery Security

Extreme weather has reduced attendance at the Toronto Zoo in 2026, while United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) is preparing new shipment security measures for the holiday season. Reports published by Global News on October 8 and Yahoo Finance on October 9 detailed the zoo's visitor shortfall and UPS's plans for PIN-based delivery verification, expanded package tracking and seasonal recruitment.

According to a Toronto Zoo report submitted to the City of Toronto, 1,095,286 people had visited the attraction by the end of September, 9 percent below its target. Wildfire smoke and extreme heat in July were major contributors, with attendance that month finishing 14 percent below projections.

Jamie Austin, the zoo's chief transformation officer, attributed the summer decline partly to public health advisories discouraging extended outdoor activities. Smoke from fires in northern Ontario drifted over Toronto in mid-July, creating an orange sky and severely deteriorating local air quality, according to Global News.

Austin said, "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," according to Global News.

Weather disruptions also affected the zoo earlier in the year. Austin reported that a prolonged, snowy winter forced the facility to close on a couple of occasions because accumulated snow made opening unsafe. A cool, rainy spring further discouraged visitors from spending extended periods outdoors.

September provided a stronger result, with nearly 162,000 visitors, 13 percent above the zoo's forecast. Austin said attendance figures entering fall indicated the attraction could have a strong October, supported by seasonal activities and new animal arrivals, including a baby wombat.

The zoo is also planning longer-term changes to reduce its dependence on summer tourism. According to Global News, proposed resilience measures include cooling and warming stations, additional shade and shelter, and improvements intended to make visits more comfortable throughout the year. The Glow in the Wild lantern festival, scheduled from Thursdays through Sundays until January 2027, is among the attractions drawing visitors.

The attendance decline follows another difficult year in 2025, when the zoo received just over 1.25 million visitors, compared with approximately 1.36 million in 2024. Zoo CEO Dolf DeJong previously attributed weaker demand partly to heat waves and an ice storm in November 2025, according to Global News.

Separately, UPS is introducing security and tracking measures ahead of the 2026 holiday shipping peak. Yahoo Finance reported on October 9 that the global logistics company plans to implement Protected Delivery, a PIN-based verification system designed to improve security for high-value shipments.

The service is intended to help retailers reduce theft risks associated with expensive deliveries, including electronics, jewelry and luxury goods. Its effectiveness will depend on customer adoption and the company's ability to reduce losses while maintaining delivery reliability, according to Yahoo Finance's analysis.

UPS is also expanding radio-frequency identification (RFID)-powered package tracking to additional sorting hubs and delivery routes. The technology forms part of a broader approach to improving shipment visibility and delivery security, alongside the company's Secure Commerce suite.

Yahoo Finance reported that UPS is targeting 100,000 seasonal workers for the year-end rush across key markets. The additional workforce is intended to support peak-period operations as the company expands tracking and security capabilities.

The next performance indicators highlighted by Yahoo Finance include on-time delivery results during the 2026 peak season, adoption of Protected Delivery for high-value shipments, wider RFID coverage and the effect of seasonal recruitment on unit costs and profit margins.