Community Corner

Turtle Back Zoo Offers ‘Animal Antidote’ Videos Amid Pandemic

WATCH: Life has continued as usual for the flamingos, giraffes, lions, gibbons, wallabies, bison and other residents of the Turtle Back Zoo.

The Essex County Turtle Back Zoo reopened to visitors in June after temporarily closing due to the coronavirus.
The Essex County Turtle Back Zoo reopened to visitors in June after temporarily closing due to the coronavirus. (Photo: Shughes Studios/YouTube)

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County has seen its share of tragedy, triumph and uncertainty from the coronavirus pandemic. But to the full-time residents at the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, life apparently seems very much the same as it did before the outbreak.

After temporarily closing due to the virus in March, the county-run zoo reopened to visitors in June. Procedures have been put in place to promote social distancing among visitors and sanitize all equipment, officials said.

In the meanwhile, life has continued as usual for the flamingos, giraffes, lions, gibbons, wallabies, bison, leopards and many other residents of the zoo. But don’t worry – they’re doing fine, according to the Zoological Society of New Jersey at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo.

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The society has been sharing a series of videos recently filmed at the zoo that they’ve dubbed “Animal Antidotes,” hoping to spread some joy in a difficult time. Check out some of them below, and see the full collection here.

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