Let’s demand South American Animal pack!

[Bearcat9948]

South America is not only Amazonas is more is forest, plains, and desert.

An important detail that seems to get swept to the wayside during discussions like these. People say "I'm not interested in SA, we have enough tropical rainforest animals". SA is full of other biomes and animals from those biomes that would make great additions to the game. Anyways, here's my optimal SA Animals pack:

1. Capybara (Aquatic, tropical rainforest, grassland)
2. Giant armadillo (Grassland, temperate forest, tropical rainforest)
3. Wattled curassow (Grassland, tropical rainforest) -I would be ok with pretty much any species of curassow here
4. South American coati (Tropical rainforest, grassland)
5. Black howler monkey (Tropical rainforest)
6. Bush dog (Grassland, tropical rainforest)
7. Jabiru, scarlet ibis or roseate spoonbill (Aquatic, tropical rainforest, grassland)
8. Don't care specifically for any exhibit animal, just something colorful that isn't a copy of what we have already

 

[Cynogale bennettii II]

I would love to see more South American animals. If I had to choose eight species for a South America pack, these would be my choices:

Black capped squirrel monkey (Tropical) - This is a representative species for the Amazon rainforest but would be a good addition on account of its small size; they are larger than a meerkat and so should be workable.
Black necked swan (Aquatic, Grassland, Taiga, Temperate) - This is a commonly kept bird that lives in the cooler southern parts of South America; they would add another species that could be kept in a relatively small enclosure and has great ornamental value.
Capybara (Aquatic, Grassland, Tropical) - There are easily half a dozen different types of rodent that could work as habitat animals, including agoutis, paca and maras; this one is the most-wanted by the community and is one that I wouldn't mind seeing myself.
Chacoan peccary (Desert, Grassland) - This is an endangered species found in the very arid Gran Chaco region; they were first identified from fossils before being found alive and they are now increasingly being kept and bred in zoos.
Northern helmeted curassow (Temperate, Tropical) - This is one of the more endangered curassows that is still commonly kept in captivity; they live in high subtropical cloud forests in the northern Andes but are often kept in more standard tropical spaces as well.
Six banded armadillo (Grassland, Temperate, Tropical) - Armadillos are a group of animals that evolved in South America and should definitely have a place here; I considered the giant armadillo but, on finding they have never been bred in captivity before, I went for a smaller, more commonly-kept species.
West Indian manatee (Aquatic) - I just can't see a full pack of totally aquatic animals coming, to be honest; this would be one of the best places to add this species, which is a good representative of the Atlantic coasts of South America.

Surinam grasshopper Tetrataenia surinama (Tropical) - Not only are these a very beautiful grasshopper (as seen below) that are fairly close in size to the Lehmann's poison frog, they also tell an important conservation story, as this is a species that naturally moves into areas of forest regrowing after logging.

 

[NZFanatic]

Surinam grasshopper Tetrataenia surinama (Tropical) - Not only are these a very beautiful grasshopper (as seen below) that are fairly close in size to the Lehmann's poison frog, they also tell an important conservation story, as this is a species that naturally moves into areas of forest regrowing after logging.

View attachment 224371

Oh I like that a lot!

 

[Swjosdotschka]

I'd love a South American pack BUT not now. I am really tired of tropical animals for a while. To be honest, even the thought of yet another warm region lets me sigh. Colder biomes do actually exist

 

[Ushuaia]

Atm, I think we got enough tropical/SA animals.

Even though I agree that both North America and Eurasia needs attention, it would be wrong to think of an entire continent as tropical. There are many animals from South America that are not tropical. You can get temperate, taiga, alpine tundra, desert, grasslands animals with that pack too. I think the game's map misleads people into thinking the entire southern hemisphere is tropical.... Regions in the southern hemisphere that are as cold as Iceland have been painted as tropical on the game's map....

 

[NZFanatic]

Even though I agree that both North America and Eurasia needs attention, it would be wrong to think of an entire continent as tropical. There are many animals from South America that are not tropical. You can get temperate, taiga, alpine tundra, desert, grasslands animals with that pack too. I think the game's map misleads people into thinking the entire southern hemisphere is tropical.... Regions in the southern hemisphere that are as cold as Iceland have been painted as tropical on the game's map....

I think it's more to do with the fact that most iconic zoo animals from South America are tropical. Certainly not all - there's the maned wolf, spectacled bear, Magellan penguin, rhea, mara, southern pudu - but many, especially many of the animals people want the most (capybara, howler monkey, spider monkey, etc.).

(Although, I do feel the need to point out that Geoffroy's spider monkey, which is one of the most popularly requested species, occurs in Mexico, with the Mexican spider monkey, and could conceivably be a part of a North America theme pack if need be).

