Frontier Forums

PLEASE NOTE: I do not want to paint a negative view of zoos. They have the potential to do a lot of good but also harm. I really do love them and the good work that good zoos do.

This is kind of a tender topic, and I was unsure about bringing it up.

Should we add zoochosis to the game?

For context, zoochosis is a type of psychosis that arises in animals, especially smarter animals, in captivity, and it’s caused by sensory deprivation, small spaces, lack of enrichment, and other factors. It manifests when animals perform specific repetitive behaviors that serve no purpose. Examples include:

• Pacing or swimming in circles (especially among big cats and bears)
• Swaying back and forth (especially elephants)
• Overly grooming
• Self-H@rm (didn’t know if I could post that without getting flagged or something)

If this were to be added to the game, it would occur in specific animals like primates, cats, bears, elephants, and other animals that need constant stimulation or a large amount of space. Animals would start showing symptoms if their space and enrichment requirements are not met and remain so for long periods of time. You would get alerted if animals start showing symptoms. You would also be able to toggle zoochosis on and off in settings.

Anyway, what do you all think about this proposal? Feel free to add your thoughts.