Turtle Back Zoo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Turtle Back Zoo

Turtle Back Zoo logo
Entrance to the Turtle Back Zoo
Date opened	1963; 62 years ago (1963)
Location	West Orange, New Jersey, United States
Coordinates	40°46′3″N 74°16′55″W / 40.76750°N 74.28194°W / 40.76750; -74.28194
No. of animals	Approximately 1,400
Annual visitors	755,000 (2016)
Memberships	AZA

Welcome to Turtle Back Zoo! It's a super fun zoo located in West Orange, New Jersey, and it's part of the South Mountain Recreation Complex. This amazing zoo covers 20 acres inside the beautiful South Mountain Reservation. It's also part of the Essex County Park System, which is the oldest county park system in the United States!

The zoo first opened its doors in 1963. Back then, it mostly showed animals that lived around the New York metropolitan area. But now, you can find animals from almost every continent on Earth, except for Antarctica! As of 2018, the zoo is home to about 1,400 animals, including hundreds of birds flying freely in a special aviary. The zoo is open all year, as long as the weather is good.

Turtle Back Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2006. This means it meets high standards for animal care and education. In 2017, it also joined the Zoological Association of America (ZAA).

Discovering Turtle Back Zoo's Past

The old entrance to Turtle Back Zoo, which was updated in 2018.

The name "Turtle Back Zoo" comes from a cool rock formation nearby. The zoo first opened in 1963 with 140 animals from 40 different species. At first, it was only open during certain seasons and had a fun "storybook theme." You could see exhibits like a giant piggy bank and a pirate ship! By 1973, the zoo had grown a lot, with 850 animals from 275 species.

In 1975, a group called the Zoological Society of New Jersey started to help the zoo. They worked to promote it and raise money. Even with their help, the zoo faced tough times and almost closed down in 1995.

But the zoo didn't give up! In 2000, a big plan was made to improve everything and get accredited by the AZA. Between 2003 and 2006, the zoo received about $20 million in funding. This money helped build new facilities, like the Essex County Animal Hospital right at the zoo. A new entrance and office building was also built, which included a reptile center, classrooms, and an auditorium. Thanks to all these improvements, the zoo earned its first accreditation in 2006!

In 2016, more than 700,000 people visited the zoo, which was a record for them!

Exploring Amazing Animal Exhibits

The zoo has many exciting exhibits where you can see animals from all over the world. You can visit the American Black Bear exhibit, or check out the Essex Farm, where you can meet common farm animals and even enjoy a petting zoo. The Tropical Currents Aquarium shows off fish from around the world in six large tanks.

Reptile Center: Home to Scaly Creatures

The Reptile Center is an indoor exhibit that opened in June 2006. It cost $4.6 million to build! When it first opened, it had two nine-foot-long "black dragons," which are a type of monitor lizard discovered in Malaysia. Now, the main exhibit in the Reptile House features a Komodo dragon, an amazing animal that was born without a mate!

Gibbons: Acrobats of the Trees

The gibbon habitat is a huge outdoor mesh tent, about 11,000 square feet! It's home to the zoo's five gibbons. This exhibit opened in 2009 and was the first part of the "Amazing Asia" section.

Amazing Asia: Journey to the East

This part of the zoo takes you to Asia! You can see cute Red pandas, elegant White-naped Cranes, and small Muntjacs. A new leopard exhibit also opened here in 2018. The crane and muntjac exhibits also feature a rare African Dwarf crocodile.

Shores of Africa: Penguins and More

The penguin enclosure is filled with lively African penguins swimming in an indoor pool. You can even watch them swim underwater! This exhibit is also home to a galago family.

Wolf Woods: Howling with Wolves

In Wolf Woods, you can see two types of gray wolf. The exhibit is designed to show where the wolves sleep in their den.

Sea Lions and Touch Tank: Water Wonders

This exhibit has a huge 82,000-gallon pool for sea lions! There's also a 1,600-gallon touch tank where you can gently touch sting rays. This $5.5 million exhibit opened in 2013 and also has space for educational programs.

Big Cat Country: Roaring Adventures

Get ready to see big cats like cougars and jaguars in this exhibit! It's designed to look like the Southwest United States, with rocky areas, a waterfall, and plants from that region. You can view the animals from areas that look like a mine or cave. This $3 million exhibit opened in 2011 and is also used for breeding these amazing animals.

African Adventure: A Safari Experience

In May 2016, the zoo opened its three-acre African Adventure attraction. This $7 million addition looks like an African Savannah! It's home to four Masai giraffes. You can also spot eland, whistling ducks, ostriches, and bonteboks. In spring 2017, this exciting exhibit welcomed lions and a pack of hyenas!

Drill Family Flamingo Exhibit: Pink and Pretty

In the summer of 2018, a new exhibit opened for the beautiful American flamingos and the colorful Hyacinth Macaws. This new home for tropical birds used to be the zoo's old penguin exhibit.

Other Fun Attractions at the Zoo

The train (above) and carousel (below) at Turtle Back Zoo

Besides the animals, Turtle Back Zoo has several other exciting attractions! These include a fun train ride, a carousel, and a playground. All these attractions are part of the larger South Mountain Recreation Complex.

Turtle Back Zoo Railroad: A Ride Through the Zoo

The Turtle Back Zoo Railroad is a cool narrow gauge train ride that opened with the zoo in 1963. It has had different trains over the years, and in 2015, it even got a third train to celebrate a special anniversary! From 2019 to 2020, the railroad got a makeover, and its tracks were moved to make space for a new parking area.

Endangered Species Carousel: Ride a Wild Animal

The carousel opened in 2008 and is inside a big gazebo. It's called the Endangered Species Carousel because you can ride on one of 30 different endangered animals, like pandas, alligators, and tigers!

Safari Mini Golf: Putt Your Way Through Africa

On September 25, 2010, the zoo opened the Turtle Back Zoo Safari Mini Golf course. This 19-hole miniature golf course looks like three different regions of Africa: the Sahara Desert, the African Grasslands, and the Congo. In the center, you'll see a model of Mount Kilimanjaro! The course has sculptures of various animals, like camels, elephants, gorillas, and lions.

Treetop Adventure Ropes Course: Climb and Explore

In September 2011, the zoo added the Treetop Adventure Ropes Course. This is a great way to challenge yourself and have an adventure high above the ground!

Education Center: Learn and Grow

An education center opened in July 2014. Here, visitors can learn even more about animals and conservation through fun programs and activities.

Veterinary Hospital: Caring for Animals

The zoo has a modern on-site veterinary hospital that cost $2 million to build. It has a full surgery room and equipment for x-rays and ultrasounds, ensuring the animals get the best care.

Sea Turtle Recovery Center: Helping Our Ocean Friends

In 2016, a new 15,000-square-foot, $2 million sea turtle recovery center opened within the zoo. This special center helps injured or sick sea turtles get better before they can return to the ocean.

Images for kids

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  Turtle Back Zoo Railroad attraction.

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  Endangered Species Carousel attraction.