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Executive

From our smallest spider to the half-ton North American Bison in our Great Plains Exhibit, Essex Countyโ€™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 donโ€™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
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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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About us
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Year Established
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Animals
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Number of guests
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Special Exhibits