What should be in the Aussie

[ElectricMonk]

Like your list but I think they should upgrade exhibits more if they decide to add the Platypus (exhibit)
Having such an animal in the current exhibit system, not a big fan of that

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Yeah, it'd totally require larger exhibits, with looped animations of animals moving around (i'd see this type of thing as used for small aquaria and for small mammal displays) - probably being introduced whenever an aquatic-type DLC gets released - I don't like the idea of Platypus as habitat animals because:

1: I've never seen them displayed like that in any zoo
2: They're VERY hard to spot, even if you know where they live, even in relatively constrained places - it would be unrealistic to have them in open habitats and visible to the peeps most of the time.

Just a bit curious, why would you prefer the Grey Kangaroo over the Red Kangaroo?
My overall impression of Aussie suggestions is that the Red Kangaroo is more popular/iconic. (and in a lot of European zoos the more popular one)
Just a genuine question, btw

Fair question - I actually don't mind too much which species we get (I'm sure we'll get one), but my zoo is set in Tasmania (where I live) and we don't have Red Kangaroos (I also think that Greys are more common in zoos, even overseas?).

 

[NZFanatic]

The magpie goose would be a excellent choice also tho. I know the popular choices are kangaroo, koala,wombat,emu,Tasmanian devil ect. But I would happy with either pelican or goose to tell you the truth.

I don't really think popularity factors into it. If we only ever get four Australian animals, then they need to broadly cover what people would expect to see rather than going for random niche animals like the magpie goose. I don't even think we'll get the Tasmanian devil (even though the conservation message is hugely important), but it's more likely than the goose or pelican IMO.

 

[NZFanatic]

Fair question - I actually don't mind too much which species we get (I'm sure we'll get one), but my zoo is set in Tasmania (where I live) and we don't have Red Kangaroos (I also think that Greys are more common in zoos, even overseas?).

Grey kangaroos are more common, but red kangaroos are more iconic. I imagine they'd go with the red kangaroo, not least of all because it was in Zoo Tycoon. As much as I agree that comparing the two games isn't a necessary exercise, they do seem to be pulling from that roster a fair bit (llama and giant anteater, as an example), so it's a safe assumption.

Personally I'd prefer the eastern grey myself, because they're more docile, and the walk-through kangaroo habitat is extremely common nowadays in zoos that keep them (especially here in New Zealand).

 

[Moonfox]

Red kangaroos are more impressive, but greys are still pretty big and beautiful. As @NZFanatic said, Greys are usually safe and docile in walkthroughs. I raised a red joey and the little brat was punching me in the shins before he was knee high. Reds can be fine in walkthroughs, and greys can be aggressive, but generally you keep reds away from the public.

 

[avietar]

My ideal Australia pack will have:

Kangaroo (I'm not particular about red or grey, but I expect the red)
Koala
Tasmanian devil
Cassowary (this is such a unique animal, there is nothing like it anywhere in the world)

Ideally I'd like the platypus, but that's an aquatic animal so I chose not to include it.
I fully expect the emu instead of the cassowary, but I think the emu is rather bland and boring in comparison to the cassowary.
I am against echidnas and other small critters, because they are incredibly tiny and I'd hate for them to occupy a habitat animal slot in a DLC when I'd rather have an animal I can actually see.

 

[dredgy]

So I’m going to assume there’s a 4 pack of popular animals - kangaroo, emu, Tasmanian devil, hairy nosed wombat.
If there was a 4 pack of less known animals, it should be:

• Numbat
• Pademelon (walk through)
• spotted Quoll
• Then a bird or aquatic animal - maybe a lyrebird, cassowary or dugong.

Thorny devil, platypus and bird eating spider would all make good exhibits.
also need magpies attacking guests!

 

[NZFanatic]

I fully expect the emu instead of the cassowary, but I think the emu is rather bland and boring in comparison to the cassowary.

