Texas Zoos

Fort Worth

The Fort Worth Zoo, considered one of the nation's top zoological facilities, is well-known for its animal-friendly habitats. The zoo is home to over 5,000 animals with features ranging from the World of Primates gorilla habitat to Thundering Plains, showcasing bison and other animals native to the American Plains.

The zoo is also home to the Texas Wild! exhibit, an expansive section that gives families the chance to see all of Texas in a day. Travel from the Panhandle Plains to the Gulf Coast with a short stroll past exhibits that feature the native flora and fauna for each section of the state.

Dallas

The Dallas Zoo, founded in 1888, spans 85 developed acres. The zoo is divided into two sections. In the older ZooNorth section, animals are housed in smaller containments; in the newer Wilds of Africa, animals roam larger, more natural habitats. At the Jake L. Hamon Gorilla Conservation Research Center, gorillas forage among two lush acres and visit the A.D. Martin, Sr. Forest Aviary to see free-flying African birds. Families especially enjoy the 20-minute narrated Monorail Safari, an excellent way for young visitors to tour the Wilds of Africa. The facility is also home to a Children's Zoo for plenty of furry petting.

Houston

The Houston Zoological Gardens, located in Hermann Park, sprawl across 55 acres in central Houston. This notable zoo is home to over 5,000 animals representing over 700 species. Boasting the highest attendance figures of any zoo in the Southwest, this facility includes primate exhibits, a remodeled giraffe habitat, a pygmy hippo display, sea lion training exhibitions and even vampire bat feedings.

San Antonio

The San Antonio Zoological Garden and Aquarium is one of the largest in the nation. Since 1914, this zoo has been operating on the same site, one that formerly served as a rock quarry. Today the zoo is home to over 3,500 animals and an extensive children's zoo.

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