 

[Fossa]

I can’t believe I share this planet with people that think Black Bears are cooler than Maned Wolves, Spectacled Bears, Capybara, Rhea and Basilisks... Just kiddn, but really, give me another awesome S-American pack over a European or N-American pack everyday.

I mostly want Maned Wolf, Spectacled Bear, Capybara and Basilisk Lizard.
But Rhea, Giant Armadillo, the smaller Tree Anteater, Ocelot, Sloths, and Howler Monkeys would be cool as well.

 

[NL_Mutso]

Even though I agree that both North America and Eurasia needs attention, it would be wrong to think of an entire continent as tropical

Nobody is claiming that? Judging from most wishlists etc., most people want the tropical species from that continent. (and like NZfanatic commented: iconic species).
You mentioned there are many non-tropical species in SA. You are right but this doesn't reflect in most wishlists. And you would pick only non-tropical species from that continent, there isn't that much appeal to it.

If another SA pack should happen, tropical species will be the majority within that pack. And at this point, i'd prefer other biomes.
I wouldn't mind a tropical pack with a mix from several continents somewhere down the line.

 

[Bearcat9948]

Nobody is claiming that? Judging from most wishlists etc., most people want the tropical species from that continent. (and like NZfanatic commented: iconic species).
You mentioned there are many non-tropical species in SA. You are right but this doesn't reflect in most wishlists. And you would pick only non-tropical species from that continent, there isn't that much appeal to it.

If another SA pack should happen, tropical species will be the majority within that pack. And at this point, i'd prefer other biomes.
I wouldn't mind a tropical pack with a mix from several continents somewhere down the line.

Well, that's quite subjective isn't it?

 

[NL_Mutso]

Well, that's quite subjective isn't it?

Yes, ofc. it is. It's a forum meant for discussions, Your point being?

Aren't 9 out of 10 comments on a forum subjective?

 

[Chuditch]

Really hard to narrow it down to 7 species!

Maned Wolf (tropical, grassland) - A bit of a no brainer. I adore South American canids as a group and would be happy with any, but there's no questioning that this is the most charismatic of the bunch.
Capybara (tropical, grassland, aquatic) - Another no brainer. I would be just as excited for a mara personally, but I doubt we'd get two cavies in one go so it's best to go with the more popular option.
Emperor Tamarin (tropical) - Very hard to choose between the great diversity of New World monkeys, but these guys instantly stand out. A very charismatic species, and not too small to be unviable.
Spectacled Bear (tropical, grassland, temperate) - South America's largest land animal after the tapirs, and the only survivor of a divergent lineage that included the infamous short-faced bears. They also inhabit a surprising diversity of environments in their high Andean abode.
South American Coati (tropical, grassland, temperate) - First procyonid representation.
Nine-banded Armadillo (tropical, grassland, desert, temperate) - We could all do with another xenarthran, and an armadillo would just simply work a lot better than a sloth within the game's current functionality. Also doubles up as an additional species for North America whilst being even more widespread in South America.
Tayra (tropical, grassland) - An animal more obscure than it probably should be, a large and powerful mustelid as long as a Honey Badger although more lightly built. It's much more likely we'd get a cat taking up the slot of a small semi-arboreal carnivore, but I'd be delighted to see this fierce predator get some representation.

 

[Bearcat9948]

Yes, ofc. it is. It's a forum meant for discussions, Your point being?

Aren't 9 out of 10 comments on a forum subjective?

Well, you've told me off in the past for using subjective phrasing like that when speaking about the entire community, so I found your comment a little ironic, that's all. If you're saying it doesn't appeal to you specifically, my apologies, it didn't read that way.

 

[jcp011c]

Really hard to narrow it down to 7 species!

Maned Wolf (tropical, grassland) - A bit of a no brainer. I adore South American canids as a group and would be happy with any, but there's no questioning that this is the most charismatic of the bunch.
Capybara (tropical, grassland, aquatic) - Another no brainer. I would be just as excited for a mara personally, but I doubt we'd get two cavies in one go so it's best to go with the more popular option.
Emperor Tamarin (tropical) - Very hard to choose between the great diversity of New World monkeys, but these guys instantly stand out. A very charismatic species, and not too small to be unviable.
Spectacled Bear (tropical, grassland, temperate) - South America's largest land animal after the tapirs, and the only survivor of a divergent lineage that included the infamous short-faced bears. They also inhabit a surprising diversity of environments in their high Andean abode.
South American Coati (tropical, grassland, temperate) - First procyonid representation.
Nine-banded Armadillo (tropical, grassland, desert, temperate) - We could all do with another xenarthran, and an armadillo would just simply work a lot better than a sloth within the game's current functionality. Also doubles up as an additional species for North America whilst being even more widespread in South America.
Tayra (tropical, grassland) - An animal more obscure than it probably should be, a large and powerful mustelid as long as a Honey Badger although more lightly built. It's much more likely we'd get a cat taking up the slot of a small semi-arboreal carnivore, but I'd be delighted to see this fierce predator get some representation.

