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This place is a zoo: go wild at Texas'' top ten zoos.

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Safari cancelled? Then get your exotic-animal fix by discovering a zoo. Our team of cub reporters roamed the state to find Texas' top ten zoos, from Fort Worth's nationally renowned attraction to the tiny one in Victoria that's devoted to native critters (we omitted preserves, aquariums, exotic-species ranches, and private animal collections). To quote a pint-size visitor we saw arriving at Waco's zoo, "Hurry up! Here comes fun!"

Austin Zoo The Austin Zoo is basically a big barnyard full of exotic beasts as well as miscellaneous domestic breeds. Situated on the city's southwestern edge, it started out in 1992 as a petting zoo for small fry and has expanded to include 106 species, from Shetland ponies to New Guinea singing dogs. It's a rescue zoo: Nearly all of the animals are rejects from private collections or strays that were taken in by the staff. I visited the zoo in the company of two young friends, Caitlin and Kelsey, regulars who know most of the animals by name. We first saw Dilbert the dog, an enormous Anatolian shepherd that is bigger than both girls put together; he likes to hang out around the air-conditioned entrance, like a canine version of the greeter at Wal-Mart. Moving into the zoo proper, we came upon a fetching farm scene: old-fashioned red barns and stables adorned with tin signs and farm paraphernalia. Near one building a worker milked a goat. Only the wire pens and cages tipped me off that I wasn't visiting Old McDonald's farm.

First we made a beeline for the marmosets' cage. They curiously cocked their tiny heads in the direction of the fur-challenged primates on the other side of the bars. We also watched squirrel monkeys, a mangabey, brown lemurs (which grunt just like pigs), and several rowdy capuchins--one of which got a big laugh when he knocked over his metal food dish and scared himself with the noise. Nearby were capybaras--which Caitlin identified as "the largest land rodents" (she was right; I checked). The little nilgai antelopes were friendly, and a snaggletoothed llama liked to spit. Feline attractions include lions, servals (midsize wildcats much like ocelots), and five exuberant young tigers who like to play king of the mountain.

Some of the animals are visible only from seats aboard its minitrain, the Rawhide Rocket. (The zebras, for example. were moved to a private area outside the tracks to distance them from the lions, whose scent makes them nervous.) The twenty-minute ride through the Hill Country offers a pretty view and a breeze. Two caveats: The zoo's rocky slopes challenge even the hardiest of ankles, but there is a food concession stand and plenty of picnic tables in case you want to BYO. (512-288-1490; www.austinzoo.org). Anne Dingus.

Gladys Porter Zoo, Brownsville Luis burst through the gates first, grabbing a zoo map on the way: his brother. Sebastian, was a half step behind, followed by me. Veteran zoo-goers, the boys barely glanced at the flamingos, paused briefly for the jaguars, and then settled in to observe the spider monkeys. ("There they...

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