From the Turtle Back Zoo/Office of the Essex County Executive:
West Orange, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced plans to construct a hoof stock barn in the African Adventure Exhibit in Essex County Turtle Back Zoo on Thursday, August 13. The addition of the barn will enable the animal collection in the African Adventure to be diversified with zebras and additional bongos.
“Our African Adventure with our lions, giraffes, penguins and hyenas is one of our most popular exhibits. The addition of zebras and more bongos will increase the diversity in the Savanna-themed exhibit and create an even more dynamic display to capture the attention of our visitors,” DiVincenzo said.
“When we secure funding in Trenton for projects like this, people know that Essex already has a shovel in the ground, that a building will be constructed and there is a purpose for the project. We are creating another learning opportunity so that education is embedded in every visit,” Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz said.
“What a great history our zoo has. I am excited to see this new chapter taking shape and look forward to the exhibit’s opening,” Commissioner President Carlos Pomares said.
“It’s wonderful to see families gathering here and enjoying themselves. When they come here, they can not only have a good time but they can reconnect with nature,” Deputy Chief of Staff and Human Resources Director Jackie Jones said.
Pictured with County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. (center) are (from left) Mike Piga from French and Parrello, Parks Director Dan Salvante, NJ State Senator Renee Burgess, Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, Deputy Chief of Staff and Human Resources Director Jackie Jones, Commissioner President Carlos Pomares and his daughter Felicita, Turtle Back Zoo Director Dr. Jilan Fazio, Patrick Bieger from the Zoological Society of New Jersey, Deputy Parks Director Kate Hartwyk and Chief of Staff Phil Alagia. (Photo by Johana Caba)
“Our African Adventure Exhibit is our largest mixed species exhibit, and we are excited to make that even more diversified. This will be an opportunity for our visitors to reconnect with nature while we continue to protect and conserve wildlife from around the world,” Essex County Turtle Back Zoo Director Dr. Jilian Fazio said. She added that there are only about 100 bongos surviving in the world and that two of them are at Turtle Back Zoo. Having the hoof stock barn will enable Turtle Back to participate in another species survival plan with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help rebuild the population of bongos.
“On behalf of the Zoological Society, we look forward to continue partnering with the County Executive to bring more cool things like this to the zoo,” Zoological Society Executive Director Patrick Bieger said.
The hoof stock barn will be located in the African Adventure section of the zoo. The barn will provide indoor space for the zebras and bongos and will help facilitate the breeding of the bongos as per animal care requirements set by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The zebras and bongos will be on exhibit with the giraffes.
Zebras inhabit eastern and southern Africa and can be found in a variety of habitats such as savannahs, grasslands, woodlands, shrublands and mountainous areas. They are primarily grazers and live on eating vegetation. They are known for their black and white stripes. Bongos are large, forest-dwelling antelopes that are native to sub-Saharan Africa. They have a striking reddish-brown coat, black and white markings, white-yellow stripes and long, slightly spiraled horns. They are the third largest antelope species in the world.
French and Parrello from Wall was awarded a professional services contract for $671,250 to design the new barn. Tsivicos Enterprises from Neptune was awarded a publicly bid contract for $7,881,723 to construct the barn. Legacy Construction Management from Wall was awarded a $316,110 contract to monitor the project and provide construction management services. The project is being funded with grants from the NJ Green Acres program and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund. Construction began in July and is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2027.
Turtle Back Zoo is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $22 for adults, $19 for senior citizens over 62 and children ages 2 to 12, and free for children under 2. For more information, visit www.essexcountynj.org/turtlebackzoo or call 973-731-5800.
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo has roared back to life from the verge of closure by a previous administration. An all-time attendance record of 979,056 was set in 2023 and the zoo has operated as a self-sustaining facility with revenue collected exceeding operating expenses. In addition, Turtle Back is accredited by American Humane and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a clear indication that an institution is committed to the highest standards in animal care, ethics, conservation and education. It also has been named the Best Zoo in New Jersey by NJ Monthly magazine four times and received a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor.com three times.
Revitalizing Essex County Turtle Back Zoo
Since taking office in 2003, DiVincenzo has spearheaded over $100 million in upgrades to Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, which have included the Lemur Exhibit, Barry Ostrowsky Animal Welfare Building, Island Giants Exhibit featuring alligators and Komodo dragons, Amazing Asia exhibit featuring Red Pandas and Clouded Leopards, updating the Turtle Back Junction Train Station to enhance public access; developing the African Adventure with four Masai giraffes, lions and hyenas, and South African Penguins; the Drill Family Flamingo Exhibit; Leopard Exhibit; a new Educational Building; the Carousel with 33 figures of endangered animals; the Big Cat Country Exhibit with jaguars and cougars; Tam-ring Gibbons Reserve with white cheeked gibbons apes, Reeves muntjac and white naped cranes; Australian Exhibit that features kangaroos, wallabies, emus and over 500 birds in the Aviary; Reptile and Education Center, open air dining pavilion and playground, Otter Exhibit, North American Animal Exhibit, Black Bear Exhibit, Animal Hospital, Essex Farm Petting Zoo and South American Animal Exhibit; renovating the Food Pavilion for year-round use and making upgrades to the entrance as well as fencing and infrastructure to meet AZA requirements. Funding has been provided through Green Acres grants, existing capital improvement bonds, or donations from the Zoological Society, Essex County Parks Foundation, corporations or private foundations. Corporations that have provided support include Investors Bank, Prudential Financial, Inc., PNC Bank, PSE&G, Verizon, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Coca Cola, Capital One Bank, TD Bank, Aramark, Covanta Energy, Matrix Development Group, the family of Ronald Mount and OxyMagic carpet cleaning.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 23 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, six off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. Turtle Back Zoo is located in Essex County’s South Mountain Reservation and was opened to the public in 1963.
