One might wonder how a sea lion, elephant and tiger, to name a few, wound up in a Haddonfield, New Jersey, zoo. Oh, did I mention that they were sculptures? At the Children’s Sculpture Zoo, visitors can engage with seven unique animal sculptures, including a seal lion, rabbit, toad, giraffe, elephant, gorilla and tiger.
Each bronze sculpture holds a special place in the landscaped park. The toad, with its big eyes and bumpy skin, looks ready to jump. One can almost hear the toad’s long, musical sounds about to come out. The rabbit, with its hind legs up and ears upright, appears focused and alert, maybe from a sound coming from behind the bushes. The sea lion with its nose in the air and flappers flat on the ground has a curious expressions as it gazes upward in a snobby kind of way. Ever-so-tall, “Tumi” the giraffe stands tall at 15 feet with its strong and muscular body anchoring its long neck. Playful and adorable “Ndotto,” the elephant, sits ready to engage, as its trunk is lifted high and its floppy ears hang low. “Murph,” the gorilla, seated with its legs in the back and arms in the front, frowns as its big, hairy body showcases its strength. “Tatem Tiger “displays its power with its mouth open for all to see its fangs. This tiger appears to be on a hunt. Each sculpture offer an opportunity for children to use their imagination as they touch, climb, sit and experience the animals.
The fun, however, doesn’t stop there. The Children’s Sculpture Zoo is also interactive. Visitors can call a phone number or use a QR code, both displayed on a sign at the zoo, and receive a phone call from one of the animals. “You can request a phone call from each animal and receive digital trading cards. It’s an educational experience for the kid. I did research, created scripts, created voice-over recordings, sound effects, music and interesting facts about each animal. Then I created approximately 5-7 digital playing cards for the kids,” Joseph Levine, President of the Haddonfield Civic Association and Vice President of the Haddonfield Outdoor Sculpture Trust (HOST), plus owner of Creative Communications and Graphics, Inc., stated. Levine, in addition to creating the logo and signage for the zoo, collaborated with the Haddonfield Public Library for this interactive component.
The sculptures made their home in Tatem Memorial Garden thanks to the efforts of the Haddonfield Outdoor Sculpture Trust. As HOST founder and chair, Stuart Harting, explained, back in 2018 he heard that Eric Berg, a Philadelphian recognized for his bronze animal sculptors, may be open to exhibiting some of his work. Harting and Berg met several times before Berg visited and grew fond of Tatem Park. After negotiations, the borough rented (and later purchased) the toad, rabbit and sea lion, and they became the first inhabitants of the Children’s Sculpture Zoo. That was in April 2019, and a little over a year later, the giraffe, “Tumi,” also found a home in the sculpture zoo. “When sculptor John Giannotti was contacted by a local resident who wanted to sell a bronze giraffe in his yard before he sold his house, we were able to meet with him and arrange for the giraffe to come to the zoo,” Harting said.
Other sculptures were added in the following years. In August 2021, the elephant, “Ndotto,” became part of the zoo, and then in June 2023, the gorilla, “Murph,” joined the others. The tiger, “Tatem Tiger,” was the last to join in April 2024. Ndotto was created by Gillie and Marc Schattner, while the artists of the giraffe, gorilla and tiger are unknown. The seven sculptures were installed by Sikora Wells Appel, a Haddonfield landscape architecture firm led by Joseph Sikora, president of HOST’s executive committee. “Strategically locating the pieces in the proper position and setting is important. The sculptures get a lot of love and use as can be seen in the hand polished bronze patina on Ndotto’s trunk and Sea Lion’s head,” Sikora said.
In addition to visiting the zoo, children can also take part in its upkeep. The Children’s Sculpture Zoo Zookeepers program is an opportunity for families to volunteer their time maintaining Tatem Memorial Garden. This summer program is open to all interested in preserving the beauty of the garden.
