This thread was created after following the Planet Zoo reddit during the months prior to the games arrival, a previous thread I created "Unnecessary Zoo Tycoon 2 Animals", and browsing the Games forum on this site got me thinking, what are animals we expect to have in a zoo-building game? Not want or predict, expect. Imagine if you heard that there was a new zoo building-stimulation game coming soon, what would be the animals that you would expect in that game? I'm curious to see what people may think about this.
What animals do you expect in zoo games?
- Thread starter Loxodonta Cobra
- Start date
Animals that could more or less be guaranteed:
Elephant (probably African slightly more often than Asian)
Common hippopotamus
Gorilla (either western or eastern, despite the later’s lack of representation in RL zoos)
Grizzly bear
Grey wolf
Giraffe (most likely reticulated)
Zebra (most likely plains)
Lion (usually African rather than Asiatic)
Tiger (probably Siberian or Bengal)
Black or white rhinoceros
Chimpanzee (probably common chimps rather than bonobos)
Orangutan (usually Bornean)
Ring-tailed lemur
Polar bear
Giant panda
Red panda
Common ostrich
Indian peafowl
Flamingo (most often greater)
Penguin (most often emperor, despite this species being uncommon in captivity IRL)
Komodo dragon
Giant tortoise (Galapagos or Aldabra)
Crocodile/ alligator (usually Nile or saltwater crocodiles or American alligators)
Thompson’s gazelle
Dromedary or Bactrian camel
Red kangaroo
Animals that can’t be guaranteed but have a high chance of making it in due to popularity:
American bison
African buffalo
African wild dog
Spotted hyena
Meerkat
Common warthog
Mandrill
Leopard (usually African)
Jaguar
Snow leopard
Cheetah
Cougar/puma/mountain lion
Moose (despite not being too common in RL zoos)
Reindeer/caribou
American or Asian black bear
Pygmy hippopotamus
Asian rhino (most often the Indian)
Okapi
Wildebeest (usually the blue wildebeest)
Koala
I realize that the bulk of the animals I listed are mammals, but let’s face it, they tend to run the gamut in these sorts of games with the exception of a few popular (and usually fairly large) birds and reptiles
Elephant (probably African slightly more often than Asian)
Common hippopotamus
Gorilla (either western or eastern, despite the later’s lack of representation in RL zoos)
Grizzly bear
Grey wolf
Giraffe (most likely reticulated)
Zebra (most likely plains)
Lion (usually African rather than Asiatic)
Tiger (probably Siberian or Bengal)
Black or white rhinoceros
Chimpanzee (probably common chimps rather than bonobos)
Orangutan (usually Bornean)
Ring-tailed lemur
Polar bear
Giant panda
Red panda
Common ostrich
Indian peafowl
Flamingo (most often greater)
Penguin (most often emperor, despite this species being uncommon in captivity IRL)
Komodo dragon
Giant tortoise (Galapagos or Aldabra)
Crocodile/ alligator (usually Nile or saltwater crocodiles or American alligators)
Thompson’s gazelle
Dromedary or Bactrian camel
Red kangaroo
Animals that can’t be guaranteed but have a high chance of making it in due to popularity:
American bison
African buffalo
African wild dog
Spotted hyena
Meerkat
Common warthog
Mandrill
Leopard (usually African)
Jaguar
Snow leopard
Cheetah
Cougar/puma/mountain lion
Moose (despite not being too common in RL zoos)
Reindeer/caribou
American or Asian black bear
Pygmy hippopotamus
Asian rhino (most often the Indian)
Okapi
Wildebeest (usually the blue wildebeest)
Koala
I realize that the bulk of the animals I listed are mammals, but let’s face it, they tend to run the gamut in these sorts of games with the exception of a few popular (and usually fairly large) birds and reptiles
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Evilmonkey's list is pretty accurate. The only time you can expect animals outside of those is through custom content made by players. (Zoo Tycoon 2 is the best example of this.)
I also agree with @evilmonkey239, but I would also add Nile monitors and Komodo dragons.
Komodo Dragons, yes. But, I don't think Nile Monitors would make it on the list, especially when you compare it to other monitor lizards like Perentie.
Yeah, but it has been featured in the Zoo Tycoon franchise so prominently, and Planet Zoo, it gets up there with Komodo Dragon.
Oh yeah, I’m actually surprised I forgot about those.
Adding to evilmonkey239's list, which I do largely agree with, most zoo games tend to have some member of the Caprinae family - basically goats, sheep and their closest relatives - without fail. The only issue is that they don't tend to stick with one in particular. Members from that family that I've seen in zoo games include the Markhor, Bighorn Sheep, Dall Sheep, Japanese Serow, Mountain Goat, Takin and Musk Ox. The most common one, however, is the Alpine Ibex.
