Zoo Tycoon The Board Game Global Challenge 2025

CrashMegaraptor

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
With Zoo Tycoon: The Board Game looking to get its new expansion pack out later this year, I thought it might be nice to use it as a mini global challenge. There are a large variety of animals present, most of them fairly common in zoos, so lets give this a shot. Let's see how many we can see.

RULES
  1. You have to see the animal, even if just for a second. You don't score if you visit a collection but don't see the animal
  2. Photographic proof is not required; your word is your bond.
  3. All entries must be in a numbered list and include the following: the species you’re counting, the day you saw it and the zoo you saw it at. Include Latin BINOMIALS in the list (just use your search browser to find them out) and if there are any replacements, note which animal you are replacing.
  4. You have to see the animal via normal public access during normal public opening hours in public zoological collections, aquariums, museums, public park displays, etc. so not in the wild, expos, farms, pet stories, private facilities, etc.
  5. You must post your updates within 4 months of your visit so I can see your updated progress. If you post several months of visits in the last days of December, it won't count
  6. Violating the rules or participating in unsportsmanlike conduct is grounds for disqualification from this year’s competition
  7. Controversial entries due to splits will be discussed on a case-by-case basis
  8. Any issues with any of the above rules are open to discussion but the rules are set and any decisions made are final
  9. The winner will be whoever sees the most ZT: TBG species between January 1 and December 31, 2024.
  10. There is no official deadline to join; however, anyone who joins the game after May 31 can only count eligible species from their two most recent zoo visits.
So, here are the eligible animals...

Mammals
Aardvark
African Manatee
American Black Bear
Arabian Oryx
Arctic Fox
Asian Elephant
Axis Deer
Black Rhinoceros
Black-Footed Ferret
Blue Wildebeest
Bornean Orangutan
Brazilian Three-Banded Armadillo
California Sea Lion
Capybara
Chacoan Peccary
Cheetah
Chimpanzee
Chinese Pangolin
Common Raccoon
Dama Gazelle
Eastern Grey Kangaroo
Eurasian Otter
Giant Anteater
Giant Panda
Golden Lion Tamarin
Grey Wolf
Ground Pangolin
Guanaco
Hippopotamus
Jaguar
Koala
Linnaeus' Two-Toed Sloth
Lion
Masai Giraffe
Meerkat
Musk Ox
Okapi
Plains Zebra
Platypus
Polar Bear
Przewalski's Horse
Puma
Red Panda
Red River Hog
Red Ruffed Lemur
Red-Necked Wallaby
Ring-Tailed Lemur
Sea Otter
Short-Beaked Echidna
Six-Banded Armadillo
Snow Leopard
South American Tapir
Southern Tamandua
Straw-Coloured Fruit Bat
Striped Skunk
Tasmanian Devil
Tiger
Tufted Capuchin
Walrus
Wapiti
West Caucasian Tur
Western Gorilla
White-Nosed Coati

Birds
Atlantic Puffin
Bearded Vulture
Black-Headed Weaver
Common Ostrich
Emu
Fischer's Lovebird
Great Hornbill
Greater Flamingo
Greater Rhea
Grey Crowned Crane
Jabiru
Laughing Kookaburra
Lear's Macaw
Madagascar Pochard
Magellanic Penguin
North Island Brown Kiwi
Northern Bald Ibis
Northern Carmine Bee-Eater
Rainbow Lorikeet
Red & Green Macaw
Scarlet Ibis
Siberian Crane
Snowy Owl
Southern Cassowary
Tawny Frogmouth
Toco Toucan
Tundra Swan

Reptiles
African Spurred Tortoise
Diamondback Terrapin
Emerald Tree Boa
Galapagos Tortoise
Gila Monster
Green Sea Turtle
King Cobra
Komodo Dragon
Panther Chameleon
Saltwater Crocodile
Savannah Monitor
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Amphibians
African Bullfrog
Axolotl
Black-Eared Mantella
Blue Poison Dart Frog
Chinese Giant Salamander
Mexican Burrowing Caecilian
Red-Eyed Tree Frog
Sonoran Tiger Salamander
West African Rubber Frog

Fish
Arapaima
Leafy Sea Dragon
Red-Bellied Piranha
Spotted Eagle Ray
Zebra Shark

Invertebrates
Australian Walking Stick
Common Octopus
Emperor Scorpion
Hercules Beetle
Indo-Pacific Horseshoe Crab
Karner Blue Butterfly
Mexican Redknee Tarantula
Sacred Scarab
 
