Turtle Back Zoo Opens $7M Giraffe Exhibit In West Orange

West Orange, NJ - Necks will soon be stretching in West Orange.

On Tuesday, Essex County administrators announced that the Turtle Back Zoo’s long-awaited, $7 million giraffe exhibit officially opened.

The exhibit - now the largest at the zoo - features four Masai giraffes, eland, whistling ducks, ostrich and tortoises.

Turtle Back Zoo is now among the 29 Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoos that house 119 giraffes, county officials stated.

• See related article: Giraffes Arrive At Turtle Back Zoo In N.J.

The outdoor habitat created for the giraffes includes three acres of space designed to replicate the African Savannah and has multiple viewing areas for the public, including areas where the public can view the giraffes feeding, county officials stated.

Officials said that the exhibit - located in the southern part of the zoo behind the Animal Hospital and Train Station – includes giraffes that were born in the United States and come from other zoos in Florida, South Carolina and San Diego.

According to officials, the giraffes’ barn – the largest structure in the zoo - includes a specially designed, three-layer floor with a slip-resistant finish, an indoor exercise area, adjustable hay racks to accommodate the different heights of the giraffes, windows are positioned at the giraffe’s height so they can look outside during the winter and multiple heating systems to ensure proper temperatures.

Wall-based French & Parrello received a $375,000 contract to design the exhibit, and Terminal Construction of Wood Ridge was awarded a publicly bid contract for $7 million to build the exhibit.

The exhibit is being funded through the Essex County Capital Budget and with a grant from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.

• See related article: Turtle Back Zoo Plans To Build Giraffe Exhibit In Essex County

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Photo: Essex County, Turtle Back Zoo