I really dislike the idea of petting zoos

[yoav_r]

I've seen a few threads regarding the inclusion of petting zoos and domesticated animals in the game, with mixed responses.

While I understand the appeal, I personally really dislike the idea, as I feel that petting zoos are pretty much "for the guests", while modern zoos and PZ itself are focused on the animals themselves, theur well being and conservation.

I think adding domesticated animals of any kind would detract from the game and it's conservation purposes.

Also, I'd much rather if the focus of DLCs would be on more variety of wild animals


What do you guys think?

 

[deinonychus110]

I've seen a few threads regarding the inclusion of petting zoos and domesticated animals in the game, with mixed responses.

While I understand the appeal, I personally really dislike the idea, as I feel that petting zoos are pretty much "for the guests", while modern zoos and PZ itself are focused on the animals themselves, theur well being and conservation.

I think adding domesticated animals of any kind would detract from the game and it's conservation purposes.

Also, I'd much rather if the focus of DLCs would be on more variety of wild animals


What do you guys think?

Too late, they added Bactrian camels

 

[Dienstbier]

Google Translator:
Hi there,
I don't know who petting zoos and animal welfare should save themselves.
I like zoos where there are both. Above all, I think it's nice if there are old farm animal breeds that are then shown in the zoo and that is also explained what is the difference to the breeds living today.

In the Nuremberg Zoo (Germany) there are exotic animals, just like farm animals.
I loved going to the exotic, marveling (whether huge or tiny) the aquariums and dolphins.
Or just look at the llamas, alpacas, goats, pigs, rabbits, mice, chinchillas or other small animals and even be able to feed them.
Especially with my child, this petting zoo was very attractive. (But not only because of that) I don't understand back and forth where individual animals should be under particularly high "protection".
ALL animals deserve this and there should be a very good education for all animals. And just because some do not want to do this with farm animals or "normal" animals should not be withheld from lovers of these animal species. Nowadays, zoos are no longer just animal storage facilities, where animals are put in tight pens.
Zoos offer animals more and more space, they educate and promote understanding of our environment.
The animals from our immediate vicinity are also included. At least that's my opinion. And what is exotic for some is an everyday animal for others.
I would be very happy to be able to keep farm animals in a zoo. For me this is part of it. A zoo without visitors would not be a zoo. Therefore, of course, there should be enough in the game for visitors.
So that they are satisfied and are busy.

It is supposed to be somewhat reminiscent of reality.

Gabi

Original:

Hallo,
ich weiß nicht weshab sich Streichelzoos und Tierschutz aufheben soll.

Ich mag Zoos, wo es beides gibt.

Vorallem finde ich es schön wenn es alte Nutztierrassen sind, die dann im Zoo gezeigt werden und das auch erklärt wird was der Unterschied zu den heutig lebenden Rassen ist.

Im Nürnberger Zoo (Deutschland) da gibt es exotische Tiere, genau wie Nutztiere.
Ich liebte es zu den Exoten zu gehen, (egal ob riesig oder winzig) die Aquarien und Delephine zu bestaunen. Oder eben bei den Lamas, Alpakas, Ziegen, Schweinen, Hasen, Mäusen Chinchillas oder anderem Kleinvieh vorbeizugucken und diese teils sogar füttern zu können.
Vorallem mit meinem Kind hatte diese Streichelzooecke eine hohe Anziehungskraft.(Aber nicht nur deswegen)

Ich versteh das hin und her nicht, wo einzelne Tiere unter besonders hohem "Schutz" stehen sollten. ALLE Tiere haben das verdient und für alle Tiere sollte es eine sehr gute Aufklärung geben.

Und nur weil manche das mit den Nutztieren, oder "normalen" Tieren nicht möchten, sollte es Liebhabern dieser Tierarten nicht vorenthalten werden.
Zoos sind heutzutage nicht mehr nur Tieraufbewahrungsanstalten, wo die Tiere in enge Pferche gesteckt werden.

