Cohanzick Zoo

About Cohanzick Zoo

Cohanzick Zoo sits inside Bridgeton's city park in Bridgeton, New Jersey, a park that spans more than 1,100 acres. It holds the title of New Jersey's first zoo and remains one of the only municipally run zoos in the state, operated as part of Bridgeton's Department of Recreation and Public Affairs with additional support from the Cumberland County government and public donations. It is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The zoo dates to 1934, when the city found itself in possession of a small herd of deer that residents felt should be put on public display. It has grown since into a collection its own materials describe as over 100 animals representing 45 species. Admission is free, a fact the zoo attributes directly to the combination of government funding and public support it relies on, and it runs an "adopt-an-animal" program to help sponsor individual animal welfare.

The Cohansey River flows through and around the surrounding city park, giving the grounds a distinct water feature. The zoo describes its mission as serving as a sanctuary for animals beyond the typical exotic species visitors might expect, alongside education about local ecosystems and wildlife for the surrounding community.

History

The zoo began in 1934, when the City of Bridgeton acquired a small herd of deer that the public wanted to see exhibited, and a zoo was created around them. It was originally known as the Bridgeton Zoo. Through about 1970 it operated more like a petting zoo than a modern zoological facility. Change came when Jerry Alden, then Director of Parks and Recreation for Bridgeton, brought in Henry R. Ricci as curator, a local known for a talent with wildlife; Ricci later described the choice facing the zoo as, in his words, "Close it up, or make it a zoological garden and educational center."

Between 1970 and 1973, the zoo transformed. A visit by zoo resident Maggie, a jaguar, to the Governor's office in Trenton led New Jersey Governor Cahill to award the zoo a $25,000 state gift. That funding supported a new sanitation program, proper diet and care programs, and more natural habitats. Dr. Ernest Zirkle, a local veterinarian who had previously cared for the animals as a public service, was made a formal staff member, and the Cohanzick Zoological Society was formed to support the zoo through public awareness and fundraising — a role it still fills today. The zoo took its current name, Cohanzick, in 1972, drawn from the Cohanzick band of Lenape people who lived alongside the nearby Cohansey River.

Exhibits and habitats

Cohanzick Zoo's exhibits reflect its gradual shift, starting in the early 1970s, from an informal petting-zoo layout toward more naturalistic animal habitats. As part of that 1970-1973 modernization, the zoo built new enclosures designed around proper sanitation and care programs rather than the simple pens that had housed its original deer herd. The zoo's grounds sit within the larger Bridgeton city park, with the Cohansey River running through and around the property.

Animal highlights

Cohanzick Zoo's materials describe at least 45 species listed on the zoo's website, represented across more than 100 individual mammals, birds, and reptiles. Named residents mentioned in the zoo's own materials include Bengal tigers, a raccoon, and a common box turtle, alongside the zoo's founding population of deer. Historically, the collection has also included jaguars, exemplified by Maggie, whose 1970s visit to the state capitol helped secure funding for the zoo's modernization.

Planning your visit

As listed on the zoo's website, Cohanzick Zoo is open seven days a week, with exceptions for select holidays, inclement weather, and Christmas Day, when it is closed; check the zoo's Facebook page for closure announcements. Admission is free, though donations are welcomed. Free parking is available adjacent to the zoo entrance. The zoo describes its grounds as entirely wheelchair and stroller accessible, though it does not currently offer wheelchairs, scooters, or strollers for rent on-site.

Outside food and drink are permitted, since the zoo has no full-time concessions, and picnic areas are available in the grove just before the zoo entrance, near the splash park — visitors are asked not to feed the animals with their own food. Pets are not allowed inside the zoo; service animals are permitted, but emotional support animals are not. The zoo's address is 45 Mayor Aitken Drive, Bridgeton, NJ 08302, roughly 45 minutes south of Philadelphia via NJ-55 and about 50 minutes northwest of Atlantic City via Route 40. Because hours and closures can change seasonally, confirm current details on the official Cohanzick Zoo website or its Facebook page before visiting.