In an attempt to figure out which animals we tend to see most of in zoo simulation games, I took the entire Zoo Tycoon and Wildlife Park series, as well as Planet Zoo (made by the same people who made the last ZT game) and Zoo Constructor (made by the team behind the Wildlife Park games) and went through their animal rosters...that's eight games BTW. By my calculations....
Eight Games
Eight Games
- African Bush Elephant
- Bengal Tiger
- Chimpanzee
- Grizzly Bear
- Hippopotamus
- Jaguar
- Lion
- Polar Bear
- Red Kangaroo
- Reticulated Giraffe
- American Bison
- Black Rhinoceros
- Bongo
- Bornean Orangutan
- Common Ostrich
- Cougar
- Gemsbok
- Giant Panda
- Grey Wolf
- Komodo Dragon
- Okapi
- Plains Zebra
- Thomson's Gazelle
- African Leopard
- Asian Elephant
- California Sea Lion
- Dromedary Camel
- Galapagos Giant Tortoise
- Koala
- Mandrill
- Moose
- Pacific Walrus
- Red Panda
- Reindeer
- African Buffalo
- American Flamingo
- Blue Wildebeest
- Cheetah
- Common Warthog
- Giant Anteater
- King Penguin
- Llama
- Przewalski's Horse
- Sable Antelope
- Spotted Hyena
- Western Lowland Gorilla
- Alpine Ibex
- American Black Bear
- Asiatic Black Bear
- Greater Flamingo
- Indian Peafowl
- Meerkat
- Nile Crocodile
- Nine-Banded Armadillo
- Snow Leopard
- African Wild Dog
- Arctic Fox
- Bactrian Camel
- Baird's Tapir
- Blackbuck
- Indian Rhinoceros
- Javan Rhinoceros
- Malayan Tapir
- Nile Monitor
- Northern Raccoon
- Platypus
- Ring-Tailed Lemur
- Sea Otter
- Siberian Tiger
So, maybe to compare all the games rosters and give a point to any species of animal that appears in them to see the most common. For example, Reticulated Giraffes have been included in (at least) Planet Zoo, Zoo Tycoon 1, 2, and the console Zoo Tycoons, and Wildlife Park. So that would be 5 points for the Reticulated Giraffe. And whatever animals have the most points are more common to appear, while the animals with the least are not
Brayden Delashmutt
Well-Known Member
Mammals
Birds (including flighted species)
Reptiles
- Elephant (African?)
- Rhinoceros of some sort
- Hippopotamus
- Giraffe of some sort (likely to be either reticulated or Masai)
- Lion
- Siberian Tiger
- Leopard, cheetah, or jaguar
- Gray Wolf (Arctic or timber)
- African Wild Dog (or hyena)
- Seal/sea lion
- Polar Bear
- Grizzly Bear
- Panda
- Meerkat/prairie dog
- Otter/beaver
- Koala
- Kangaroo (usually red)
- Gazelle or antelope of some sort
- Zebra (plains or grevy)
- Camel (Bactrian or dromedary)
- Bison
- Wildebeest
- Okapi
- Some sort of cervid
- Some sort of caprine (usually Ibex)
- Western Gorilla
- Chimpanzee
- Orangutan (either species)
- Some sort of new world monkey, usually spider, capuchin, or howler
Birds (including flighted species)
- Ostrich
- Peafowl
- Flamingo
- Penguins (usually king or African, but multiple species could work)
- Some sort of eagle
- Owl species
- Parrot species (macaw probably)
- Toucan (toco probably)
Reptiles
- Galapagos Tortoise
- Nile Crocodile
- Komodo Dragon
- Large snake (retic or anaconda)
- Small(er) venomous snakes
- Small lizards (chameleons, geckos, etc)
GorillaGuru
New Member
This list is actually pretty spot on! I want to add otters (Asian small-clawed) to the list, but that would most likely come with a marine DLC pack. Two more I wish I could add, but would likely never make it, are capybaras and Ankole cattle.
I have some good news for you on the otter and capybara. About two years ago, there was this "Wetlands Animal Pack," I'll put the link
Wetlands Animal Pack and Update 1.9 Out Now! - Planet Zoo
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GorillaGuru
New Member
Nice!
