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by alexis on Tuesday, July 21 @ 19:31:04 UTC
By Colleen Reynolds
Reporter
(July 23, 2009) — A two-toed sloth enjoyed a lazy summer afternoon hanging peacefully upside down from a shaded branch. A Baird’s tapir, characterized by its elongated, trunk-like nose, escaped the heat by plunging into a cool pool. An Andean condor extended its magnificent wingspan, while golden lion tamarins jumped from vine to vine in a furry orange blur.
All these animals and more can be seen in action at the Bergen County Zoological Park at Van Saun County Park (216 Forest Ave., Paramus — 201-261-7312). Home to 75 species native to North, Central and South America — many of which are endangered — the zoo offers a chance for locals to reconnect with the natural world, whether by observing the tremendous climbing and swinging acrobatics of the black-handed spider monkeys, marveling at the mountain lions and American bison or having a budgie, a small parakeet, land on them in the aviary.
Indoor exhibits include terrariums of Caribbean giant cockroaches, a boa constrictor and neon-colored Panamanian tree frogs so still and unusual they resemble plastic figurines.
The zoo’s small size allows visitors to explore all the exhibits within a day, even if one chooses to stroll through at the leisurely pace of a Galápagos tortoise.
Regular adult admission is $4 for Bergen County residents and $6 for non-residents. There is an additional cost for the always lovely train ride, which snakes its way along the perimeter of the zoo.
Other options
At the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo (560 Northfield Ave., West Orange — 973-731-5800), Penguin Shores is among the newest exhibits, replicating the South African coastline. The Australian Interactive Aviary leads to a boardwalk featuring such “Outback” wildlife as wallabies, kangaroos and emus.
Space Farms Zoo & Museum, tucked in the northwestern corner of the state (218 Route 519, Sussex — 973-875-5800), boasts the world’s largest private collection of North American wildlife, including bears, foxes and coyotes. Among its more exotic creatures are the endangered ring-tailed lemurs native to Madagascar.
Residents of northern New Jersey also have the luxury of taking day trips to the famous Bronx Zoo (2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, N.Y. — 718-367-1010), whose warm-weather operating schedule is in effect until Nov. 1. Summer is best for viewing the animals in their outdoor habitats.
The Congo Gorilla Forest, featuring western lowland gorillas and other primates, is among the zoo’s most renowned exhibits. The exhibit has an additional fee.
Other popular ones include African Plains, featuring lions, gazelles, giraffes and more; JungleWorld, home to creatures from the Asian tropics; Madagascar!, a wonderland of unique animals like the carnivorous fossa; and Tiger Mountain, home to the Siberian Tigers of the Russian Far East.
The Bronx Zoo has a sea lion pool, but fans of aquatic animals may also want to see the New York Aquarium (Surf Avenue and West 8th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. — 718-265-FISH) for a fish’s-eye view of a watery world, including sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, walruses, otters and sea stars.
Summer is a great time to visit the creatures who share our planet, whether they live on land, in the sky or under the sea.
