’Roos, Emus...& Toucans Too!
Australia is a world away from Cape May County. But you can soon experience a bit of the land Down Under when the Cape May County Zoo opens its new habitat for five red kangaroos and two emus.
“The red kangaroo is a completely new animal at the Cape May County Park and Zoo,” says Park Director Ed Runyon. “We already have wallabies, which are a close relative, but the kangaroo is a much larger animal. The red kangaroo is a 6-feet tall animal, while the wallabies are only 2-feet tall. Just to be able to see the kangaroos and observe their behavior is going to be a unique experience that we’ve never had here before.”
Located in the area previously occupied by muntjacs, the 12,000-square-foot exhibit will be adjacent to the wallaby exhibit and extend the Australian theme in that area of the zoo.
Making the exhibit exclusively “Aussie,” two emus will join the kangaroos in the new habitat. Large, flightless birds that are native to Australia, emus are capable of living harmoniously with kangaroos.
“Emus blend in very nicely with kangaroos, and that’s certainly going to add an exciting element to the exhibit,” says Runyon. “It will be a mixed habitat, similar to what we have out in the Savanna where we have ostriches with giraffes. They’re in the same enclosure and they just coexist together.”
The exhibit will also feature state-of-the-art elements to enhance the visitor experience.
“We’re using a new stainless steel mesh fencing, which is a material that was just developed in the last decade,” Runyon explains. “Zoos are using this now, instead of chain-link or wood material, which could be a little difficult to see through. This is a very fine cable made of extremely strong stainless steel. It’s three times stronger than typical chain-link fence. It’s also thinner than chain link with openings that can be bigger, and it’s not as reflective. So, this fencing almost disappears completely when you zoom in with a camera – it’s excellent for viewing and photographing animals.”
But that’s not the only cool thing debuting at the zoo this summer. Not far from the kangaroo and emu exhibit, visitors will find another new habitat for two colorful, exotic toco toucans.
“We’re getting a young male and female, and we hope to have them become a mating pair so we can eventually have a flock of toucans,” says Runyon.
Toco toucans are the largest and most widely known species in the toucan family and recognizable by their large yellow bills. The zoo’s new toucan duo will enjoy a spacious indoor/outdoor habitat with 6,500 cubic feet of open air for flying, and a variety of branches, perches, and ropes.
Runyon is proud that both of these exhibits are being built almost completely by the zoo’s in-house carpenters and maintenance staff.
“Both projects are going to cost about $200,000, which is a tremendous cost savings because we’re doing so much of it in-house,” he says. “For the kangaroos, we’re using the same area as the muntjac exhibit, but it’s all new – the fencing, the habitat, and the housing itself. It’s 12,000 square feet, and it’s all going to be done in-house.”
As for the toucan exhibit, everything will be done in-house with the exception of the indoor toucan building itself, which will be put out for bid.
“We’re saving a lot of money by doing so much in-house,” Runyon notes. “If we outsourced the entire thing, it would probably cost half a million dollars.”
But even with expert craftsmanship from the zoo’s staff and significant savings, these exhibits are costly enhancements. So, along with the new exhibits, a fundraising campaign will be launched through increased signage at the zoo, social media blasts, and other solicitations to increase awareness and financial support for these exciting additions.
“As everybody knows, the zoo is one of the jewels of Cape May County and it’s free to the public,” says Neil Byrne, president of the Cape May County Zoological Society. “We think that the new kangaroo, emu, and toucan exhibits are really good conservation additions that will enhance our visitors’ experiences and be enjoyed for many years to come. The county, visitors, and residents have always supported the zoo, and we look forward to their support for these new exhibits as we expand our fundraising efforts.”
Happily, visitors and residents will have even more to enjoy at the park and zoo in 2021.
“There will be a lot of new experiences at the zoo this summer,” Runyon says. “We’re also in the process of building a new café inside the zoo. We’ve never had a café before, we just had small food and beverage kiosks. Now we’ll have a café where people can come in and relax with air conditioning in summer and heat in the winter.”
“It’s going to be built right next to the lion exhibit so visitors can sit down in the building and look out the window and see the lions. There will also be a lot of outdoor seating in covered areas that will be right next to the lions. With the addition of the café, kangaroos, emus, and toucans, there’s going to be lots of new experiences for everyone to enjoy at the park and zoo.”
Fun Facts!
5 Fun Facts about Kangaroos!
A male kangaroo is called a boomer and a female kangaroo is called a jill.
A kangaroo can reach a speed of 35 mph and swim really well.
Kangaroos cannot move backwards.
A group of kangaroos is called a mob.
There are more kangaroos in Australia than there are Australian people.
5 Fun Facts about Emus!
The emu is the second largest bird in the world next to the ostrich.
Emus are the largest birds in Australia.
Emus are members of the Ratite family of birds.
Emus are flightless but can run up to 30 mph.
Female emus are larger than males.
5 Fun Facts about Toco Toucans!
The Toco Toucan is the largest species in the Toucan family.
The Toco Toucan is also the best-known species in the Toucan family.
Toco Toucans are recognized by their large yellow bills.
They are found through South America.
The toucan’s enormous bill means that when compares to the size of its body, it has the largest bill of all the world’s birds.
Supporting the Cape May County Zoological Society
The Zoo Society is launching a Habitat Fundraising Campaign to raise $200,000 for the creation of the two new habitats featuring red kangaroos, emus, and toucans. Funds raised in the campaign will provide for indoor and outdoor space, modern fencing, a large exhibit area, and advanced indoor comforts for the animals.
To support the campaign visit capemayzoosociety.org/donate or mail your check to:
Cape May County Zoo Society
Habitat Fundraising Campaign
P.O. Box 864
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Questions? Call 609-465-9300 or email info@capemayzoosociety.org