Wildlife Watcher
Well-Known Member
I know I'm a little late to the conversation, but here’s a list of animals I generally expect from zoo games, including habitat, exhibit, avian, and even marine species:
PRIMATES
PRIMATES
- Chimpanzee
- Gorilla (eastern or western)
- Orangutan (usually Bornean)
- Mandrill
- Proboscis Monkey
- Capuchin Monkey (probably white-faced)
- Ring-Tailed Lemur
- Lion
- Tiger (Bengal or Siberian)
- Jaguar
- Leopard
- Snow Leopard
- Cougar/Mountain Lion
- Cheetah
- Meerkat
- Hyena (spotted more often than striped)
- Grey Wolf
- Fox (usually red, fennec, or arctic)
- Brown Bear (usually grizzly)
- Polar Bear
- American or Asiatic Black Bear
- Giant Panda
- Red Panda
- Raccoon
- Otter (often sea or Asian small-clawed)
- Walrus
- California Sea Lion
- Seal (usually harbor, harp, or elephant)
- Manatee (usually West Indian)
- Bottlenose Dolphin
- Orca/Killer Whale
- Beluga Whale
- Hippopotamus (common or pygmy)
- Common Warthog
- Dromedary or Bactrian Camel
- Giraffe (usually reticulated)
- Okapi
- Moose
- Caribou/reindeer
- American or European Bison
- African Buffalo
- Antelope (often gazelle, sable, bongo, or gemsbok)
- Wildebeest (usually blue)
- Zebra (usually plains)
- Tapir (Baird’s or Malayan)
- Rhinoceros (black, white, or Indian)
- African Bush Elephant
- Asian Elephant
- Beaver (usually American)
- Capybara
- Giant Anteater
- Sloth (two or three-toed)
- Red Kangaroo
- Koala
- Platypus
- Common Ostrich
- Emu
- Cassowary (usually southern)
- North Island Brown Kiwi
- Indian Peafowl
- Swan (mute or black)
- Flamingo (usually greater)
- Penguin (emperor, king, or African)
- Puffin (usually Atlantic)
- Crowned Crane (grey or red)
- Vulture (California or Rüppell’s)
- Eagle (bald or harpy)
- Owl (usually snowy)
- Toucan (toco or keel-billed)
- Parrot (often scarlet or blue & gold macaws)
- Sea Turtle (often green and leatherback)
- Galápagos Giant Tortoise
- American Alligator
- Crocodile (Nile or saltwater)
- Komodo Dragon
- Gila Monster
- Iguana (usually green)
- Chameleon (usually panther)
- Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
- King Cobra
- Boa Constrictor or Anaconda
- Red-Eyed Tree Frog
- Poison Dart Frog (probably golden or blue)
- Salamander (axolotl or Japanese giant)
- Moray Eel (usually green)
- Seahorse or Sea Dragon
- Coral Reef Fish (often clownfish, regal blue tang, emperor angelfish, or red lionfish)
- Whale Shark
- Hammerhead Shark (giant or scalloped)
- Manta Ray (probably reef)
- Butterfly (usually monarch or blue Morpho)
- Scorpion (usually emperor)
- Tarantula (birdeater or Mexican red-knee)
- Giant Pacific Octopus
- Jellyfish (usually moon)
Elephants, hippopotamus, rhinos, giraffe, zebra, lions, tigers, bears (oh my), polar bears specifically, a spotted big cat, kangaroo, a deer, a caprid, an antelope, a large bovid, penguins, a turtle or toise, crocodiles, camel, flamingo, ostrich, some kind of pig, panda, wolf, gorilla, a mandrill or baboon, and debatably otter and pinniped (though often locked behind expansions/dlc)
Large cats tend to be do pretty well in these games but I don't "expect" all of the spotted cats to appear simultaneously so kept it vague. There are definite trends with antelope but I also feel like a future game could launch with different choices and no fuss. Reindeer and walrus almost always represent deer, bison or African buffalo for bovids, but caprids vary. Okapi, Tapir and Snow leopard tend to be common but don't feel quite ubiquitous. Koala and Komodo have become more common since Zoo Empire, but since neither were in zt1 and zt2's base roster (I know about the xps) I tend to view them as 'bonus' more than 'expected'.
Meerkat and lemur would probably be ubiquitous but for some of the topdown simulators they disappear a bit.
Large cats tend to be do pretty well in these games but I don't "expect" all of the spotted cats to appear simultaneously so kept it vague. There are definite trends with antelope but I also feel like a future game could launch with different choices and no fuss. Reindeer and walrus almost always represent deer, bison or African buffalo for bovids, but caprids vary. Okapi, Tapir and Snow leopard tend to be common but don't feel quite ubiquitous. Koala and Komodo have become more common since Zoo Empire, but since neither were in zt1 and zt2's base roster (I know about the xps) I tend to view them as 'bonus' more than 'expected'.
Meerkat and lemur would probably be ubiquitous but for some of the topdown simulators they disappear a bit.
Wildlife Watcher
Well-Known Member
Ironically, I think I've seen snow leopards show up the most often in zoo games out of all the spotted cats. As for otters and seals, I feel like you can still generally expect them, even in games that lack marine expansions.
I also feel like you can generally expect koalas and Komodo dragons, since koalas are the second most popular Australian species after kangaroos, and Komodo dragons are most commonly occurring reptile species (crocodiles and turtles show up in practically every zoo game as well, but the depicted species usually varies).