New Red Panda Joins Turtle Back Zoo
Jing-Li is the Newest Addition to the TBZ Family
(February 5, 2014 – West Orange, NJ): Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. welcomed a new Red Panda at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo. The Red Panda named Jing-Li came to Essex County Turtle Back Zoo from The Philadelphia Zoo as a Species Survival Plan (SSP) recommended transfer for breeding. The 7-year-old female panda has settled into the Amazing Asia exhibit with the Zoo’s resident 11-year-old male Red Panda named Sebastian, who originally came from Knoxville, Tenn.
“Acquiring a second red panda through our affiliation with AZA demonstrates our commitment to preserving rare animal species and promoting the importance of animals and conservation to the public, as well as providing a more dynamic exhibit for zoo visitors,” DiVincenzo said.
As an AZA-accredited Zoo, Turtle Back participates in a cooperative management plan for conservation. Red Pandas are a Species Survival Plan (SSP) species for AZA. Currently, there are 140 pandas in 50 United States zoos in the program, with a goal of 165 animals. This year, there were 46 pairs recommended for breeding. Breeding season for the Red Pandas is January through April, and each pair can produce up to four cubs.
“We’re very excited about Zoo’s newest addition,” Essex County Turtle Back Zoo Director Brint Spencer said. “The pair of red pandas holds a promising future for the continued growth of the species and of Turtle Back Zoo,” he added.
The Amazing Asia exhibit is open year-round at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo and houses active winter animals, including the red pandas, snow leopards and Amur leopards. Visitors can help the zoo take care of its red pandas through its “Adopt an Animal” program. For information, visit http://turtlebackzoo.com/adopt-an-animal/.
Turtle Back Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Regular admission is $7 for children and senior citizens, $9 for adults and free for children under 2 years. For additional information, please call 973-731-5800 or visit www.essexcountynj.org.
PRESS: For more information please contact Christine Perez, The S3 Agency, at 973-357-5533 or cperez@theS3agency.com
About Essex County Turtle Back Zoo
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, has been ranked as New Jersey’s #1 Zoo by New Jersey Monthly magazine, received a 2013 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor.com, is AZA-accredited and features over 800 animals from around the world. Turtle Back Zoo is committed to providing an enriching recreation experience that fosters excellence in wildlife education and wildlife conservation for present and future generations.
Since taking office in 2003, DiVincenzo has spearheaded over $70 million in upgrades to Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, which have included developing the Carousel with 33 figures of endangered animals; building the Sea Lion Sound Exhibit with sea lions, sharks and sting rays; the Big Cat Country Exhibit with Jaguars and Cougars; Tam-ring Gibbons Reserve with Gibbons apes, Reeves muntjac and white naped cranes; Australian Exhibit that features kangaroos, wallabies, emus and over 500 birds in the Aviary; Reptile and Education Center, open air dining pavilion and playground, Penguin Exhibit, Otter Exhibit, Wolf Exhibit, Alligator Exhibit, North American Animal Exhibit, Black Bear Exhibit, Animal Hospital, Essex Farm Petting Zoo and South American Animal Exhibit; renovating the Food Pavilion for year-round use and making upgrades to the entrance as well as fencing and infrastructure to meet AZA requirements. Funding has been provided through Green Acres grants, existing capital improvement bonds, or donations from the Zoological Society, Essex County Parks Foundation, corporations or private foundations. Corporations that have provided support include Investors Bank, Prudential Financial, Inc., Wells Fargo (Wachovia Bank), PNC Bank, PSE&G, Verizon, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Coca Cola, Capital One Bank, TD Bank, Aramark, Covanta Energy and OxyMagic carpet cleaning.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 22 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, three off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. Turtle Back Zoo is located in Essex County’s South Mountain Reservation and was opened to the public in 1963.
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