Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney invites the public to attend the 50th birthday celebration of the Bergen County Zoo. Admission to the zoo, train and carousel rides and a hayride through the park are free for Bergen County Residents. Proof of residency is required.

“With more than 250,000 visitors a year, the Bergen County Zoo has become a destination for families throughout the metropolitan region,” said McNerney. “I am very proud of the zoo and of the good work that is done there year round in terms of educational programming for people of all ages and efforts by the zoo staff to promote wildlife conservation.”

WHEN: Saturday, August 14, 2010 (rain date: August 15) 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

WHERE: Bergen County Zoological Park 216 Forest Avenue Paramus, NJ 07652

The Bergen County Zoological Park is an 18-acre facility located at the north end of Van Saun County Park in Paramus and River Edge. The Zoo features approximately 500 animals of 90 different species of wildlife found in North, Central and South America. Examples of the animal collection include: Mammals Birds Reptiles/Amphibians Mountain Lion Bald Eagle American Alligator American Bison Andean Condor Green Iguana American Elk Roseate Spoonbill Boa Constrictor Spider Monkey Scarlet Ibis Aquatic Turtles Golden Lion Tamarin Spectacled Owl Desert Lizards Goeldi’s Monkey Snowy Owl Poison Dart Frogs Ocelot Greater Rhea Red-footed Tortoise Baird’s Tapir Toucan Yellow-footed Tortoise Bobcat Giant Anteater Capybara

The Bergen County Zoo offers a wide variety of educational programs throughout the year. Programs are available to public, private and home school groups; scouts, recreation groups, and playgroups; local nursing homes and public libraries; and individuals and families.

The zoo opened in 1960 as a nursery rhyme-themed children’s zoo, but quickly expanded its scope.

In the late 1970’s the zoo moved in a more professional direction, establishing staff training programs, an education department, animal nutrition programs and a more diverse animal collection. 

In 1986, the Bergen County Zoo became the first zoological institution in New Jersey to become accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This achievement placed the zoo among the most professionally operated facilities in the United States.

The 1990’s saw an increased involvement in conservation programs and work with endangered species. Highlights include the hatching of an Andean condor chick and its subsequent release in the Andes Mountains of Columbia as part of an international conservation program. Additionally, numerous rare and endangered species were added to the collection as part of multi-institutional captive breeding programs. The 1990’s also saw a renewed commitment to visitor services with the addition of a new entry complex and the introduction of new special events and exhibits.

As the new millennium unfolded, the zoo continued its efforts in conservation. In 2000, the Bergen County Zoo Field Conservation Grant Program was established to provide funding for field conservation projects in North and South America, and in 2003 the zoo became a founding member of the Brazilian Ocelot Consortium in an effort to preserve the rapidly declining populations of this species. Additionally, significant efforts in education continued with the development of an outdoor amphitheater for programming and construction of an Education/Discovery Center. A new comprehensive master plan was also developed to guide the zoo’s development well into the future.

Directions: From Route 4 East: Pass the Bergen Town Center. Make right onto Forest Avenue. Go through first traffic light at Howland Avenue. Stay to the right. The park entrance is on the right. From Route 4 West: Exit at Forest Avenue. Bear right onto Forest Avenue. Go through first traffic light at Howland Avenue. Stay to the right. The park entrance is on the right. From Garden State Parkway North: Exit 161 to Route 4 East, follow from above. From Garden State Parkway South: Exit 165 towards “Oradell”. At 2nd traffic light, make right onto Forest Avenue. At 3rd light, turn left onto Spring Valley Road. At deli, make a right onto Continental Avenue. The park entrance is on the right. From Route 17 North and South: Exit Ridgewood Avenue (follow Oradell sign); Cross over Garden State Parkway. Go through the traffic light (cross street is Pascack Road). Street becomes Oradell Avenue. Next traffic light, make a right onto Forest Avenue. At the third traffic light make left onto Spring Valley Road then a right onto Continental Avenue. The park entrance is on the right.