Toronto Zoo links orangutan enclosure fences to security

Gallagher Security and Gallagher Animal Management have integrated Toronto Zoo's animal enclosure energiser systems with the Gallagher Command Centre security platform. The system is now operating in the zoo's orangutan habitat.

The integration links enclosure fencing directly to the zoo's wider security system, allowing real-time monitoring of fence voltage and alerts when the fence is touched. Staff can then use integrated CCTV to verify an alert before responding.

Toronto Zoo spans 500 acres and houses more than 2,000 animals across 200 species. It receives 1.3 million visitors a year and has worked with Gallagher Animal Management on perimeter fencing for more than 50 years.

The latest project extends that relationship into broader site security. The zoo also uses Gallagher Mobile Connect for field officers, mobile credentials for seasonal and contractor staff, and integrations with intercoms in higher-risk animal habitats.

Orangutan habitat

The first deployment is in the orangutan enclosure, where wildlife care teams can monitor fence voltage continuously. The setup is designed to give staff immediate notice if contact is made with the hot wire.

"Now we can see the voltage of our fences at all times," said Graham Birtles, Supervisor of Health and Safety Services at Toronto Zoo. "We can send alerts to our wildlife care team the moment something touches the hot wire so we can make sure the animals are safe."

Gallagher said this is the first time its Command Centre platform has been integrated with animal enclosure energiser systems in this way at the zoo. The project brought together its security and animal management units, which typically serve different parts of customer operations.

The system had to be tailored to the needs of a specific habitat and species. Orangutan enclosures have distinct operational requirements, and the integration was developed in direct collaboration with the zoo's teams.

"This was a genuinely collaborative effort between our Security and Animal Management divisions," said Nour Muqatash, Regional Sales Manager, Central and Eastern Canada, Gallagher Security. "The zoo already trusted Gallagher for its perimeter fencing, and this project let us bring that same relationship into its broader security ecosystem in a way that hadn't been done before."

The project also shows how zoos are combining animal welfare systems and site security tools into a single operational view. In this case, alerts from physical enclosure infrastructure feed into the same platform used for access management and incident oversight.

Wider rollout

For the zoo, the integration adds another layer to existing security processes across a large, complex site. Animal habitats, service areas and visitor spaces create a mix of operational risks that require coordination between security teams and animal care staff.

The work built on an established supplier relationship rather than introducing a new vendor environment. That may have reduced barriers to connecting systems that had previously been managed separately.

"Every habitat is different, and this project needed a solution built specifically for the animals involved," said James Clark, Territory Manager, Gallagher Security. "Working directly with the zoo's team, we were able to deliver real-time alerts that give them confidence their animals and their people are protected."

The platform is also set to be used in the zoo's new Community Conservation Centre, where Command Centre will manage access for students, faculty and visiting groups. That points to a broader role for the system beyond animal habitats and perimeter controls.

Birtles said Gallagher's systems have become deeply embedded in day-to-day operations at the site. "Gallagher has become a house brand here at the Toronto Zoo," he said. "It's integrated with everything we do."