NJ’s Turtle Back Zoo Has 3 New Animals (PHOTOS)

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Lions and tigers and bears… oh wait. It’s three other animals - the Andean Condor, Giant Anteater and Maned Wolf – that have taken up residence at the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo.

This week, county officials announced the opening of the zoo’s two, “natural habitat-themed” animal exhibits at the zoo. The first exhibit features Andean Condors, and the other exhibit offers a combined habitat for Giant Anteaters and Maned Wolves.

According to officials, French and Parrello from Wall received a $90,000 contract to design the Condor Exhibit. The company also designed the upgrades to the Anteater and Maned Wolf Exhibit under an existing contract.

Zenith Construction from Orange was awarded two publicly-bid contracts to perform the construction work on both exhibits: $1,038,777 for the Condor Exhibit and $461,876 for the Anteater and Maned Wolf Exhibit.

Funding for the improvements came from the Essex County Improvement Authority’s Pooled Government Loan Program and a grant from the Zoological Society of New Jersey, county officials stated.

Work on both exhibits started in October 2016 and was completed in less than five months, officials said.

Acting Zoo Director Michael Kerr noted that the Andean Condor, Giant Anteater and Maned Wolf are all part of a species survival program promoted by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

“Bringing these animals to Turtle Back Zoo will help further diversify the genetics of the species and help strengthen their population over the next generation,” he said.

According to zoo officials:

“Andean Condors are a species of vultures and are the largest flying birds in the Western Hemisphere. They are found on the western coast of South America. The new exhibit is located across the path from the Savanna Café, which opened in 2016, and next to the Penguin Exhibit. It features a man-made tree in its center with plenty of areas for the birds to perch. There also is a small man-made pond within the exhibit. The new exhibit was built to replace an older one that was closed at the zoo several years ago.”

The female Condor coming to Turtle Back is originally from Taronga Zoo in Australia, officials said.

Zoo administrators stated:

“The Giant Anteater is native to South and Central America and is recognizable by its long snout. It eats primarily ants and termites and can grow to be seven feet long and about 90 pounds. Maned Wolves live in open areas, such as grasslands, and can be found in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia and in the northern end of the Andes Mountains. It can grow to weigh about 50 pounds and be 35 inches tall, and is recognizable by its long ears, which can be about 7 inches.”

The male Anteater is from Potawatomi Zoo in Indiana and the female Maned Wolf is from Denver Zoo in Colorado, officials said.

The Anteater and Maned Wolf are in the area formerly occupied by the Scottish Highland Cow, which was relocated to PAWS Discovery farm in South Jersey, officials said.

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photos via Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr., Facebook