Zoos bieten den Tieren immer mehr Platz, sie klären auf und fördern das Verständnis für unsere Umwelt. Auch die Tiere von unserem nächsten Umkreis gehören dazu.
Zumindest ist dies MEINE Meinung.
Und was für den einen ein Exot ist, ist für den anderen ein alltägliches Tier.

Ich würde mich sehr darüber freuen auch Nutztiere in einem Zoo halten zu können.
Für mich gehört dies dazu.

Ein Zoo ohne Besucher wäre kein Zoo.

Deshalb sollte in dem Spiel natürlich auch genug für die Besucher vorhanden sein.
So das diese zufrieden sind und gut beschäftigt werden.

Es soll ja einigermaßen an die Realität erinnern.

Gabi

 

[paul78]

From a realism point I would support it simply because it is realistic. Most zoos if not all zoos have them so I get the conservation animals standpoint but the game focuses on guest needs as well. And a lot of people at zoos love the petting zoo especially children. So overall I like the idea of frontier including them at some point. Of course the players always have the option to not buy the dlc.

 

[yoav_r]

Too late, they added Bactrian camels

I was sure this is the wild bactrian camel. TBH it is one of the few animals I have yet to put in the game. I now see they have chosen the domesticated one, which is honestly dissapointing.

 

[QueenOfTheNorth]

I'm heavily objecting to domestic animals being added to PZ when we have a ton of potential wild species that could be there instead, but I wouldn't actually mind a couple petting zoo "type" animals like a rare breed of domestic sheep/goat/burro (I'm thinking middle eastern/african or mexico desert themes here) or additional friendly species that can be added to walk-in habitats like our current peacocks and aardvarks. To me that's effectively a petting zoo already if my guests can walk around with lemurs jumping about around them, lol. If petting zoos appear as a type of self-enclosed attraction building (like ZT1) then that maybe feels a little too theme-park-y for the conservation theme...but perhaps acceptable since it'd be up to the gameplay style of the player to add the building or not.

 

[[VR] Deggial]

... I feel that petting zoos are pretty much "for the guests", ... What do you guys think?

I think: yes and no. Modern zoos may be there for the conservation of animals, but they are also there for the guests - for their education as well as for their emotional investment.

If you want to save animals in the wild, you will have to raise the awareness of the problems and the willingness to tackle them. This willingness can be achieved best, if people care for animals, because they love them. In order to love something, you have to come in contact with it - the earlier the better, preferably in your childhood. Very few children in modern cities do have the opportunity to own a dog or a cat (or any other animal of a reasonable size to establish a meaningful emotional bonding).
Petting zoos can play a valuable role here. Obviously, they are not a substitute for an own pet to live with. But they can at least provide the opportunity to come in close contact with animals, touch them, feel them, smell them.
For an adult, this experience might seem insignificant.
But I believe for a child this might be a very impressive experience.

Raising awareness for animals rather than breeding them can be a goal in modern zoos even for adults as target audience.
This year, we visited a tiny zoo in Germany, where only a few wild cats are displayed. They only host tomcats, because female cats would attract the males from all the surrounding forests, causing nothing but trouble.
So, breeding for conservation was clearly not the goal.
Information was, though.
We learned, that the wild cat population has stabilized in Germany (which made us very happy), but fragmentation of their natural habitats is still a danger. And we learned that the current focus for their conservation is to establish “forest bridges” to interlink the remaining forest patches and allow them to wander around safely.
Just seeing those cute little beings did in fact help to connect and care more for them in the future. And we learned something as well. The little zoo definitely achieved its mission ...

 

[paul78]

@Deggial very well said. I believe this too you can look at a lion and admire the beauty and majestic presence of the animal but you obviously can’t interact with it the same way you could a petting zoo animal. Therefore creating a bonding experience with a animal which could spark a importance for all animal life on the planet.

 

[markun]

I’d also say they are a reality in zoos and have an important role to play in introducing children to the wonders of animals and nature. Education is just as important as conservation.

