I know it's early to suggest DLC, given that we don't know all of the base game features yet, but I'm guessing the aspect of zoos I'm suggesting here will probably not appear in the base game.
This thread will focus on the inclusion of domesticated animals in Planet Zoo. Another thread will discuss the inclusion of petting areas featuring such animals.
Zoos commonly include petting areas in which guests can interact directly with animals. The use of wild animals in petting areas is controversial, but the use of domesticated animals rarely is. Consequently, many petting areas are styled to look like farms. Most of the zoos I have visited in the U.S. have American farms with American breeds of animals, but I believe Planet Zoo should make it possible for players to design farms that could fit in any part of the world. Some of the most innovative petting areas I have seen have been styled after international farms:
Nairobi Petting Kraal at San Diego Zoo Safari Park:
Asian, African, and American petting farms at the Sedgewick County Zoo, Wichita, KS, USA:
Most farm animals in the world represent one of nine domesticated species: cattle, horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, geese, chickens, and ducks. To make farm-themed areas more realistic and flexible, a domesticated animal pack should include not just the species but different breeds from around the world. Many breeds differ not just in coloration but in features like ears, horns, and overall body shape. Below are some examples of interesting or iconic breeds and the regions from which they originate (Click breed names for images).
Cattle - Ankole-Watusi (Africa), Holstein Freisian (Germany), Scottish Highland (UK), Texas Longhorn (US), Zebu (Asia)
Horses - Appaloosa (US), Arabian (Arabia), Fjord (Norway), Shire (UK), Miniature (global)
Sheep - Arapawa (New Zealand), Jacob (UK), Lohi (India), Merino (Spain), Najdi (Arabia)
Goats - Boer (South Africa), Dutch Landrace (Netherlands), LaMancha (US), Nigerian Dwarf (West Africa), Saanen (Switzerland)
Pigs - American Yorkshire (US), Danish Protest (Denmark), Kunekune (New Zealand), Meishan (China), Vietnamese Potbelly (SE Asia)
Geese - African (Africa), Chinese (China), Pilgrim (Europe/US)
Chickens - Asil (India), Chinese Silkie Bantam (China), Jersey Giant (US)
Ducks - Mallard (Americas), Mandarin (China), Muscovy (South America)
Including a selection like this will allow players to mix and match animals to build a farm area that would fit anywhere in the world.
Obviously there are other domesticated animals besides these nine species. Including other species would fill out the international representation for farms. Here are some of the most likely candidates (Click names for images):
Water Buffalo are the next most common domesticated mammal and one of the most common in Asia. However, they are also similar to cattle and could (somewhat incorrectly) be included as a cattle breed. The domestic yak, banteng, and gaur have similar frequency and a similar issue.
Dromedaries and Bactrian camels are iconic domesticated species that might also facilitate animal rides as a feature.
Turkeys are the next most common domesticated bird. Guineafowl are domesticated and farmed in parts of Africa.
Llamas and alpacas were domesticated in South America and are now farmed worldwide.
Rabbits, fancy rats, or ferrets might even be included as "small animals" in a vivarium.
A 10-species pack would nicely round out the number of species listed above, in which case I would most like to see the llama included. A 15- or 20-species pack would allow even more of these animals to appear in the game.
If domesticated species are included in an early pack or even patched into the base game, it would make it possible for future packs to add even more domesticated species, such as a South American pack that included llamas or alpacas or an Asian pack that included yaks or Bactrian camels.
TL;DR - Domesticated animals like cattle, goats, and pigs are an obvious feature to include in Planet Zoo. It would allow for other features like petting areas without the controversy of using wild animals. Breeds from around the world of each domestic species should be included to allow for more design options.
This thread will focus on the inclusion of domesticated animals in Planet Zoo. Another thread will discuss the inclusion of petting areas featuring such animals.
Zoos commonly include petting areas in which guests can interact directly with animals. The use of wild animals in petting areas is controversial, but the use of domesticated animals rarely is. Consequently, many petting areas are styled to look like farms. Most of the zoos I have visited in the U.S. have American farms with American breeds of animals, but I believe Planet Zoo should make it possible for players to design farms that could fit in any part of the world. Some of the most innovative petting areas I have seen have been styled after international farms:
Nairobi Petting Kraal at San Diego Zoo Safari Park:
Asian, African, and American petting farms at the Sedgewick County Zoo, Wichita, KS, USA:
Most farm animals in the world represent one of nine domesticated species: cattle, horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, geese, chickens, and ducks. To make farm-themed areas more realistic and flexible, a domesticated animal pack should include not just the species but different breeds from around the world. Many breeds differ not just in coloration but in features like ears, horns, and overall body shape. Below are some examples of interesting or iconic breeds and the regions from which they originate (Click breed names for images).
Cattle - Ankole-Watusi (Africa), Holstein Freisian (Germany), Scottish Highland (UK), Texas Longhorn (US), Zebu (Asia)
Horses - Appaloosa (US), Arabian (Arabia), Fjord (Norway), Shire (UK), Miniature (global)
Sheep - Arapawa (New Zealand), Jacob (UK), Lohi (India), Merino (Spain), Najdi (Arabia)
Goats - Boer (South Africa), Dutch Landrace (Netherlands), LaMancha (US), Nigerian Dwarf (West Africa), Saanen (Switzerland)
Pigs - American Yorkshire (US), Danish Protest (Denmark), Kunekune (New Zealand), Meishan (China), Vietnamese Potbelly (SE Asia)
Geese - African (Africa), Chinese (China), Pilgrim (Europe/US)
Chickens - Asil (India), Chinese Silkie Bantam (China), Jersey Giant (US)
Ducks - Mallard (Americas), Mandarin (China), Muscovy (South America)
Including a selection like this will allow players to mix and match animals to build a farm area that would fit anywhere in the world.
Obviously there are other domesticated animals besides these nine species. Including other species would fill out the international representation for farms. Here are some of the most likely candidates (Click names for images):
Water Buffalo are the next most common domesticated mammal and one of the most common in Asia. However, they are also similar to cattle and could (somewhat incorrectly) be included as a cattle breed. The domestic yak, banteng, and gaur have similar frequency and a similar issue.
Dromedaries and Bactrian camels are iconic domesticated species that might also facilitate animal rides as a feature.
Turkeys are the next most common domesticated bird. Guineafowl are domesticated and farmed in parts of Africa.
Llamas and alpacas were domesticated in South America and are now farmed worldwide.
Rabbits, fancy rats, or ferrets might even be included as "small animals" in a vivarium.
A 10-species pack would nicely round out the number of species listed above, in which case I would most like to see the llama included. A 15- or 20-species pack would allow even more of these animals to appear in the game.
If domesticated species are included in an early pack or even patched into the base game, it would make it possible for future packs to add even more domesticated species, such as a South American pack that included llamas or alpacas or an Asian pack that included yaks or Bactrian camels.
TL;DR - Domesticated animals like cattle, goats, and pigs are an obvious feature to include in Planet Zoo. It would allow for other features like petting areas without the controversy of using wild animals. Breeds from around the world of each domestic species should be included to allow for more design options.
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