DLC20 Discussion (maybe, but why not?)

[biggest_dreamer]

Why do the blackbuck and nilgai have such a reputation in North America? Not disputing it (I am from the EU), I just want to know.

I'm not sure why myself, but it's absolutely true. Both species are far, far more common in unaccredited facilities and safari parks than they are in AZA zoos. At a glance, I'd say upwards of 90-95% of the facilities that keep either one are unaccredited. Personally, I've only seen each of them at a single AZA facility but many non-AZA.

They both seem to be fairly docile species that are easy to obtain in the private trade, so that does explain why they're so common there, but the absence of blackbuck in particular in AZA facilities feels pretty strange. I realize that they have little conservation need, but they're such a beautiful species! You'd think that even people who don't typically appreciate ungulates would recognize that. But in general, large swaths of the AZA seem fine with ignoring antelopes altogether, it's not just a blackbuck/nilgai problem. For instance, neither South Carolina nor Georgia have a single antelope species in any of their accredited facilities, and I doubt they're unique in that distinction.

 

[AndyZoos]

And why is a raccoon dog/tanuki so bad?

Maybe it's invasive in North America as well? It's highly invasive in Europe, where it was (accidentally?) released from fur farms and became established.

I think people just aren't as familiar with it. I expect it's one of those picks that, once people see it in-game, they'll be pretty excited about it TBH.

Im not getting my hope up before i actually see whats in there. Americas advertised 80+ when in practise it really where just 30sih and 50 dublicates, with really only a handfull that where usable outside of a mexican party area.

So 100+ piece really dont say anything to me at this moment

My worry is that they've doubled up on some pieces rather than just making them flexi color. I don't think we necessarily need new wall sets or anything like that but... It's such a waste of scroll-time having all those different flag options when giving us the single flag, a few new rope pieces, and blueprints would have done the trick. I honestly would have been less bothered by a lower piece count than I am by the presence of those duplicative pieces. LOL

Scenery bloat was something Frontier had been really good about with every DLC post-South America IMHO right up until the Americas pack. There's a few exceptions but mostly it has never felt like they've added things just to increase the piece count. And it's kind of a double-loss when that happens because the pieces are duplicative and limited in use because you can't change the colors.

I'm going to try and remain optimistic on this one still but I'm a little nervous given what happened with the Americas pack.

 

[Topaz Star]

What do we think about the potential interspecies enrichment for our new animals?

 

[Markiz]

What do we think about the potential interspecies enrichment for our new animals?

I think Ratel and Dog no enrichment.

Elephant hopefully with two Bornean primates.

Blackbuck and Nilgai with each other and probably Rhino (and Water Buffalo maybe?)

Deer and Macaque, honestly don't know. Could go with no enrichments, could have some surprising ones.

 

[Utahraptor Arcanus]

What do we think about the potential interspecies enrichment for our new animals?

i believe the blackbuck will have enrichment with most indian animals, such as the nilgai, indian rhino, elephant, buffalo, macaque and peafowl.

 

[aubreykitsune]

India and East Asia could have used a full pack each, not a combined pack that's naturally going to leave both of them with lots of leftover holes. I'm going to be legitimately bummed if we're missing blackbuck, tanuki, or at this point literally any bird. And with only three slots left, it's unlikely that the exact three "needed" animals for me are what we're going to get.

Okay, I'll take nilgai over a bird. Just didn't think both blackbuck and nilgai were possible together with so few slots. I love this pack, elephant clone aside!

 

[DarthQuell]

I'm not expecting too much animal enrichment. It feels like last 2 packs the interspecies enrichment was not fully implemented. I mean, why doesn't the rhea have Baird's tapir enrichment? I've seen them together.
But, then again I could be wrong and the interspecies enrichment thing is done well

 

[Antimony96]

Mods haven't broken since Version 1.13 or 1.14.


Why do the blackbuck and nilgai have such a reputation in North America? Not disputing it (I am from the EU), I just want to know.

