Pig At Woodbridge Petting Zoo Died In Ida Flooding, County Says

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — On Monday — after weeks of controversy — Middlesex County made the surprise announcement it was permanently closing the Johnson Park petting zoo in Piscataway.

This comes after photos surfaced of the animals, mostly horses and sheep, standing in ankle- and belly-deep floodwaters Sept. 2, the day after Tropical Storm Ida hit New Jersey.

However, while no animals died at Johnson Park, one animal, a pig, did die in Ida-flooding at a Woodbridge petting zoo: Merrill Park & Animal Haven in Iselin.

The pig drowned when Merrill Park petting zoo was similarly inundated by surprise flash flooding from the south branch of the Rahway River, which flows through Merrill Park.

In fact, two people in the park that night sprang into action when they realized the Rahway River was flooding the animal pens, and ran into the pens to free the trapped animals.

"Our Park Rangers and Office of Parks and Recreation staff immediately responded to this unprecedented flooding, and along with two park patrons, entered the enclosures and rescued the animals," said Middlesex County spokeswoman Kimberly Burnett.

"Unfortunately, upon entering the pig enclosure, it was discovered that one pig had passed away. All other animals in this haven were successfully rescued," she said.

Merrill Park Animal Haven and Johnson Park Animal Haven are both animal rescue operations that also function as small petting zoos. They are both operated by Middlesex County and located in Middlesex County parks.

Johnson Park petting zoo is now permanently closed down, leaving just Merrill Park petting zoo and another county-run petting zoo in Thompson Park in Monroe.

Related: Middlesex County Closes Johnson Park Zoo After It Was Hit By Ida Flooding (Oct. 18)

Be the first to know. Sign up to get Patch emails: https://patch.com/subscribe Contact this Patch reporter: Carly.baldwin@patch.com