N.J. Turtle Back Zoo Sets 12th Straight Attendance Record

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — For the 12th year running, one of New Jersey’s best local zoos has broken its own attendance record. Almost 800,000 visitors set foot in Essex County Turtle Back Zoo last year, according to county officials.

Essex County officials announced that the zoo saw 795,558 visitors in 2016, about 40,000 more visitors than 2015.

The zoo reached its 12th consecutive attendance milestone on Dec. 21, when Larisa Vickers of Bloomfield arrived to see the Holiday Lights Spectacular with her mother, Nadya Ziboreva, and two daughters, Sophia, 2, and nine-month-old Christina.

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“We are extremely humbled by the record number of people who keep coming each year to experience Essex County Turtle Back Zoo,” County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo said. “It’s very gratifying to see the excitement of children running from exhibit to exhibit to get an up close look at our animals and to realize how we are influencing our next generation of environmental stewards.”

According to county officials, in 2002, zoo attendance was 168,739. Attendance climbed to 211,449 in 2005, 340,356 in 2007, 420,276 in 2008 and broke the half million mark for the first time in 2010.

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Photo: Essex County

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