Located in the heart of West Orange, the Turtle Back Zoo’s Barry H. Ostrowsky Animal Wellness Center is a state-of-the-art facility that provides the highest level of care to the zoo’s animals. The 10,000-square-foot building is a testament to the zoo’s commitment to animal welfare and its dedication to providing a unique experience for its visitors. The Barry H. Ostrowsky name is fitting, as it honors the retired president and CEO of RWJBarnabas Health, for whom the building is named. “The new facility will provide us with additional space and modern accommodations to provide the highest level of care to our animal family and to offer our visitors a unique look at our commitment to treating our animals,” said Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. The wellness center has separate wings for the treatment of hospitalized and quarantined animals to allow for increased biosecurity within the animal population at Turtle Back. This is made possible by the presence of two separate wings, one for the treatment of hospitalized animals and the other for the quarantine of animals that require isolation.

• The atrium is open to guests year-round and includes an animal display area that highlights the five domains model of animal welfare to serve as an educational space for guests to learn about the holistic way TBZ staff cares for animals.
• Cameras in the treatment and surgical suite allow guests to witness animal procedures and surgeries up close from the viewing platforms as well as in an adjoining atrium and conference room.

A unique feature of the wellness center is the independent viewing areas for the treatment and surgical suite. This allows visitors to observe animal procedures and surgeries without causing any disruption to the medical team. The building is located along the perimeter of the zoo grounds and is near Northfield Avenue. This will enable staff to utilize the established service road to access the building, which will minimize the impact for guests when animals enter the zoo or are brought to the center. The original hospital was opened in 2005 and was named for Ostrowsky in 2022. It was decided Ostrowsky’s name would be transferred to the new Wellness Center. The original building will be maintained as an animal care center and quarantine space. The professional services contract for designing the facility was awarded to Comito Associates from Newark for $445,000. The construction contract was awarded to Dobco Inc. from Wayne for $17,045,000. Funding for the project was provided by a $7.5 million grant from the NJ Department of Community Affairs, $5 million from the American Rescue Plan, and $4.1 million from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund. Of the money from the Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund, $500,000 is being provided in 2023, and the remaining $3.6 million will be provided over the next three years. Groundbreaking for the project was in October 2023. The

“This new Wellness Center will help us tremendously with our care for our animals, but it also is a signal to our visitors of our commitment to the health of our animals and promoting conservation,”

said Veterinarian Dr. Kailey Anderson. The Turtle Back Zoo’s Barry H. Ostrowsky Animal Wellness Center is a testament to the zoo’s commitment to providing a unique and educational experience for its visitors. The center provides a holistic approach to animal care, and its state-of-the-art facilities are a reflection of the zoo’s dedication to the health and well-being of its animals.

Key Features of the Barry H. Ostrowsky Animal Wellness Center

The Barry H. Ostrowsky Animal Wellness Center is a vital component of the Turtle Back Zoo’s animal care program. Its state-of-the-art facilities and holistic approach to animal care make it an invaluable resource for the zoo’s animals and its visitors. By providing a unique and educational experience, the center helps to promote conservation and awareness of animal welfare issues.