Last modified: Sunday, April 18, 2004 1:03 AM EDT Zoo is hopping BY JANETTE SEARS / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF ATTLEBORO -- Boing, boing, boing went the tall furry creatures as they explored their new habitat at Capron Park Zoo on Saturday. And riveted, riveted, riveted on them were the eyes of the many curious residents who came to see them. The captivating creatures were three kangaroos from the zoo's latest exhibit that opened to the public Saturday morning. A fourth kangaroo also will be arriving soon. Although native only to Australia, the four kangaroos have been purchased from different zoos around the United States. `` I think it's amazing how high they're flying through this exhibit back and forth here,'' said Beth Thomas of North Attleboro. `` It's like a tennis match, trying to see where they went next. It's wonderful.'' Thomas attended the opening of the exhibit with her husband, Steve, and their three children, Gregory, 3, Tyler, 6, and Sarah, 8, who were also enjoying the new attraction. `` I think it's a great exhibit,'' said Steve Thomas, who noted that it's especially nice to have such an exhibit at a local zoo. `` I think they're pretty cool,'' said his daughter, Sarah. As for finding out just how cool these agile creatures are, however, Alex Branagan, 10, had the right idea. Alex, who came with his parents, Betsy and Robert Branagan of Attleboro, was intrigued when he saw the kangaroos, which, by the way, are a species of kangaroo called the red kangaroo. `` I don't really know why I wanted to come, but I'm liking the kangaroos because the way they're jumping is kind of cool,'' he said. Watching from the outer perimeter of the exhibit area -- the farthest side from the barn they will be residing -- where most people were watching, however, just didn't do it for Alex. Instead, he went behind the barn, where there is no wooden fence in front of the chain-link fence to block the view. From that vantage point, he says, `` You can get close enough, and after a while they'll just come and sit right near you.'' Noting that this close vantage point is probably what he liked most about seeing the kangaroos, he advises that from there you can see the little lumps in their fur and you can see them twist their ears, which just isn't apparent to the more distant viewer. As for the rest of the crowd that came to see the entertaining creatures, Curator of Education Lori Ross and Zoo Director Shira Marcure said it was just an overall level of excitement as people came in a steady stream Saturday morning. `` I was over at the admission booth, but I heard a collective `` Oh!'' when they finally came out of the barn, so I think people are thrilled,'' Ross said. `` And, I've been walking around the zoo, and I hear all the children talking about `Let's go see the `` roos'' again,' so they're really excited about it.'' Marcure agrees, but says the visitors aren't the only ones who are excited. `` It's been absolutely fantastic,'' she said. `` I love to see people this excited to come to the zoo. It's been a while since we've had a new species this significant join the zoo, so it's very exciting for us, too.'' rdrtrdrsrdrw15rsp160 Janette Sears can be reached by phone or fax at 508-222-2442 or by e-mail at jsears(at)(at)thesunchronicle.com.