Most people go to the zoo expecting to see giraffes stretching for leaves or playful primates swinging across their enclosures. But at a New Jersey zoo, visitors are gathering around something far more unusual. Instead of watching animals from afar, they can now watch the people who care for them up close. For many guests, seeing veterinary work in action has become as fascinating as seeing the animals themselves.
A Tortoise Exam That Captured Everyone’s Attention
One morning at the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, a small crowd formed around a large viewing window as a young sulcata tortoise received a full veterinary check. Guests watched for more than half an hour as the endangered species, also known as the African spurred tortoise, had X-rays taken, blood drawn, measurements recorded, and a microchip inserted.
Veterinarian Dr. Kailey Anderson gently slid the gel covered wand of a Doppler machine between the top and bottom of the tortoise’s shell to listen to its heartbeat. The tortoise responded with quiet stubbornness, pulling in its head and thick legs as if refusing to cooperate. Anderson calmly repositioned the wand and reminded onlookers that working with tortoises requires patience. If the animal decides “no,” then the process simply slows down.
A Rare Look Behind The Scenes
The Turtle Back Zoo recently joined a small group of accredited zoos in the United States that regularly allow the public to observe routine veterinary care. According to Dr. Scott Terrell, a veterinarian and former accreditation commission member, only about a dozen zoos across the country offer this level of transparency.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom has welcomed guests into its veterinary spaces since 1998, and other facilities, including the Nashville Zoo and the Oklahoma City Zoo, have added viewing areas and observation decks. These spaces allow visitors to see everything from routine exams to complex procedures, helping them better understand the level of care animals receive.
For many zoos, this openness also helps counter misconceptions about animal welfare. As Nashville Zoo’s animal health director Dr. Heather Schwartz noted, when work happens out of sight, people often fill in the blanks with their own assumptions. Public treatment rooms replace speculation with education.
A Zoo With A Long History And A Modern Approach
Turtle Back Zoo, home to roughly 150 species, has long been recognized for its work with clouded leopards and sea turtle rehabilitation. It also gained attention for an unlikely friendship between a cheetah and a Labrador retriever, which became a social media favourite.
The zoo opened in 1963 and nearly closed in the 1990s due to financial challenges. Over time, a series of renovations and expansions revitalized the space. Today, the zoo welcomes nearly a million visitors per year and has invested in a brand new veterinary hospital worth $17 million. The new building opened in April and features a large treatment room with a wide viewing window that allows visitors to watch exams firsthand. Surgeries still take place in a private, off view area to keep animals safe and calm.
An Educational Experience For Guests Of All Ages
On a sunny autumn weekend, the tortoise’s exam drew families curious to see what veterinary care looks like behind the scenes. The tortoise had been found wandering on a New Jersey street, and because sulcata tortoises sometimes appear in the pet trade, it was unclear where she came from.
During the exam, Anderson and vet technician Madison Miranda handled the young reptile with care. Miranda held the tortoise while Anderson tried multiple limb positions for a blood sample. After a few gentle attempts, Anderson found the right spot and praised the patient for cooperating.
Once the initial checks were complete, the tortoise was treated to an antimicrobial bath and then returned to her enclosure with a snack of strawberries waiting.
On the other side of the window, 10 year old visitor Eleanor Wei watched the entire process with her mother. She described the experience as “really cool” and said she was glad to see real veterinary care happening right in front of her. For her and many other guests, it was a rare opportunity to learn how zoos keep their animals healthy.
