Turtle Back Zoo
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo and The Zoological Society of New Jersey are helping to support AZA’s Monarch SAFE and the Monarch Joint Venture in their mission to protect pollinators. Pollinators are animals that carry pollen from one plant to another and allow for growth of new plants. There are many different species of pollinators including bees, bats, small mammals, and some species of birds. Monarchs are a species of butterfly that are common pollinators native to North America. Every year, monarchs migrate from areas such as ours to Mexico – some traveling over 3,000 miles!
Unfortunately, due to human development, their habitat is shrinking with their population declining 85% in the last two decades. Monarchs rely heavily on native milkweed who’s numbers are also declining due to habitat loss and the planting of non-native plants. Monarch’s lay their eggs on milkweed where they grow into caterpillars that feed off of the milkweed. Without native milkweed, Monarchs are unable to reproduce and we have less of these important pollinators.
Monarch Joint Ventures is helping increase Monarch populations by planting milkweed across the nation. By working with local organizations, they are able to plant local milkweed that benefits Monarch populations. The Zoological Society of New Jersey is supporting the Monarch Joint Venture. For every membership sold, a milkweed plant will be planted. And those who buy a membership will receive a Pollinator Pop where they will be able to plant their own pollinator plants in their backyard!
Every year, our planet loses too many irreplaceable species to extinction. The Zoological Society of New Jersey is committed to helping to stem this tide. To learn more, visit our website and consider donating to protect important species, such as Monarch Butterflies.