Turtle Back Zoo Opens Wellness Center Highlighting Veterinary Transparency

The Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, New Jersey, officially inaugurated its new Barry H. Ostrowsky Animal Wellness Center in September 2025, marking a significant expansion of its animal healthcare infrastructure. The 10,000-square-foot facility, which broke ground in October 2023, replaces the former Wolf Woods Exhibit and is designated as the central hub for all zoo medical operations, including advanced treatment and veterinary procedures.

The construction of the modern complex was managed through a publicly bid contract awarded to Dobco Inc. of Wayne for $17,045,000, with architectural design provided by Comito Associates of Newark for $445,000. The center is engineered not only for superior animal care but also to build public trust through transparency in veterinary practices. A key feature is a treatment room equipped with a plate-glass window, enabling visitors to observe routine medical examinations in real-time.

This commitment to visibility positions the Turtle Back Zoo among a small number of U.S. zoos—estimated to be fewer than a dozen among the 250 accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)—that routinely allow the public to view veterinary operations. This approach serves as a direct measure to address public scrutiny regarding the welfare of captive animals. The facility includes specialized wings for treatment, quarantine, and nursery care, all equipped with contemporary apparatus, including a new CT scanner.

Public viewing extends beyond observation windows; cameras installed in surgical suites broadcast procedures live to viewing platforms and an adjoining atrium and conference room. During a recent evaluation of a young sulcata tortoise, zoo veterinarian Dr. Kailey Anderson demonstrated specialized equipment, such as a Doppler machine for monitoring the reptile’s heart. This center is a capstone to a broader revitalization effort under Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr., which has seen over $100 million in upgrades since 2003 to meet or exceed AZA and USDA standards.

The new facility honors Barry H. Ostrowsky, the retired President and CEO of RWJBarnabas Health, in recognition of his partnership with Essex County. The zoo will retain the original 6,000-square-foot Animal Hospital, opened in 2005, for additional care and quarantine functions. This expanded capacity supports the zoo’s diverse collection, which comprised approximately 1,400 animals as of 2018, and reinforces its participation in AZA’s Species Survival Plans.