Page 50 - 2024 Southern NJ Vacationer

OUR TWO ZOOS
Both zoos are located within expansive parklands
CAPE MAY COUNTY ZOO
Families, armed with cameras and wide-eyed children, enter a world where nature’s wonders are on full display. Beyond the gate, a world of diverse habitats awaits, filled with giraffes, monkeys, tigers, lemurs, birds, reptiles, primates, snow leopards and more. The Cape May County Park and Zoo is home to about 550 inhabitants representing about 250 species, an impressive and diverse population, on 200 wooded acres.
Looking for a family adventure? Take a self-guided tour of the zoo. Seeing the animals up-close in their native habitats is just the beginning. There are plenty 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. Explore the park from the treetops with Tree to Tree Cape May’s adventure courses, which include climbing walls, rope swings, and zip lines.
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 workout and expansion plans will connect locations in the park with direct routes to the 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.
Photography enthusiasts will find ample opportunities to capture stunning shots of the diverse animal residents and the scenic landscapes. The zoo’s educational initiatives promote awareness about the importance of
preserving wildlife and natural habitats.
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 only on Christmas. For more information call 609-465-
5271 or visit 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.
LiMu the emu is well known these days, thanks to Liberty Mutual, but hold on to your feathers! Lolli, Cohanzick’s resident emu who enjoys life at the zoo, is every bit as popular locally. They might even make a great couple. Who knows? Among her best zoo friends, Lolli counts Nora and Clyde the ring-tailed lemurs and Winston the wallaby. Of course, there’s also Sandy and Koko the gibbons, and Chase and Oxy the marmosets.
The zoo is home to big cats – the jungle variety! Bengal tiger brothers Mahesha and Rishi, who came to the zoo as babies, are babies no more. The zoo’s collection also
48 SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY VACATIONER