Christie, DiVincenzo Welcome New Sea Lion Exhibit

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie traveled to West Orange Wednesday to help Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. officially open the Turtle Back Zoo’s newest exhibit — an 82,000-gallon pool for sea lions and a 1,600-gallon touch tank for sting rays.

Christie, accompanied by his daughter, Bridget, told the large and enthusiastic crowd that included visitors, county and state officials, zoo employees and volunteers the zoo is “the best zoo in the state,” and credited DiVincenzo for the improvements to the facility as it enters it’s 50^th year.

Sea lions have not been a regular part of the zoo in more than 20 years, officials said. The sea lion space will also allow for educational programs and special events, officials announced.

“A generation ago, sea lions were once part of the animal family at Turtle Back Zoo. As the zoo gets ready to celebrate its 50^th anniversary, we could think of no better gift than to bring these intelligent and entertaining mammals back," DiVincenzo said.

"The activity of the sea lions and seals, along with the sharks and sting rays that will inhabit a touch tank inside will attract a whole new audience and encourage other visitors to return again and again,” he added. 

After Christie cut the ribbon on the new natural habitat-themed display, which is the largest exhibit developed in Turtle Back’s history, he praised DiVincenzo, calling him the force behind the zoo’s transformation.

DiVincenzo recalled growing up in Newark, where, he noted, Christie was also born. The governor recalled his first visit to the zoo as a four year old back in 1966.

While the governor and his daughter fed the newest additions to the zoo family, DiVincenzo thanked the zoo’s major donors.

“Developing the exhibit was a massive undertaking and was only possible because of the widespread support and confidence we received from a host of sponsors, including the Zoological Society of New Jersey, NJ Green Acres, PNC Bank, Covanta Energy, philanthropist David Tepper and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund,” he noted.

Among the dignitaries on hand to help with the official opening were state Sen. Teresa Ruiz, Assemb. Thomas Giblin, Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura, Freeholder President Blonnie Watson, Freeholder Brendan Gill and Leonard Luciano and Essex County Register Philip Thigpen.