A few factors but import laws are a big one (even moreso for deer), and the AZA simply chose different priorities.

And why is a raccoon dog/tanuki so bad?

Three canids this year lol

 

[Markiz]

I mean, why doesn't the rhea have Baird's tapir enrichment? I've seen them together.

With Baird’s or Lowland?

 

[DarthQuell]

With Baird’s or Lowland?

Baird's specifically. Houston Zoo houses them together along with anteaters, capybaras, and screamers

 

[Antimony96]

Yeah but having 40 lizard species in some backyard cabin in your zoo does not a focus make. For example in most zoos aviary birds tend to be relegated to a row of small aviaries close to the entrance, and like 90% of the zoo's area is big mammal exhibits. New zoos and zoos with a lot of budget in modern daydo tend to have larger naturalistic aviaries as centerpiece exhibits, but that is still a process in progress that will take years to complete.

This is true, but even that example zoo, by virtue of having a duck pond and maybe a couple small pheasant/stork aviaries, is doing better than Planet Zoo!

 

[Artemisya]

Three canids this year lol

And thats bad because....?

 

[Captain Callum]

Oh no, canids getting good representation at long last, the horror

 

[Doran]

"one of the most bio-diverse continents" which is why 5/7 animals are either ungulates or carnivores

Pretty sad.

Yeah but having 40 lizard species in some backyard cabin in your zoo does not a focus make. For example in most zoos aviary birds tend to be relegated to a row of small aviaries close to the entrance, and like 90% of the zoo's area is big mammal exhibits. New zoos and zoos with a lot of budget in modern daydo tend to have larger naturalistic aviaries as centerpiece exhibits, but that is still a process in progress that will take years to complete.

I wonder why is that. Maybe, because big mammal require big space?

 

[yoav_r]

Oh no, canids getting good representation at long last, the horror

The canids get all the representation. Let musteloids have a day.

 

[bkfireshark]

I'm going to wait til I see the models before I make my rankings post, but overall, I'm pretty happy with this pack. A couple that I don't really care for, but as said, I'm going to wait for the models

 

[yoav_r]

I wonder why is that. Maybe, because big mammal require big space?

That's part of it. The other part is that to the median Zoo visitor there is much more interested in seeing large active animals like big mammals over small inactive and/or camouflaged animals that make most of birds, reptiles, inverts and amphibians.

The old style tiny box aviaries are depressing, but the new style natural dome aviaries are an exercise in spotting the tiny bird in the tree cover or the bushes, if you ever visited one. Which is fun for animal needs but nor the average Zoo goer.

 

[nutrit]

Do you remember how, before the release of Americas, a photo of a sheep appeared on some website—one that wasn’t shown anywhere else?

Do you remember the name of that online game store?

Maybe they have some extra images this time too, but I can’t remember the website address.

Found it. But there’s no news about the new pack there at all.

Planet Zoo: Americas Animal Pack Steam Key for PC - Buy now

Explore the wilds of the Americas with the Planet Zoo: Americas Animal Pack! Embark on an adventure through the diverse ecosystems of North, South, and Central America and meet 7 amazing animals that will bring extra wonder to your zoos.

us.gamesplanet.com

 

[biggest_dreamer]

Baird's specifically. Houston Zoo houses them together along with anteaters, capybaras, and screamers

The two species don't have overlapping ranges in the wild, which seems to be the #1 factor that Frontier looks at (with the occasional exception such as the capybara, which I presume to be because of their memetic agreeability)

 

[DarthQuell]

The two species don't have overlapping ranges in the wild, which seems to be the #1 factor that Frontier looks at (with the occasional exception such as the capybara, which I presume to be because of their memetic agreeability)

Yes, but like you said, some animals have IE even when their ranges don't overlap. Not all 4 lemurs seem to overlap yet they all have bonuses with each other.
I mean, it's honestly not eve that big of a deal, but if they do it they should at least consider how zoos in real-life handle it