Turtle Back Zoo is part of the South Mountain Recreation Complex in West Orange, New Jersey. It is spread over 20 acres in the South Mountain Reservation. The zoo was founded in 1963 and was originally reserved for animals native to the New York metropolitan area. Today it includes species from every continent on Earth except Antarctica. It is home to about 1400 animals belonging to 40 species. A free-flight aviary contains several hundred birds. The zoo is open year-round. It is .member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and of the Zoological Association of America. Exhibits include an American black bear exhibit; the Essex Farm that includes farm animals and a petting zoo; and the Tropical Currents Aquarium. The aquarium consists of six large tanks with fish from all over the world. There is also African Adventure's first enclosure with Masai giraffes, Common Eland, White-faced whistling ducks, Ostriches, and Bontebok.
560 Northfield Ave, West Orange, NJ 07052, Phone: 973-731-5800