Why is it called habitats in planet zoo ?
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Its called habitats in the zoo in Pittsburgh. Perhaps its different from place to place.
I just call them Enclosure instead 
Enclosure, habitat, exhibit, usually can all mean the same thing, I think the devs wanted to give the big and small ones different names since they aren't that similar and didn't want them getting mixed up. Although it might have made more sense to call the small ones terrariums or something of the sort. I think that IRL habitat would usually mean a larger area, same with enclosure, and exhibit could probably be either.
Some zoos don't like to use the word enclosures, as it makes it more obvious that the animal is in captivity. Habitat sounds natural and more positive for guests. So it's kind of marketing psychology. Frontier worked together with I believe chester zoo a lot for the game and they try not to use the word enclosure.
Swjosdotschka is right here. I used to work for an aquarium, and we had a bit of a debate about what to call the tanks fish were kept in and terraria that reptiles were kept in. Like frontier has done for their larger animals, we eventually decided on 'habitat' rather than 'enclosure', since it sounds more positive, and because it highlights the attempt to mimic, as closely as possible, the natural environment of the animals.
I understand why some zoos do this but personally I just wish they would call a spade a spade and be honest about what it is. I feel using the word habitat has a sense of apology hinting that enclosures are bad as if they are tiny barred cages.
Even the word zoo is problematic for some but recently Jersey Zoo started using the word zoo again because a) zoos are good things and b) people didn’t know what they were when they used the word Durrell Wildlife Park.
The CEO said “We recently carried out a survey at Jersey airport of visitors leaving the island and many tourists did not know that there was a zoo here. This was a big problem, accompanied by the fact I kept meeting people in my first few weeks in Jersey who apologised for referring to Durrell as a zoo. Zoo is a universally recognised word whereas wildlife park means different things in different languages”
Another term is “animals in human care” rather than in captivity because some people thing captivity sounds negative. Again, I get it, but I think as zoo people in the wider sense we should not try to pretend things aren’t as they are and be completely frank that yes, animals are in captivity and yes, this is a good thing and they can lead full and varied lives in excellent conditions.
Even the word zoo is problematic for some but recently Jersey Zoo started using the word zoo again because a) zoos are good things and b) people didn’t know what they were when they used the word Durrell Wildlife Park.
The CEO said “We recently carried out a survey at Jersey airport of visitors leaving the island and many tourists did not know that there was a zoo here. This was a big problem, accompanied by the fact I kept meeting people in my first few weeks in Jersey who apologised for referring to Durrell as a zoo. Zoo is a universally recognised word whereas wildlife park means different things in different languages”
Another term is “animals in human care” rather than in captivity because some people thing captivity sounds negative. Again, I get it, but I think as zoo people in the wider sense we should not try to pretend things aren’t as they are and be completely frank that yes, animals are in captivity and yes, this is a good thing and they can lead full and varied lives in excellent conditions.
Joël
Volunteer Moderator
This is exactly why the word 'enclosure' is avoided by Frontier. Enclosure hints towards captivity, habitat hints towards a space or environment for animals and plants to live in and, like Swjosdotschka said, sounds more natural.
Planet Zoo has a strong emphasis on taking good care of your animals, with habitats that suit the animals, instead of captivating them in enclosures for the sake of making a profit.
I remember from Gamescom 2019 (as an Ambassador for Planet Zoo) that the word 'enclosures' was avoided by staff at the booth; using 'habitats' and 'exhibits' was always preferred.
I could write an essay on the implications of this statement and the hypocrisy I see in it but suffice it to say that I will continue to use the word enclosure when I talk about my zoos and designs.
I’m proud of zoos and their work and I don’t think we should be pretending that the animals in game aren't in captivity - the clue is in the word ZOO - or that captivity implies exploitation for profit.
A zoo isn’t unlimited freedom - it is indeed captivity and as long as those enclosures are appropriately furnished and sized there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Quite the opposite.
Joël
Volunteer Moderator
Fine with me. I merely shed some light on why the word habitat is used in the game. Feel free to use the word enclosure(s) instead.
so you basically turn helpless virtuel animals into exhibitionists? thats a kind of abuse, put them pls back to the enclosure, oh wait, its just the same thing, just another word, so everything is fine.
Fine with me. I merely shed some light on why the word habitat is used in the game. Feel free to use the word enclosure(s) instead.
I understand the corporate jargon. I just disagree with its logic and implications, not to mention hypocrisy.
Fine with me. I merely shed some light on why the word habitat is used in the game. Feel free to use the word enclosure(s) instead.
That is interesting. Of course I realise that you are merely the messenger of this information here (and that you don't actually work for Frontier), but like @markun I'm a little disturbed by Frontier's position. I wouldn't call it "hypocrisy" as such but I'd certainly call it misguided and in opposition to their own game. While I'm pleased Planet Zoo exists (obviously), it feels like they didn't actually want to make a zoo game at all.
