If PZ added *ONE* animal not found in captivity irl, which would you want it to be?

Bearcat9948

Bearcat9948
Frontier have done a great job keeping real life conservation efforts and actual zookeeping/husbandry practices at the forefront of Planet Zoo. But for a moment, I'd like to throw all of that out of the window, just for fun. I want to know what one animal species you all would choose for PZ that is not currently, or perhaps ever, found in captivity in zoos. My rules are simple:
  1. Nothing silly, like prehistoric or extinct animals. Keep it to animals that are still alive. No fantasy creatures either (n)
  2. Free-flighted birds, like something that could reasonably be contained in a traditional aviary are allowed
  3. Cetaceans like whales and dolphins, or ocean animals that travel 1000s of miles and need a ridiculous amount of space are not allowed either. Besides, the mechanics don't exist for PZ yet
  4. Only choose one animal species!
So what would my animal be? The Sumatran rhino. It's not found in captivity (meaning zoos) in the West since 2015, when the last one left my local zoo, the Cincinnati Zoo. I loved going to see such a cool and rare animal, and seeing them go was very sad. There are still a few of them in captivity in Southeast Asia, but I am almost certain none of them are in official zoos, only sanctuaries designed for breeding to help the population recover, so not exactly the same thing. I know we already have the Indian rhino, but Sumatran rhinos are so unique! They're the only living member of their genus, they're super hairy and love mud baths, they have two horns unlike the other Asian rhinos and they're babies are honestly pretty cute!

What would you all choose?
 

jcp011c

jcp011c
Thought provoking and I'll admit, took some research. I'd say the Mountain Gorilla. I know, we already have lowland Gorilla, but it's an iconic enough animal that having two separate species/subspecies would be great.
 

paul78

paul78
I’d definitely say mountain gorilla also. I like the western lowland but the mountain gorilla is very iconic looking.
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Bearcat9948

Bearcat9948
Mountain gorillas, especially the males, are absolute units lol. We don't have any animals that occupy the "cloud forest" sub-biome so as far as habitat building goes it would be quite fun
 

Danny_zoo

Danny_zoo
nutrit said:
Saiga or Hirola or Saola...
Sorry but I couldn’t decide just for one.
But I would be also really happy with just one of the above.

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The Hirola would be fantastic to complement any African exhibit, it is critically endangered and looks completely distinct from the other antelopes in the game. Would love an Hirola, never understood (even though I love both of them) why did Frontier added a Thomson Gazelle and a Springbok, they are both very similar, especially the models in the game. Would have loved an Impala or Gerenuk instead of the Thomson.
 

Swjosdotschka

Swjosdotschka
Hmm... I did a quick research and most animals I found aren't in zoos, because they can not survive there. So to be honest, any real animal that can not be kept IRL in zoos are as much of a no-go for me as a unicorn or a t-rex.

If I would go only by appeal, I'd say the mountain gorilla with my love for apes. Though the Indri comes close (and yes, I just learned that there is something like the Indri).
 

mikek21

mikek21
To be honest, as soon as I started reading this thread, I thought Sumatran Rhino would be the animal I want. Would love to set up a breeding program for them in one of my zoos.
Mountain Gorilla is a cool idea too, but I wonder if folks would also consider the critically endangered Eastern Lowland Gorilla?
Hirola is a good idea too.
 

paul78

paul78
@mikek21 agreed the hirola and Sumatran rhino would be nice to have in game. As well as the saiga as previously mentioned. As far as gorilla subspecies go any would make great choices. Definitely one of my top 5 animals in real life and the game as a matter of fact. But there is something about the mountain gorilla tho.
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Danny_zoo

Danny_zoo
I have to say this, since it seems that the Mountain Gorilla is a very popular choice, as it should be with such a magnificent animal. The problem with a Mountain Gorilla is that this particular gorilla species tends to have thicker and longer fur than other species, it is really what defines them. I have worked on several Mountain Gorilla sculptures and adding the fur has always being a challenge. Unfortunately in the virtual world and Frontier's Planet Zoo universe, there is an absolute limitation with fur that handicaps this species. In my opinion a Mountain Gorilla would suffer aesthetically in the same way that the Orangutans in the game currently suffer, as their iconic coarse hair is missing.

Under this conditions, a Mountain Gorilla or any other animal that has visible and dramatic fur would be a no go for me, until such time when Frontier can either bypass this limitation or work an acceptable compromise. Some of the current bear species in the game, are affected as well, the brown bear comes to mind. Look at the beautiful brown bear in the first ever trailer (concept art) and look at the model we have now, a hairless mess, with no identity, or character. When you deprive animals of one of their most iconic features, you are taking their soul. This is another reason why the lion looks like a cartoon, because the mane was just not handle properly. To Frontier's credit, they have been completely up front about this since the beginning, and I remember one of the talented artist saying that they really wanted to include the fur, but it was too much for the system.

I can not wait for the day when technology allows for animals to be designed in all their glory, I believe it will be possible. If we look at the horrible models from the early zoo tycoon days to the amazing Frontier models we have now, it is well within reason to think it will happen. Until such day, no Mountain Gorilla for me, what would be the point?




In case anyone does not remember what a male Orangutan in all its glory should look like. Below is the technologically challenged Frontier version.
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orangutan002.jpg



Dreaming of this virtual Gorilla
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markun

markun
nutrit said:
Saiga or Hirola or Saola...
Sorry but I couldn’t decide just for one.
But I would be also really happy with just one of the above.

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Almaty Zoo in Kazakhstan has saiga and they are also kept - technically in captivity but with a great deal of freedom - at Askaniya Nova in Ukraine. I believe Moscow Zoo’s breeding centre keeps them but that isn’t open to the public.


mikek21 said:
but I wonder if folks would also consider the critically endangered Eastern Lowland Gorilla?
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There is a female at Antwerp Zoo.
 
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FoxyDee

FoxyDee
I always liked the Javan rhino in ZT2, but since we have the indian rhino, and it basically looks the same (there was actual zoo irl that had javan rhinos and all this time they though they were indian rhinos, lol) I am going to say saola, it looks really interesting!
 

Bearcat9948

Bearcat9948
I always thought it was interesting that Indri are not kept in captivity anywhere, but plenty of other lemur species are. Not even at any large sanctuaries or anything, there's not a single captive one.
 

aim_foliksta

aim_foliksta
markun said:
Almaty Zoo in Kazakhstan has saiga and they are also kept - technically in captivity but with a great deal of freedom - at Askaniya Nova in Ukraine. I believe Moscow Zoo’s breeding centre keeps them but that isn’t open to the public.
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That's right.
I was lucky to see one of them at Köln many years ago and I would love to see them at PZ.
 

Jeminyne

Jeminyne
I'd go with the quetzal if aviary choices are on the table. Would look amazing in tropical sections. I don't think they'd want to include an animal that actively fares poorly in captivity, though... How about the animal I really want, that has technically been held in a zoo, but only once: the leopard seal!
 
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