Zoo in New Jersey Lets Guests View Real Vet Procedures

A zoo in northern New Jersey is transforming how the public understands animal care by opening a full observation theater where guests can watch veterinarians perform real medical procedures.

The Turtle Back Zoo, already known for its conservation work, now lets visitors stand behind a glass window and witness wellness checks, X-rays, anesthesia procedures, microchipping, surgeries, and more.

The goal is to increase transparency as public scrutiny of zoos grows, while also educating families—especially children—about veterinary medicine and wildlife care.

Only a small number of U.S. zoos have similar viewing areas, putting Turtle Back Zoo among a select group.

The zoo, once nearly shut down in the 1990s due to financial struggles, has since been revitalized through major investments and is now drawing nearly one million visitors a year.

Its newly opened Barry H. Ostrowsky Animal Wellness Center includes quarantine, nursery, research rooms, and fully visible treatment areas, creating an immersive and educational experience unlike anything the zoo has offered before.