Be that as it may, the emu is more iconically Australian, and has both a potential as a walkthrough animal and a mixed species animal (two of New Zealand's major zoos have grey kangaroos and emus mixed in a walkthrough habitat, and I think Singapore Zoo does the same). The cassowary is more of a Papua New Guinea animal (they are in Northern Australia, but typically they are more associated with the islands). I guess we'll have to wait and see - I can see reasons why Frontier might go with either one. Personally I hope for the emu, as it has been missing from literally every major zoo game and I don't feel like any Australian collection is complete without them, but that's just my opinion.

 

[avietar]

Be that as it may, the emu is more iconically Australian, and has both a potential as a walkthrough animal and a mixed species animal (two of New Zealand's major zoos have grey kangaroos and emus mixed in a walkthrough habitat, and I think Singapore Zoo does the same). The cassowary is more of a Papua New Guinea animal (they are in Northern Australia, but typically they are more associated with the islands). I guess we'll have to wait and see - I can see reasons why Frontier might go with either one. Personally I hope for the emu, as it has been missing from literally every major zoo game and I don't feel like any Australian collection is complete without them, but that's just my opinion.

That's fair! I didn't know the plight of the emus It would be nice to have more mixed species habitats.

 

[NZFanatic]

That's fair! I didn't know the plight of the emus It would be nice to have more mixed species habitats.

In the end we might not get either of them. I think it's probably safe to assume Australia will be the next DLC (again, just an assumption, but a good bet), so we can also assume Frontier has already worked on/is working on the four animals it will contain, and there are a lot of options for Australian wildlife. As disappointing as it would be, neither the emu or the cassowary might have made the cut.

Personally I'm just curious to see how they handle koala (again, if they are included). We have the climbing frames and such, but koala spend more time off the ground than most captive primates. They do come down, but not hugely often.

 

[StarshineCat]

Kangaroos and WALLABYs too so they can be a walk in exhibit together. Also, Emu's are walk in exhibits in NZ so they'd be good for that too.
Brushtail Possums because, I love possums.
Quolls because everyone loves them.
All zoo's i've been to have had tasmanian devil's but the thing where they run in a circle is probably too sad for the game to feature but they wouldn't be them without it?

Also, if its oceania not australia, Tuatara's and maybe skinks for the exhibits.
Kakapo and Takahe could be a habitat animals?

 

[markun]

A thought on kakapo and a quote from @NZFanatic from the birds rhread

“There are no kakapo in captivity and no kakapo outside of New Zealand. This is because of conservation. The only captive kakapo have been injured birds that are eventually released back into the wild after a short stay, never permanent zoo residents. It'd be hugely detrimental to them if they were given out to zoos. Since PZ is based on conservation, education, and realism (as best it can be), I don't think the kakapo will ever be included.”

I really agree with his points here. If there is a broader pack with NZ content too I would hope for a kiwi and if we get non-ground dwelling birds too I’d say the kea would be a good choice.

 

[StarshineCat]

A thought on kakapo and a quote from @NZFanatic from the birds rhread

“There are no kakapo in captivity and no kakapo outside of New Zealand. This is because of conservation. The only captive kakapo have been injured birds that are eventually released back into the wild after a short stay, never permanent zoo residents. It'd be hugely detrimental to them if they were given out to zoos. Since PZ is based on conservation, education, and realism (as best it can be), I don't think the kakapo will ever be included.”

I really agree with his points here. If there is a broader pack with NZ content too I would hope for a kiwi and if we get non-ground dwelling birds too I’d say the kea would be a good choice.

I didnt think of that.
For kiwi though, has anyone ever seen one in a habitat? They're always in those weird dark room things, which are bigger than what exhibits represent and aren't something habitats could do?

Takahe are very common in captivity in NZ as zoos are vital to their breeding programme and they do well in them. In wildlife sancutaries they walk amongst guests too, so they could maybe be a walk in animal? They're ground only so can work with the game.

 

[NZFanatic]

I didnt think of that.
For kiwi though, has anyone ever seen one in a habitat? They're always in those weird dark room things, which are bigger than what exhibits represent and aren't something habitats could do?

