KEY Magazine Fort Worth

Wonders From Down Under
by Don Patterson

Australia, known as the “land down under” boasts one of the most treasured seascapes in existence–the famed Great Barrier Reef. Stretching for more than 1,200 miles along the continent’s northeast coast, this largest natural feature on earth, is comprised of almost 3,000 reefs and 940 islands, and is home to thousands of animal and plant species. Visitors to the Fort Worth Zoo can view an impressive miniature version of this world wonder at the recently opened Great Barrier Reef Aquatic Exhibit. The new addition is a gift from the Baylor All Saints Medical Center, the Discovery Fund, and the T.J. Brown and C.A. Lipton Foundation, Inc. The exhibit consists of three saltwater tanks containing a diverse collection of Australian aquatic wildlife including 45 fish species, three shark species, 30 coral species, and eight invertebrate species. Among them are clownfish, black-tip reef sharks, angelfish, brain corals, moray eels, and sea apples. The exhibit also includes educational interpretive graphics and a children’s play area.

The Great Barrier Reef Exhibit is housed in the newly renovated Australian Outback section formerly known as the Koala Outback. The zoo’s single Koala was on loan from the San Diego Zoo and has been returned. The Australian Outback houses red kangaroos and wallabies along with the exciting new Great Barrier Reef addition.

The Fort Worth Zoo is also home to more than 400 other animal species, a world famous reptile connection, and is one of the few Asian Elephant breeding facilities in the United States. No wonder the Fort Worth Zoo has been dubbed one of the ten best zoos in the nation.

The T Zoo Run
The Fort Worth Transportation (The T) will run the “Safari Shuttle” Zoo Trolley from the Intermodal Transportation Center to the Fort Worth Zoo on Saturdays only. The ITC run begins at 1001 Jones Street in downtown Fort Worth and ends at the Zoo’s parking lot entrance on Colonial Parkway–a short walk from the Zoo’s entrance. Trinity Railway Express passengers from Dallas and the Mid-Cities can catch the Safari Shuttle at the ITC. The Safari Shuttle runs every 30 minutes beginning at 9:30 a.m. The last trolley leaves the Zoo at 6:30 p.m. and connects with the 7 p.m. eastbound TRE at the ITC .

For park & ride visitors, street parking is available near the ITC. A round-trip Day Pass is $2.50 for adults and $1 for seniors 65+ and youths 18 & under.

For more information, call (817) 215-8600 or visit www.The-T.com or www.trinityrailwayexpress.org.

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