Suburban Zoo Transforms into Transparent Animal Care Destination

In November 2025, the Turtle Back Zoo in New Jersey has become one of the few zoos in the United States to offer the public a window into the veterinary care of its animals. Recently, visitors gathered around the zoo's new, publicly visible treatment room to observe a young sulcata tortoise, an endangered species, undergo a routine checkup.

Over the course of half an hour, the spectators watched as the tortoise was measured, X-rayed, had blood drawn, and was microchipped. The zoo's veterinarian, Dr. Kailey Anderson, used a Doppler machine to listen to the reptile's heart, though the process was not without its challenges as the tortoise resisted the procedure.

The Turtle Back Zoo's decision to provide this level of transparency is part of a growing trend among zoos to showcase the care they provide for their animals. Zoos see this as a way to address concerns about the well-being of captive animals and to help visitors better understand and appreciate the efforts made to ensure the animals' health and safety.

"Anytime things are out of sight, then people make up a narrative about what's going on," said Dr. Heather Schwartz, the animal health director at the Nashville Zoo, which has also invested in public viewing of its veterinary facilities.

For the Turtle Back Zoo, the new $17 million veterinary hospital, which opened in April 2025, has allowed the facility to not only provide better care for its approximately 150 species but also to invite the public to witness it firsthand. Zoo director Jilian Fazio hopes that this transparency will help visitors connect with the animals and become more involved in conservation efforts.