Bergen County Zoo

Bergen County Zoo is a 13-acre community zoo within Van Saun County Park in Paramus. First opened as a nursery rhyme-themed children's zoo in 1960, it has developed into a wildlife destination focused on animals from North and South America. The collection includes more than 40 species, with animals such as American bison, Baird's tapirs, ocelots, capybara, Goeldi's monkeys, black-handed spider monkeys, Andean condors, and red wolves. Naturalistic outdoor exhibits are paired with a broader emphasis on animal care and conservation.

Education is a major part of the visitor experience. The zoo's Education Center offers programs covering animal adaptations, habitats, endangered species, reptiles, animal classifications, and zoo careers, with live animal guests incorporated into many programs. The zoo also participates in captive breeding and conservation initiatives, including work involving rare and endangered species. Bergen County Zoo suits travelers looking for a compact community zoo with a strong conservation and education focus, rather than a large institution organized around wildlife from every continent.