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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.
Learn More
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WILD for FALL weekends
Plan to spend a fall weekend at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo. Extra activities on October 18 & 19 and October 25 & 26!
- DJ
- festive decorations
- crafts
- keeper interactions
- s’more station $
- discounted admission for children in Halloween costume per paying adult
(Discount applicable to listed dates only. Cannot be applied with other discounts or promotions.)
Oct 2

🥂 Embark on a Spirits Safari! 🥂
Join us for an evening of exploration and flavor!
✨ Sample from over 10 New Jersey distilleries
🍴 Enjoy light bites
🎟️ Take home a general admission ticket to Essex County Turtle Back Zoo for a future visit
Specialty cocktails + bottles will be available for purchase.
All proceeds help support wildlife conservation with New Jersey’s #1 zoo! 🐢🌿
📅 Thursday, October 23 | ⏰ 5:30PM - 8:30PM
📍 @mcloones_boathouse
🔞 21+ only | Valid ID + ticket required
Zoo Members — check your email for exclusive offers!
👉 Tickets on sale now! www.zoologicalsocietyofnj.org/events/spirits2025
Sep 30

👻🛒 Want to help make Essex County Turtle Back Zoo spook-tacular?
Our keepers are gearing up for the Kreative Kreepers Contest and need your help stocking up on enrichment items for the animals!
Shop our Halloween Wish List on Amazon, and your donation will help transform animal habitats into frightfully fun displays for all to enjoy. 🎃🐾
👉 Donate today: link in our bio!
View the decorated habitats on Saturday, October 18 & Sunday, October 19!
📅 Save the date & stay tuned for the full schedule!
Sep 29

Get your final votes in for the 2025 BARKtoberfest Pet Costume Contest hosted by Eastman Companies! 🐕
Please visit the link in our bio to make your final votes by Wednesday, October 1 at 12PM.
View photos from the event & costume contest on the Zoological Society of New Jersey Facebook page!
Sep 29

💧Celebrate the complexity of water for World Rivers Day! If you live in New Jersey, chances are that there`s a river within 20 minutes of your home. Rivers are critically important to species survival and overall environmental health, so we have to do our best to take care of them. Flowing approximately 80 miles through both rural and highly urban environments before emptying into the Newark Bay, the Passaic River in New Jersey is one of the most polluted waterways in the entire country. And yet its publicly-accessible parks and natural areas serve over two and a half million people.
Here at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, we have species from rivers from all over the world, including our North American River Otters, American Alligator, Tomistomas, Eastern Hellbender, and West African Dwarf Crocodile. Many of these species are endangered, in large part due to habitat loss. Loss of habitat does not necessarily mean rivers are drying up, but they are becoming no longer safe to live in due to garbage and chemical pollution.
See what your local community is doing to clean up local waterways to help the wildlife around you thrive. If we continue to work on improving our waterways, we can start to see more diverse and health wildlife right in our own backyards!
📸TBZ`s North American River Otter, American Alligator, Tomistomas, West African Dwarf Crocodile
Sep 28

Say 👋 to Callie and Sandy, our two ambassador rabbits! They came from a bunny rescue, where they used to be ambassadors as well. Many rabbits are acquired as pets for holidays, such as Easter, but then the owners don`t fully understand what goes into their care like:
▶️Lots of room to exercise & forage
▶️Rabbit-proofed home (they can, and will, chew through cords, wooden furniture, and pretty much anything within reach)
▶️Constant supply of fresh hay and a variety of vegetables in their diet, not just carrots 🥕 (our girls love their leafy greens, especially kale and endive!)
▶️Friends! Rabbits are very social, so adopting more than one of the same gender is advised
▶️Rabbit-savvy vet! Not all local vet offices treat rabbits
Rabbits, just like cats and dogs, come in a variety of breeds, with some that can be 1 foot long or even larger (like Flemish giants), so it`s important to learn about the details of a breed you might be adopting, as they have their own wants and needs.
Callie, the white rabbit, is a Californian rabbit, and Sandy, the grey rabbit, is an American Chinchilla rabbit. Sites like The Livestock Conservancy have a lot of information about the various breeds of many species.
☀️Enjoy these photos of them savoring the last bits of summer weather. We hope you are too!
Sep 27

🐧 Registration is OPEN!
Join Essex County Turtle Back Zoo + @fleetfeetmontclair for the Penguin Waddle Family Fun Run & Walk 🎉
📅 Sat, Oct 18 | ⏰ 8:30 AM
📍 Start: The Waterfront at Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex → Finish: Essex County Turtle Back Zoo
🏃 3-mile course or 🐾 1.3-mile Safari Shortcut
🎟️ Zoo admission included
🎁 First 300 registrants get a custom pom-pom beanie
Bring the whole family — run, walk, or waddle your way to the Zoo for a one-of-a-kind finish line celebration!
👉 Costumes + animal spirit encouraged!
www.zoologicalsocietyofnj.org/events/penguinwaddle2025
Sponsored by @brooksrunning!
Sep 26

It is time to start voting for the cutest contest of the year, the 2025 BARKtoberfest Pet Costume Contest hosted by Eastman Companies! 🐈 You may vote once per day per email. The top three entries with the most votes will win some amazing prizes.
First Place- $200 Amazon Gift Card
Second Place- One Year Family Membership to Essex County Turtle Back Zoo
Third Place- One Year Individual Membership to Essex County Turtle Back Zoo
Share with your friends, family, co-workers, or anyone you think will vote! Please visit the link in our story to start voting! Voting ends Wednesday, October 1 at 12PM.
View photos from the event & costume contest on the Zoological Society of New Jersey Facebook page!
Sep 24

WEEKEND FALL TO DO LIST:
✔️Mini Golf
✔️McLoone`s Boathouse Restaurant
Show your same day receipt from Essex County Mini Golf Safari at @mcloones_boathouse, located just next door, and receive 10% off your restaurant bill!
Offer applies to weekends only starting September 20 through the end of October. Valid only for same day receipts.
Pick out what you plan to order at McLoone`s at mcloonesboathouse.com
* Mini Golf is open weekends from 10am - 7pm *
Sep 23