Many children today don’t understand or appreciate where their food comes from or have much up close contact with animals. Petting zoos, children’s zoos or zoo farms are an important opportunity to address this.

I’d prefer more wild animals but a well thought out domestic pack could have some very interesting animals including rare breeds rather than just generic farm animals and pets.

Also some species for example llamas, alpacas, highland cattle and soay sheep would make nice and realistic additions to a small zoo. Not all zoos are huge themed safari parks and small zoos have an important role to play too, especially in education and introducing children - and indeed adults - to animals of all kinds.

I’d definitely use them if they were well-chosen breeds or species.

 

[narwhal]

Perhaps like an endangered livestock pack or something to that effect, since there are some really rare breeds of goats and cattle

 

[eulemur]

If petting zoos are included I would prefer they use endangered domestic breeds like the Dorset horn, kunekune or arapawa. I think it would be a cool opportunity for education areas regarding sustainable farming and agriculture in indigenous communities. I’m not begging for it, though; it’s just a “nice to have” sort of suggestion, I wouldn’t be upset to not have it.

 

[deinonychus110]

I was sure this is the wild bactrian camel. TBH it is one of the few animals I have yet to put in the game. I now see they have chosen the domesticated one, which is honestly dissapointing.

Why do you hate the fluffy and adorable domestic Bactrian camel?

 

[VioletGrey]

Most zoos have a petting zoo section. It's very realistic.
It wouldn't be my first priority, but I hope they include animals like llamas and goats eventually. I can wait for a while for them, though, since there are some wild animals I'd like to see first as well, like foxes and ocelots.

 

[AndyZoos]

Definitely not something I would consider a priority, but I wouldn't mind the inclusion of a few interesting/unique domestic livestock breeds. Personally, I don't really care about the mechanics of petting the animals or whatever... But it would be a good source of income and would be a great way to boost guest happiness levels. I'd particularly like to see llamas, alpacas, and a species of goat.

And, I mean, we're half way toward having that sort of thing -- with guests being able to walk through certain exhibits anyway.

 

[NZFanatic]

Agree with others, I don't think it should be prioritised due to the lack of some other key zoo species, but if you think they exist "for the guests" then you're missing the point - most zoos have "Children's Zoos" or "petting zoos" or whatever you want to call them built in with the goal of getting younger kids excited by animals.

 

[NL_Mutso]

Agree with others, I don't think it should be prioritised due to the lack of some other key zoo species, but if you think they exist "for the guests" then you're missing the point - most zoos have "Children's Zoos" or "petting zoos" or whatever you want to call them built in with the goal of getting younger kids excited by animals.

Even adults..

One of my colleagues from a different part of my country, visited our location. She was very excited about seeing some animals walking/running around. I grew up around these animals but a lot of people don't get to see those animals in their living area.

I agree, not the biggest priority but I think petting zoo animals have an important place in most zoos.

 

[Rainchen]

The zoo in Munich has domesticated animals and an animal school attached to it, where you learn about these animals and how to take care of these animals, etc. so that is also very much about animal welfare. I think it would generally also add a tad realism to Planet Zoo. But I agree with the others that it should not be an absolute priority but would be nice to have.

 

[OLG]

I signed up for the forums just to suggest a petting zoo.

The sooner you can nurture a love for animals in children the better. Today there are too many domestic and farm animals being kept in deplorable conditions, suffering neglect and abuse. I see nothing wrong with a petting zoo where children can learn about caring for and loving fuzzy little creatures and farm animals.

 

[paul78]

Not to mention animals like donkeys,sheep,goats,chicken,and turkeys would be awesome. Especially turkeys I don’t know why but seeing the male with his feathers puffed out in regular and maybe white form would be amazing.

 

[markun]

As well as a children’s/petting zoo one thing I think might be fun to do is start a small zoo with things like domestics including llamas, some reptiles, maybe lemurs, a small flock of flamingos (and other species we don’t yet have like otters, capybara, emus, wallabies) and gradually build up the zoo to a full collection with big animals and more endangered species.