Turtle Back Zoo
Encyclopedia
Turtle Back Zoo, is a zoo
in West Orange, New Jersey
. Situated on 18 acres (7.3 ha) the South Mountain Reservation
, it is part of the Essex County
Park System, the oldest county park system in the United States
. Founded in 1963, the zoo was originally a showcase for animals indigenous to New Jersey, but currently features species from every continent except Antarctica. Located adjacent to the Richard J. Codey Arena
, practice home of the New Jersey Devils
, the zoo is open year-round.
The Turtle Back Zoo has been an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA) since 2006.
In 1975, the Zoological society of New Jersey was established to help promote the zoo and provide funding. Despite this, Turtle Back zoo fell into disrepair, and was almost shut down in 1995.
In 2000 the zoo created a master plan with the objective of improving the zoo enough to receive accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Between 2003 and 2006, Turtle Back received approximately $20 million in funding, which was used to improve the facilities, and in 2006 the zoo received its accreditation. New facilities included the Essex County Animal Hospital on zoo grounds, and a new 11000 square feet (1,021.9 m²) entrance/administrative complex with a 4000 square feet (371.6 m²) reptile center, classrooms, and an auditorium.
On November 2, 2009, the Turtle Back Zoo broke an attendance record with over 420,277 tickets sold since the beginning of the year.
, making Turtle Back the first zoo in the country to show this species of bat
; an American Black Bear
exhibit; the Essex Farm, which holds common farm animals and includes a petting zoo
; and an animal-themed playground
.
Reptile center
The $4.6 million reptile
house and education center, the zoo's first indoor exhibit, opened in June, 2006. The 4000 square feet (371.6 m²) reptile center contains a pair of nine-foot-long "black dragons", a species of monitor lizard
which was discovered in Malaysia in 2005 and has yet to receive a scientific name. The lizards at Turtle Back are believed to be the only "black dragons" on display in the world.
Gibbons
The Gibbon habitat is a 11000 square feet (1,021.9 m²) outdoor mesh tent habitat that is home to the zoos two gibbons. This $1.8 million exhibit was opened in 2009.
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
in West Orange, New Jersey
West Orange, New Jersey
West Orange is a township in central Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 46,207...
. Situated on 18 acres (7.3 ha) the South Mountain Reservation
South Mountain Reservation
South Mountain Reservation covers 2,047.14 acres in central Essex County, New Jersey, in portions of Maplewood, and Millburn and West Orange, bordering South Orange, between the first and second ridges of the Watchung Mountains....
, it is part of the Essex County
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
Park System, the oldest county park system in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1963, the zoo was originally a showcase for animals indigenous to New Jersey, but currently features species from every continent except Antarctica. Located adjacent to the Richard J. Codey Arena
Richard J. Codey Arena
The Richard J. Codey Arena at South Mountain is an ice hockey and ice skating arena in West Orange, New Jersey. The arena is named for former Governor of New Jersey Richard Codey...
, practice home of the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, the zoo is open year-round.
The Turtle Back Zoo has been an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.The AZA headquarters is located in Silver...
(AZA) since 2006.
History
Turtle Back Zoo, which took its name from a nearby rock formation, opened in 1963 with a collection of 140 animals representing 40 species. By 1973 the zoo was home to 850 animals representing 275 species.In 1975, the Zoological society of New Jersey was established to help promote the zoo and provide funding. Despite this, Turtle Back zoo fell into disrepair, and was almost shut down in 1995.
In 2000 the zoo created a master plan with the objective of improving the zoo enough to receive accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Between 2003 and 2006, Turtle Back received approximately $20 million in funding, which was used to improve the facilities, and in 2006 the zoo received its accreditation. New facilities included the Essex County Animal Hospital on zoo grounds, and a new 11000 square feet (1,021.9 m²) entrance/administrative complex with a 4000 square feet (371.6 m²) reptile center, classrooms, and an auditorium.
On November 2, 2009, the Turtle Back Zoo broke an attendance record with over 420,277 tickets sold since the beginning of the year.
Exhibits
Recent additions to the zoo include Filipino "golden mantled" flying foxesPteropus
Bats of the genus Pteropus, belonging to the megabat or Megachiroptera sub-order, are the largest bats in the world. They are commonly known as the fruit bats or flying foxes among other colloquial names...
, making Turtle Back the first zoo in the country to show this species of bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
; an American Black Bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
exhibit; the Essex Farm, which holds common farm animals and includes a petting zoo
Petting zoo
A petting zoo features a combination of domestic animals and some wild species that are docile enough to touch and feed. In addition to independent petting zoos, also called children's farms or petting farms, many general zoos contain a petting zoo...
; and an animal-themed playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
.
Reptile center
The $4.6 million reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
house and education center, the zoo's first indoor exhibit, opened in June, 2006. The 4000 square feet (371.6 m²) reptile center contains a pair of nine-foot-long "black dragons", a species of monitor lizard
Monitor lizard
Monitor lizards are usually large reptiles, although some can be as small as in length. They have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. Most species are terrestrial, but arboreal and semiaquatic monitors are also known...
which was discovered in Malaysia in 2005 and has yet to receive a scientific name. The lizards at Turtle Back are believed to be the only "black dragons" on display in the world.
Gibbons
The Gibbon habitat is a 11000 square feet (1,021.9 m²) outdoor mesh tent habitat that is home to the zoos two gibbons. This $1.8 million exhibit was opened in 2009.