Austin, TX

Austin Zoo

Address: 10808 Rawhide Trail, Austin, TX 78736 - MAP
Phone: (512) 288-1490
Web: www.austinzoo.org

Just west of downtown Austin, the Austin Zoo & Animal Sanctuary provides a safe and caring home for abandoned exotic and domestic animals. The nurturing environment creates a haven for animal lovers and children who come to visit and learn about the more than 300 animals that call the Austin Zoo their home.

Austin Zoo began as a goat ranch. As the ranch started rescuing other types of farm animals, it became the Good Day Ranch in 1990. At the time, most of the tenants were goats, pigs, deer, donkeys and ponies, along with a few exotics.

Today the Austin Zoo & Animal Sanctuary has become a full-fledged rescue zoo, with its animals representing more than 100 different species.

A petting zoo section encourages children to get up close and feed the deer, goats and llamas. A bag of feed at the gift shop costs only $1. Pony rides and train rides also make it a visit to remember.

The unfortunate growth of "roadside zoos" and the proliferation of exotic pet ownership has kept the zoo busy, and the facility is forced to turn down about 50 requests per month to take in additional animals.

Visitors to the zoo help support the mission to provide a safe and caring home for new residents, from lions to llamas, prairie dogs to pygmy goats. Animal families represented at the zoo include big cats, monkeys, reptiles, amphibians, birds and domestic animals.