FORT WORTH, TX– The oldest zoo in Texas, the Fort Worth Zoo was founded in 1909 with one lion, two bear cubs, an alligator, a coyote, a peacock and a few rabbits. From these humble beginnings, the Zoo has grown into a nationally ranked facility, housing more than 5,000 native and exotic animals. Public reaction to the Zoo's renaissance has been tremendous, making the Fort Worth Zoo one of the most popular attractions in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The Zoo has been ranked as a top zoo in the nation by Family Life magazine, the Los Angeles Times and USA Today, one of the top zoos in the South by Southern Living Reader's Choice Awards, and named the number one attraction in the Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex by Zagat Survey U.S. Family Travel Guide.