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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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What do famous penguins do? Get there own merch! I mean... the new 2025 Zoo Membership Magnet does feature my dazzling profile, so it kind of makes it true. Don’t worry, I won’t let this inflate my beak too much. But maybe I could get some extra fish out of it? 🐟🐟
‼️A reminder voting is now open for Round 3. Let’s get to the final six!
INSTAGRAM | VOTE in two 24-hour polls on stories @penguins_international
FACEBOOK | VOTE by Emoji on post @penguinsIntl
WEBSITE | VOTE at penguinsinternational.org/motpm-2025/
oxox, Zilla
#dazzlingdozen # MOTPM2025
Mar 30

Thanks to the help of our zoo animal friends and YOU, we made it to the top twelve! The competition is heating up so it’s a good thing as an African penguin I can handle a little warm water.
DYK African penguins forage in cold ocean currents with temperatures ranging from 41 to 68°F where Emperor penguins swim in water temperature as frigid as 28.8 °F.
Voting in Round 3 is this Sunday, March 30 & Monday, March 31.
oxox, Zilla & animal friends
📸 2. Paisley, Sheep | 📸 3. Penny, Zebu | 📸 4. Stella, Raven | 📸 5. Bowie. Lab
Mar 28

When sizing up this round’s competition, we thought it only appropriate we posted a chick pic of Zilla for comparison.💕
Final day to vote for this round is today, March 24. Three ways to vote:
INSTAGRAM | VOTE in two 24-hour polls on stories @penguins_international
FACEBOOK | VOTE by Emoji on post @penguinsIntl
WEBSITE | VOTE at penguinsinternational.org/motpm-2025/
📸: Africa Keeper Kelly
Mar 24

Practicing my intimidation game one flipper at a time. Do you think the other penguins will fall for it? African penguins can swim up to 12 miles per hour while hunting, and I’m on the hunt for another win!
Vote 3 ways March 23 and March 24! Link in Bio.
INSTAGRAM | VOTE in two 24-hour polls on stories @penguins_international
FACEBOOK | VOTE by Emoji on post @penguinsIntl
WEBSITE | VOTE at penguinsinternational.org/motpm-2025/
oxox, Zilla
Mar 22

Zilla here!
First, big news, we made it to Round 2! A big thank you to everyone who voted in Round 1, but we aren’t done! Mark your calendars; voting for Round 2: Flipper Frenzy is this Sunday, March 23 & Monday, March 24.
Now we wanted to take a second to address some of the rumors out there that I’m exaggerating my size. Listen, you don’t get the name GodZILLA by being small!
📸 Above is me with Biscuit (the smallest in our colony). Does this look photoshopped to you? Plus penguin flippers aren`t really conducive to using editing software.🙄
oxox, Zilla & Biscuit (with a photobomb from Riley in the back)
Mar 21
