Page 48 - 2023 Southern NJ Vacationer

OUR TWO ZOOS
Lions, tigers, and bears. Oh my.
CAPE MAY COUNTY ZOO
Seems like the Cape May County Zoo has rolled out the welcome mat for several new guests. Beverly, a two-year-old American bison, is a Jersey girl born at Six Flags Great Adventure and returning from a herd in North Carolina to enjoy life at the Cape May County Zoo, with her friends Hank, Velcro and Bart along with lady friends Sandy and Buttons. Don’t let her size or bulk deceive you. Bison, the largest mammal in North America, are fleet of foot and agile, capable of jumping fences and strong swimmers.
There is something fascinating about camels. Agreed? That one hump or two for starters but camels also have long eye lashes and flared nostrils that can plug themselves to keep out sand. And, they can drink 30 gallons of water in about 10 minutes. And you thought your goal of six or eight glasses a day was a challenge! Marty, the zoo’s Dromedary camel, has one hump but Walter, a Bactrian camel has two humps – and humps are used to store fat, not water.
Ever wonder what those loud roars from lions were all about? Actually, it’s their way of long-range communication with each of about 20 roars lower than the previous one – and they can be heard from nearly six miles, the loudest roar of any cats. Resident lions Lex, the big guy, and his sister Bella were
born in 2011 and have lived at the Zoo since 2014 with all their friends – snow leopards, monkeys, tamarins and a wide population of birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
The Cape May County Park and Zoo is filled with birds, animals, reptiles, primates and more. Along with all these wonderful animals, the zoo is home to about 550 inhabitants representing about 250 species, an impressive and diverse population, on 200 wooded acres and open space.
There are lots of other things to see and do at the park in Middle Township just off Exit 11 of the Garden State Parkway – two giant playgrounds and a Wildlife Carousel for the little ones, plus a Tree-to-Tree obstacle and zip line course.
Into fitness? The park’s outdoor fitness center has 12 different stations – chin up bars, push-up and sit-up platforms plus low-to- the-ground balance beams. Shady bike paths also offer a great work out and expansion plans will connect locations in the park with direct routes to zoo in the future. And there’s golf – well it’s Frisbee golf, so instead of a club and ball, players use a disc or a Frisbee and throw it from the tee area to a basket which is the “hole.” Across Route 9 from the zoo there are tennis and basketball courts plus baseball and softball fields.
More good news. Admission to the park and zoo is free. Parking? Free. Donations are accepted, encouraged, and welcomed; some of the tours, picnic pavilions, etc. are fee-based. Both the park and zoo are open 364 days a year, weather permitting, closed Christmas 609-465-5271: www.cmcZoo.com
COHANZICK ZOO
The Cohanzick Zoo is a premiere attraction in Cumberland County. Curious about the name? It’s named for the Lenape Tribe who lived in Bridgeton along the Cohansey River, known as the Cohanzicks. The river still flows through the park, adding a peaceful feel to the zoo – New Jersey’s first zoo founded in 1934.
46 SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY VACATIONER