This information also implies that Frontier has very little understanding of what zoos are and what they do, or that in their research they have wilfully ignored this information in favour of their own pseudo-political position. I suppose their lack of understanding makes sense considering they seem better versed in the nature of theme parks than zoos, and perhaps they are wrongfully equating the two as mere attractions made for making money with a side business of being eco-friendly in the latter.
Ugh. It's actually disappointing to hear this.
I think "enclosure" really has a negative vibe to it. And besides that, especially in Dutch, it's translation comes closer to something like "box".
Now, when I think of enclosure, I think of something like this:
(Picture from some kind of Bear Park in Japan.
And when I think of Habitat, I think of something like this:
(Bear Forest in Ouwehands Dierenpark Rhenen)
Now, when looking at the meaning of the word Habitat, it translates to:
So for me, as someone who wants to create nice environments and want to create the perfect habitat for the animal, the word "enclosure" would be the last I would like to use to when looking at my Zoo.
So, as a in game reference to what I mean.
This is what I believe is the prime example of what a enclosure is, 4 walls and that's it.
Habitat / Natural environment.
Just my 2 cents on the subject.
Wording is interesting, and I agree it somewhat comes close to hypocrisy.
But I think there is still a distinctive difference between the 2 words, and if you use the 2nd one (Habitat), it also makes you think and act in the way the word is described and towards the meaning of the word.
I've been to many zoo's that have them both, like "small" bird cages, instead of large aviaries. But I prefer larger more animal friendly habitats, that earn that word.
When you have 4 concrete walls and a concrete floor, In my mind, you can never call that a habitat.
Now, when I think of enclosure, I think of something like this:
(Picture from some kind of Bear Park in Japan.
And when I think of Habitat, I think of something like this:
(Bear Forest in Ouwehands Dierenpark Rhenen)
Now, when looking at the meaning of the word Habitat, it translates to:
So for me, as someone who wants to create nice environments and want to create the perfect habitat for the animal, the word "enclosure" would be the last I would like to use to when looking at my Zoo.
So, as a in game reference to what I mean.
This is what I believe is the prime example of what a enclosure is, 4 walls and that's it.
Habitat / Natural environment.
Just my 2 cents on the subject.
Wording is interesting, and I agree it somewhat comes close to hypocrisy.
But I think there is still a distinctive difference between the 2 words, and if you use the 2nd one (Habitat), it also makes you think and act in the way the word is described and towards the meaning of the word.
I've been to many zoo's that have them both, like "small" bird cages, instead of large aviaries. But I prefer larger more animal friendly habitats, that earn that word.
When you have 4 concrete walls and a concrete floor, In my mind, you can never call that a habitat.
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Habitat / Natural environment.
Sorry but it’s still an enclosure regardless of your personal associations with the word. The animals are still enclosed by a barrier and let’s not pretend otherwise or be apologetic about that fact.
In German the term "Habitat" is very strict the description of the natural environment of a species.
So I'm glad that that they went in the German game translation ( which I just use rarely) with "Gehege", which basically means enclosure, but is more associated with a larger (sometimes very large) fenced area in a mostly natural environment. The negative word would be "Zwinger", which is associated with a cage or concrete pit.
But I guess it's not only a language-thing, it's also about the region you are from and expectations we have.
I wrote once as a reply to a player request that this game is about a zoo and not a wildlife preserve park....but maybe I simply was wrong and even the game title is just a typo?
So I'm glad that that they went in the German game translation ( which I just use rarely) with "Gehege", which basically means enclosure, but is more associated with a larger (sometimes very large) fenced area in a mostly natural environment. The negative word would be "Zwinger", which is associated with a cage or concrete pit.
But I guess it's not only a language-thing, it's also about the region you are from and expectations we have.
I wrote once as a reply to a player request that this game is about a zoo and not a wildlife preserve park....but maybe I simply was wrong and even the game title is just a typo?
Fair enough.
Also often used "Anlage", which I would translate into the animals "area", like roaming area. Both words that sound "big" and for me bigger than "Gehege".
As a non-native english speaker I kind of agree that habitat sounds a bit too natural and is a bit eyewash / window dressing or whatever term one would use in english. However, it doesn't bother me that much. I have a bigger problem with animal welfare requirements no or very few zoos in the real world actually meet (looking at you, polar bear) or where it is not clear if Planet Zoo is a Zoo simulator or a wioldlife park sim.
May I ask what you understand of a "Wildlife Park Sim". Is that something like a Safari Park (just like a Zoo, but then with open plains), or something like the Kruger Park in South Africa, where there are no fences, and animals roam in the same area, and are not fed or treated and have to take care of themselves)?
Because the game is anything but the last example (Kruger Park), because the animals can't take care of themselves.
Safari Park Sim, then. Because the space requirement of some animals are not met in zoos, but are more compareable to a safari park with huge areas. So basically something you would drive through with a bus or your own car to actually see the animals.
There are not many animals where I have a problem with the requirements, to be fair. But as I said in other threads, Polar bears and Okapis for example seem way out of scale compared to the requirements of the other animals. It's a result of using too many different resources when definining the requirements of the animals in game.