Sea Turtle Recovery releases its 50th sea turtle

Sea Turtle Recovery releases its 50th sea turtle

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Located inside Turtle Back Zoo, there is a nonprofit rehabilitation hospital that handles all critically injured and ill sea turtles that wash ashore in New Jersey. The group just celebrated releasing its 50th sea turtle back into the ocean after rehabilitating her for 16 months — but the organization does not […]

Bank becomes official sponsor of Turtle Back Junction

Bank becomes official sponsor of Turtle Back Junction

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. announced a long-term partnership agreement with Investors Bank for the bank to become the official sponsor of the miniature train ride at Turtle Back Zoo. In addition, the county executive announced that improvements to make the Turtle Back Junction train station more handicapped-accessible have been […]

Amphitheater project halted in wake of COVID

Amphitheater project halted in wake of COVID

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Before the COVID-19 pandemic stopped large gatherings from happening, Essex County residents spent months protesting a proposed 500-seat amphitheater to be built in the South Mountain Reservation northeast of the penguin pavilion at Turtle Back Zoo. As recently as March, residents held events at the entrance to the zoo, asking the […]

Amur leopard born at Turtle Back Zoo

Amur leopard born at Turtle Back Zoo

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A female Amur leopard cub has been born at Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange. The cub, named Nadya, was born Friday, March 13. The birth of the cub has great significance because the Amur leopard species is classified as critically endangered. “During these difficult times, it’s nice to share some […]

Area residents, youths protest zoo expansion

Students speak out against proposed amphitheater at Turtle Back Zoo

Area residents, youths protest zoo expansion

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders unanimously passed a resolution that authorized the county Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to apply to the state for a $4 million grant for the proposed “conservation pavilion,” a 500-seat amphitheater to be built in the South Mountain Reservation northeast of the […]

A green spring at Sea Turtle Recovery inside TBZ

A green spring at Sea Turtle Recovery inside TBZ

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Last November, frigid water conditions rapidly moving off of New Jersey’s coast brought the largest number of green sea turtles ever recorded onto the state’s shores. Rescuers scrambled to respond to calls to help various species of sea turtles up and down the coast. All of these threatened and endangered sea […]

Students to lead ‘Rally at the Rez’

Students to lead ‘Rally at the Rez’

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A student-led rally to Save South Mountain Reservation will be held in front of the Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave. in West Orange, on Sunday, March 1, at noon. Organizers are demanding that Essex County stop construction of a planned amphitheater in the reservation, construction of which would detract 1.5 […]

Community comes out in force to oppose amphitheater plan

Residents call for conservation of reservation land; Adams misses TC meeting to speak out against plan

Community comes out in force to oppose amphitheater plan

CEDAR GROVE, NJ — Essex County officials held a public meeting on Jan. 21 about the proposed “conservation pavilion,” a 500-seat amphitheater to be built on the South Mountain Reservation northeast of the penguin pavilion at the Turtle Back Zoo. The meeting, held at the Essex County Police Academy in Cedar Grove, saw more than […]