Turtle Back Zoo is a zoo in West Orange, New Jersey. Situated on 20 acres in the South Mountain Reservation, it is part of the South Mountain Recreation Complex, which is managed as 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 th…
Turtle Back Zoo is a zoo in West Orange, New Jersey. Situated on 20 acres in the South Mountain Reservation, it is part of the South Mountain Recreation Complex, which is managed as 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 the New York metropolitan area but currently features species from every continent except Antarctica. As of 2018, it houses approximately 1400 animals, including several hundred birds in a free-flight aviary. Located adjacent to the Richard J. Codey Arena, the former practice home of the New Jersey Devils, the zoo is open year-round, weather permitting.
Location: West Orange, New Jersey, United States
Date opened: 1963
No. of animals: Approximately 1,400
Annual visitors: 979,056
Memberships: AZA
Major exhibits: African Adventure, Amazing Asia, Big Cat Country, Essex Farm, Island Giants, Reptile Center, Sea Lion Sound, Sea Turtle Recovery, Shores of Africa, Touch Tank
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