Last edited:
Excited to play but I have a couple questions and/or notes.
  1. Thanks for using my rules that I used for the Planet Zoo challenge but you should edit number 9
  2. What species of Mexicn Redknee Tarantula are you referring too?
  3. Does the Emperor Scorpion have to be P. imperator as P. dictator is often signed as emperors
  4. Should I assume that Australian Walking Stick is Extatosoma tiaratum?
  5. Are you talking about the Neotropical Jabiru, the African Jabiru, or the Australasian Jabiru?
Otherwise, I can't wait to start this challenge tomorrow
 
Excited to play but I have a couple questions and/or notes.
  1. Thanks for using my rules that I used for the Planet Zoo challenge but you should edit number 9
  2. What species of Mexicn Redknee Tarantula are you referring too?
  3. Does the Emperor Scorpion have to be P. imperator as P. dictator is often signed as emperors
  4. Should I assume that Australian Walking Stick is Extatosoma tiaratum?
  5. Are you talking about the Neotropical Jabiru, the African Jabiru, or the Australasian Jabiru?
Otherwise, I can't wait to start this challenge tomorrow

1. Fixed. Sorry about that.
2. The tarantula in the game is specifically B. hamorii, so I'd say that.
3. For the sake of simplicity, if it says P. imperator, it counts.
4. That is correct.
5. The Neotropical... what is typically considered the "Jabiru".
 
Hang on. Have you coordinated with ZooBinh, or have you just decided to go ahead and create your own global challenge?
 
Shouldn't I have done? This is just something I kinda wanted to do, and I don't see why it's any different from the 2023 Planet Zoo challenge. My apologies if this shouldn't have been the case, but I, personally, don't really see the difference. It's not like it's official.
 
It’s not up to me, but honestly no, I don’t think this should go ahead, especially because it’s the same game as the Planet Zoo challenge )which also shouldn’t go ahead, in my purely personal opinion) with a different zoo game as the species list. There’s simply no need for multiple, more or less identical challenges.

The point of the four traditional challenges (global, Euro, British Isles and America) is that they bring the respective communities together in a shared game. Having multiple versions going at once undermines that community aspect, because many people aren’t going to want to maintain lots of different lists. Certainly I only want to do the one global list, and I’ll participate in a regional one if and when I travel in those regions
 
Which is why I posted it here, rather than on the main thread. Still don't see what makes it any different from the 2023 version, which nobody had an issue with, but I guess we'll see.

Is it literally just because we called it "Global Challenge" by mistake?
 
Museum of Science (Boston) - January 1st 2025
My first visit of the year and I've gotten a very small amount of species already.

Mammalia:
1) Linneaus's Two-toed Sloth (Choloepus didactylus)
Amphibia:
2) Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)
3) Blue Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius "azureus")
 
It’s not up to me, but honestly no, I don’t think this should go ahead, especially because it’s the same game as the Planet Zoo challenge )which also shouldn’t go ahead, in my purely personal opinion) with a different zoo game as the species list. There’s simply no need for multiple, more or less identical challenges.

The point of the four traditional challenges (global, Euro, British Isles and America) is that they bring the respective communities together in a shared game. Having multiple versions going at once undermines that community aspect, because many people aren’t going to want to maintain lots of different lists. Certainly I only want to do the one global list, and I’ll participate in a regional one if and when I travel in those regions
It's a public forum so he's entitled to start a thread and challenge if he wants to. Just like people can choose to take part or ignore it.
 
I very clearly stated that it was not up to me, but my opinion was asked and I gave it.
 
Museum of Science (Boston) - January 1st 2025
My first visit of the year and I've gotten a very small amount of species already.

Mammalia:
1) Linneaus's Two-toed Sloth (Choloepus didactylus)
Amphibia:
2) Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)
3) Blue Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius "azureus")
Franklin Park Zoo - January 18th 2025

Mammalia:

4) Red-necked Wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus)
5) Western Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla)
6) Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta)
7) Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)
8) Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)
9) Lion (Panthera leo)
10) Red River Hog (Potamochoerus porcus)
Aves:
11) Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
12) North Island Brown Kiwi (Apteryx mantelli)
13) Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
14) Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber)
Invertebreta:
15) Australian Walking Stick (Extatosoma tiaratum)
16) Common Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator)
 
Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
Mammals
  1. American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
  2. Common Raccoon (Procyon lotor) – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
  3. Grey Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
  4. Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
  5. Puma (Puma concolor) – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
  6. South American Tapir (Tapirus terrestris) – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
Birds
  1. Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
  2. Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
 
