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From our smallest spider to the half-ton North American Bison in our Great Plains Exhibit, Essex County’s Turtle Back Zoo offers a look at more than 100 different species of native and exotic animals from five continents. Get up close and personal with our animals at our Essex Farm Petting Zoo, and don’t forget to take a tranquil ride through South Mountain Reservation on our miniature train. Come back often as we constantly are adding new and exciting natural habitat exhibits for our animals. Whether you spend a day or an afternoon, Turtle Back Zoo is a special place where children and their families can learn about animals and gain appreciation for nature. I invite you to Experience Essex and Turtle Back Zoo.
Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.
Essex County Executive
About The zoo
For over 60 years, we have been inviting people to explore animals and habitats from around the world at their local zoo.
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Essex County Turtle Back Zoo is a dynamic conservation institution devoted to both local and global conservation! As defenders of wildlife and members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), we support AZA conservation initiatives like SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction. SAFE programs develop and implement conservation projects that protect threatened animals, including several that you can find here at TBZ. But, exotic species from around the globe are not the only animals in danger. Unfortunately, all of the North American Songbirds (NAS) are being threatened by global development causing deforestation and climate change, and these are only a few of the dangers they face. The SAFE NAS plan was developed to help preserve these birds` natural habitats and reduce other risks to their survival, such as building collisions, pesticide use, and keeping predators like house cats indoors. But, for the everyday person, we can`t always make these changes ourselves. Here at TBZ, and in collaboration with the New Jersey Audubon Society, we have many different ways for you to learn more about North American songbirds and how to keep them safe:
• Bird Friendly Coffee: Coffee is often grown in big empty fields that were once home to forests that thousands of birds lived in. Bird Friendly Coffee ensures that the coffee is grown in a forest, preserving the habitats of the songbirds. This coffee is sold in the TBZ gift shop in partnership with the AZA and SAFE NAS.
• Christmas Bird Count + Great Backyard Bird Count: Spend the day hiking around the reservoir and counting birds of different species! How many can you find?
• World Migratory Bird Day: Celebrate migratory birds in the zoo with us by learning about them at a special table in the zoo and taking a birding hike around the reservoir to help us monitor bird populations.
• World Series of Birding: Get a team of birders together and compete to see who can identify the most birds in 24 hours! This is a nationwide competition that occurs yearly, and TBZ is part of the reigning champion team!
Donate to support on our Facebook!
May 7

Have you heard of the World Series of Birding? This competition, created by the New Jersey Audubon Society, is a race to see who can identify the greatest number of bird species in 24 hours throughout the great Garden State. This is the 42nd year of this competition and the 4th year that Essex County Turtle Back Zoo is teaming up with our conservation partners at Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary. This year the event takes place on May 10th!
Donate to support on our Facebook!
May 5

🎉 We’re celebrating the Grand Opening of the Barry H. Ostrowsky Animal Wellness Center on Friday, May 9 from 5:30PM–8PM! 🐾
✅ Tour the new Wellness Center 🏥
✅ Enjoy beer & food trucks 🍻
✅ Meet Doc McStuffins 👩⚕️
✅ Visit story time 📖
✅ Take time to color 🖍️
✅ Don’t miss the Teddy Bear Clinic 🧸
✅ And more! 🎉
👉 Grab your tickets now: link in our bio!
May 5

Interested in what happens when one of our animals isn`t feeling well, or have a budding veterinarian in your family and want a closer look at what that might entail? Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of our brand-new Barry H. Ostrowsky Animal Wellness Center! For ages 6 and up, this is a 30-minute tour that will take you through some treatment rooms and procedures that can occur, and how our veterinary team takes care of our over 900 animal family members. Link in Bio.
May 3

This year`s Membership in Action initiative is SAVING AFRICAN PENGUINS! 🌎🐧 Proceeds from each membership will support our partners at SANCOBB in our shared efforts to sustain coastal bird populations. You can learn more about African Penguins at our Shores of Africa Exhibit.
🔗 Learn more at www.zoologicalsocietyofnj.org/memberaction!
May 2

BYOPN: Bring Your Own Pretzel Necklace! 🥨🍺
Brew at the Zoo is BACK on Saturday, June 28th from 6PM to 9PM! 🍻 VIP is sold out, but there are still a limited number of General Admission and Designated Driver tickets available. Don`t wait too long or tickets may sell out! 🚨🔔
🎟️ Get your tickets now: link in our bio!
Apr 30

Afternoon Families!
Due to the weather forecast, we are going to RESCHEDULE our Sensory-Friendly event scheduled for tomorrow for an evening in the summer.
The new date & time is: Thursday, August 7th, 2025 from 4pm - 7pm.
If you already had tickets, you were automatically moved to the August date. If you are unable to attend in August & need a refund, please reach out to [email protected] with your confirmation number.
We hope to have a great event in August!
Apr 25

🌎 This is the beginning of our Party for the Planet season 🎉 an Association of Zoos and Aquariums initiative to celebrate Planet Earth, biodiversity and conservation efforts. From the deepest depths of the oceans to the Artic, Earth is home to millions of species. In order to celebrate and protect those species, we`re going to be learning today about a few of our animal ambassadors at the Zoo, their conservation measures and actions that we can take both at home and beyond to protect them.
Apr 23

Grand Opening Celebration of Essex County Turtle Back Zoo`s Barry H. Ostrowsky Animal Wellness Center! 🏥⚕️
Join us for a family-friendly evening celebrating the grand opening of our state-of-the-art Animal Wellness Center.
📅 Friday, May 9, 2025
⏰ 5:30PM - 8PM
📍 Essex County Turtle Back Zoo
🐾 Tour the New Facility: Explore our advanced wellness center and learn about animal wellness and conservation both locally and globally.
🦒 Stroll the Zoo: Take a leisurely walk through the zoo and enjoy all the amazing habitats.
🧑⚕️ Meet & Greet: Meet our board-certified veterinarian and skilled technicians. Learn about their work and the care they provide to our beloved animals.
🐻 Teddy Bear Clinic: Register to participate in our special Teddy Bear Clinic. Bring your favorite stuffed animal for a wellness check-up with our knowledgeable docents.
Purchase tickets now: link in our bio!
Apr 18

Cheers to 12 Years! 🍻🎉
Get ready to raise a glass — Brew at the Zoo is back for its 12th year at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo! 🐯🍺
Join us on Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 6–9PM for an unforgettable evening filled with:
🟡 Craft beer tastings from 40+ breweries
🟡 Live entertainment to keep the vibes going
🟡 Delicious foods and snacks to pair with your pours
🟡 And plenty more surprises throughout the night!
Whether you`re a seasoned beer lover or just here for the good times, you won`t want to miss this wild celebration!
🎟 Full Event Info & Ticket link in our bio!
Apr 14
