Turtle Back Zoo Reopens Leopard Exhibit After $2.5M Renovations

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The visitors at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo probably won’t be able to see a difference when they glimpse the facility’s newly reopened leopard exhibit. But to the big cats that prowl the West Orange zoo, the $2.58 million “behind the scenes” renovations will represent a huge leap forward, officials said.

On Monday, Essex County officials announced that the leopard exhibit is officially reopened after being closed for a “comprehensive modernization and expansion.”

The exhibit – which houses snow leopards and amur leopards, of which there are less than 100 in the wild – includes:

• Enlarged holding areas
• New caging equipment
• Additional space
• New heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems
• Replacement of perimeter fencing and wire mesh above the outdoor exhibit area

French & Parrello of Wall was awarded a professional services contract to design the improvements to the Leopard Exhibit. Crosson Construction from Rumson was awarded a publicly bid contract for $2,194,000 to perform the construction work to the exhibit's support building. GSP Properties from Metuchen was awarded publicly bid contract for $387,421 to replace the perimeter and mesh fencing, officials said.

The Department of Public Works monitored the project. The improvements were funded through the Essex County Capital Budget and with grants from the NJ Green Acres program and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.

Work started in February and was completed in six months, officials said.

“The public will not be able to see a difference in the exhibit, but the improvements that were made to the building, holding areas and fencing help tremendously in how we operate and care for our animals," Turtle Back Zoo Director Michael Kerr said.

Zoological Society of New Jersey Executive Director Adam Kerins pointed out that there are less than 100 Amur leopards in the wild.

“It’s great that we are part of the story to help strengthen this population,” Kerins said. “It shows Turtle Back is right in the middle of important conservation efforts.”

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said that many of the upgrades were made behind the scenes and will enhance the care provided to the leopards and the safety of the zoo’s animal keepers.

“What happens behind the scenes is just as important as the public exhibit space seen by our visitors,” he emphasized.

• See related article: Snow Leopards Debut at Turtle Back Zoo
• See related article: Missing Leopard Causes Brief Scare at Turtle Back Zoo

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Photos: Essex County / Turtle Back Zoo