It's fairly easy to build a self-contained habitat within a building in Planet Zoo, so I would think kiwi would be possible. As I've said elsewhere, however, I think the best thing would be to give us the ability to add indoor lighting first, however, so we can simulate a proper nocturnal house (by using red, green, and blue lighting). The wildlife reserve I volunteer at has outdoor kiwi habitats, and so does my local zoo, but they aren't strictly guest-accessible (they're basically there to provide the kiwi a safe place to act more naturally).

Takahe are very common in captivity in NZ as zoos are vital to their breeding programme and they do well in them. In wildlife sancutaries they walk amongst guests too, so they could maybe be a walk in animal? They're ground only so can work with the game.

In saying that, Takahe aren't all that common in captivity here (unless you stretch the definition of captivity). Of course, they aren't all that common at all.

NZ is in a unique position where its endemic wildlife is pretty much contained here. There are certain species in zoos overseas (kiwi and tuatara I believe) but most of our animals are safer where they are. That said, I wouldn't object to them appearing in Planet Zoo. It's literally impossible to build a New Zealand-based zoo without some of our native animals, and that's something I'd really like to be possible one day.

Personally I don't think we need a huge range, either. A small pack containing the kiwi as the sole habitat animal, and maybe three exhibit animals (tuatara, giant weta, and probably one of the green gecko species as a colourful option), and a bit of NZ foliage and Maori art pieces and you'd have a perfect representation.

 

[markun]

It's fairly easy to build a self-contained habitat within a building in Planet Zoo, so I would think kiwi would be possible.

Here is the one I made in ZT2. If you could sort out lighting inside buildings during the daytime it would definitely be possible to do one in Planet Zoo.

 

[StarshineCat]

In saying that, Takahe aren't all that common in captivity here (unless you stretch the definition of captivity). Of course, they aren't all that common at all.

NZ is in a unique position where its endemic wildlife is pretty much contained here. There are certain species in zoos overseas (kiwi and tuatara I believe) but most of our animals are safer where they are. That said, I wouldn't object to them appearing in Planet Zoo. It's literally impossible to build a New Zealand-based zoo without some of our native animals, and that's something I'd really like to be possible one day.

Personally I don't think we need a huge range, either. A small pack containing the kiwi as the sole habitat animal, and maybe three exhibit animals (tuatara, giant weta, and probably one of the green gecko species as a colourful option), and a bit of NZ foliage and Maori art pieces and you'd have a perfect representation.

Im definetly thinking of takahe, theyre universal in zoos, wildlife centres and sanctuaries in the south island as that's the breeding programme to restore their numbers, we only have a handful down here and they all have takahe except orana. Pukeko's don't need a breeding programme, but willowbank has them anyway as theyre fun to walk around and don't mind people but I wouldn't want them as a zoo animal, Takahe would be great though.
I'd say NZ pack would need to hold off until they have marine animals, as then it could have eels, fur seals and for exhibits, kokopu and kōura. Or avaries so they can have kaka, tui and kererū.

 

[NZFanatic]

Im definetly thinking of takahe, theyre universal in zoos, wildlife centres and sanctuaries in the south island as that's the breeding programme to restore their numbers, we only have a handful down here and they all have takahe except orana. Pukeko's don't need a breeding programme, but willowbank has them anyway as theyre fun to walk around and don't mind people but I wouldn't want them as a zoo animal, Takahe would be great though.
I'd say NZ pack would need to hold off until they have marine animals, as then it could have eels, fur seals and for exhibits, kokopu and kōura. Or avaries so they can have kaka, tui and kererū.

Oh, you're a South Islander too? Neat.

As for an NZ pack, I don't think it will ever happen, and if they do end up doing marine animals or birds, I doubt NZ will be a priority - like I've been saying, our animals are fairly niche, except for the 'classics' (kiwi, tuatara, and I believe there are also kea in other zoos around the world).

It's a shame really, I'd have a lot of fun building a proper NZ zoo with even just the kiwi and tuatara.