Franklin Park Zoo - January 18th 2025

Mammalia:

4) Red-necked Wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus)
5) Western Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla)
6) Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta)
7) Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)
8) Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)
9) Lion (Panthera leo)
10) Red River Hog (Potamochoerus porcus)
Aves:
11) Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
12) North Island Brown Kiwi (Apteryx mantelli)
13) Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
14) Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber)
Invertebreta:
15) Australian Walking Stick (Extatosoma tiaratum)
16) Common Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator)
Stone Zoo - January 26th 2025

Mammalia:

17) Puma (Puma concolor)
18) Jaguar (Panthera onca)
19) Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
20) Grey Wolf (Canis lupus)
21) American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
Reptilia:
22) Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum)
 
Shedd Aquarium - 1/28
Mammals
1. California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)
2. Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

Birds
1. Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus)

Fishes
1. Arapaima (Arapaima gigas)
2. Red-Bellied Piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri)
3. Zebra Shark (Stegostoma tigrinum)
 
Stone Zoo - January 26th 2025

Mammalia:

17) Puma (Puma concolor)
18) Jaguar (Panthera onca)
19) Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
20) Grey Wolf (Canis lupus)
21) American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
Reptilia:
22) Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum)
New England Aquarium - January 29th 2025

Mammalia:

23) California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)
Reptilia:
24) Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Pesces:
25) Redbelly Piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri)
 
--BANHAM ZOO (across January)--
1. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
2. Golden Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia)
3. Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)
4. Ring-Tailed Lemur (Lemur catta)
5. Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
6. Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)
7. Amur Tiger (Panthera tigris)
8. Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
9. Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
10. Greater Rhea (Rhea americana)
11. Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber)
12. Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)
13. Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus)
14. Linnaeus' Two-Toed Sloth (Choloepus didactylus)
15. Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus)
 
Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
Mammals
1. American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
2. Common Raccoon (Procyon lotor) – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
3. Grey Mexican Wolf – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23 (Canis lupus baileyi)
4. Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
5. Puma (Puma concolor) – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
6. South American Tapir (Tapirus terrestris) – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
Birds
7. Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23
8. Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) – Alameda Park Zoo 1/23

El Paso Zoo 2/7
Mammalia:
9. Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) – El Paso Zoo 2/7
10. Plains zebra (Equus quagga) – El Paso Zoo 2/7
11. California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) – El Paso Zoo 2/7
12. African lion (Panthera leo) – El Paso Zoo 2/7
13. Jaguar (Panthera onca) – El Paso Zoo 2/7
14. Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) – El Paso Zoo 2/7
15. Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris) – El Paso Zoo 2/7
16. Red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus) – El Paso Zoo 2/7
17. Southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) – El Paso Zoo 2/7
18. White-nosed coati (Nasua narica) – El Paso Zoo 2/7
19. Golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) – El Paso Zoo 2/7

Aves:
20. Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus megellanicus) – El Paso Zoo 2/7
21. Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) – El Paso Zoo 2/7

Reptilia:
22. Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) – El Paso Zoo 2/7
23. Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis niger) – El Paso Zoo 2/7
 
Shedd Aquarium - 1/28
Mammals
1. California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)
2. Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

Birds
1. Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus)

Fishes
1. Arapaima (Arapaima gigas)
2. Red-Bellied Piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri)
3. Zebra Shark (Stegostoma tigrinum)
Lincoln Park Zoo - 2/10

Mammals
3. Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)
4. Lion (Panthera leo)
5. Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
6. Plains Zebra (Equus quagga)
7. Western Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla)

Birds
2. Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)

Amphibians
1. Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)

Totals: 7 mammals, 2 birds, 1 amphibian, 3 fishes (13 total)
 
--Yorkshire Wildlife Park (9/2/2025)--
16. California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)
17. Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)
18. Lion (Panthera leo)
19. Okapi (Okapia johnstoni)
20. Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)
21. South American Tapir (Tapirus terrestris)
22. Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)
23. Red-Necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus)
 
Lincoln Park Zoo - 2/10

Mammals
3. Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)
4. Lion (Panthera leo)
5. Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
6. Plains Zebra (Equus quagga)
7. Western Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla)

Birds
2. Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)

Amphibians
1. Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)

Totals: 7 mammals, 2 birds, 1 amphibian, 3 fishes (13 total)
Lincoln Park Zoo - 2/27

Mammals
8. Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)

Totals: 8 mammals, 2 birds, 1 amphibian, 3 fishes (14 total)
 
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