I have never even heard of a tayra before, but after seeing a picture of one, I want one in the game, immediately! That may be an out of nowhere addition for the next meta wishlist thread, at least for me.

 

[NL_Mutso]

Well, you've told me off in the past for using subjective phrasing like that when speaking about the entire community, so I found your comment a little ironic, that's all. If you're saying it doesn't appeal to you specifically, my apologies, it didn't read that way.

Kinda confirming the comments in that thread.

Kinda sad to see this attitude being used in a slightly different context.

 

[Spiderhawk]

I love SA. One of my best zoos is a SA zoo. I think NA and Australia additions should get more of a priority. I agree and think we have enough tropical SA, so let’s see. I’d like to cover animal species on all continents.
1. Greater Rhea. Grassland and a bird.
2. Manned Wolf. Grassland and a canine
3. Andean Bear. Final bear to check off for every continent. Taiga temperate maybe?
4. There are plenty of SA exhibit animals
Blue frogs sound cool. But I’m kinda feeling a new turtle or flying insects.
I’d say because of high demand for capybaras and sloths they get priority. Although I think some desert SA should get some attention.

 

[Lord of the Vegetables]

If we got a SA animal pack I'd probably want:

1. Capybara
2. Maned Wolf
3. Black Howler Monkey
4. Southern Tamandua
5. Andean Bear
6. Greater Rhea
7. Southern Two-Toed Sloth
8. Green Anaconda or Blue Poison Dart Frog

Black and white Colobus. I suggest them because I think we could use a larger monkey type to repress SA.

Colobus Monkeys are from Africa, not South America btw.

 

[Danny_zoo]

South America is a very rich and diverse continent with many different ecosystems, not all of them are tropical, in fact I have been in trips in South America where I have felt much colder and exposed to the elements than anywhere in Europe for that matter. I remember Tierra del Fuego being unbearably cold, it was truly brutal, makes a trip to the Bavarian Alps seem like a summer day at the beach. As a side reference the coldest month of the year in Tierra del Fuego is July, it can get as low as 0°C. The Andes is actually divided into three separate areas, and while one of them is tropical, in the other two you can definitely feel the drastic drop in temperatures.

I have always maintained that the South American DLC was a monumental mistake by Frontier, not sure if they had no plans at the time to revisit the continent, or if they never intended in giving this game long term support but having such a rich continent in biodiversity squeeze into one tiny pack with four habitat animals and one exhibit was truly incomprehensively.

A possibility for that pack would have been to be labeled as the AMAZON pack and focus on the iconic species found there. Other packs could have been planned for the future featuring Las Pampas, El Pantanal (wetlands), or even the cloud forests of Colombia or the Andes, such much potential to pull from, incredible that they grouped the whole thing in one pack.

If we were to receive an animal pack only from South America this would be my list, it is based on what is still very much missing from the game, but also taking into consideration what is very commonly found in zoos. Will not include any birds that could make their way thru an avian pack as well, so the majestic Condor, and beautiful Toucans/Macaws/Parrots etc have all being left out. I will also leave out the Maned Wolf, Busch Dog and Spectacle Bear since the game is already saturated with canids and bears beyond anything that can be realistic found in a zoo. It would of course be idea to have all three of these animals, but 7+1 is just too few animals.

The Howler Monkey is one of my favorite primates not in the game, but would not make a good fit for South America since the Howler Monkey species that would truly fit the game based on their conservation status and Zoo programs would be the Mexican Howler Monkey (critically endangered) and the Guatemalan Howler Monkey (endangered) better suited for a North American pack. The Venezuelan Red Howler is stunning, but of least concern, and have only seen him in Germany and a couple of U.S zoos, an easy mod out of one of the North American Howler species.

South America All animal Pack

Habitat animals

1. Ocelot
2. Capybara
3. Three Toed Sloth
4. Southern Tamandua
5. Colombian Spider Monkey
6. White Faced Saki
7. Bald Uakari

Exhibit animal

1. Mata Mata turtle

I could easily make three of four more packs that would be of equal importance to me, as I have neglected a great number of South American ecosystems, and primates, so many that it would take the entire roster of the game. Hope they visit soon again.

 

[ElectricMonk]

...

I have always maintained that the South American DLC was a monumental mistake by Frontier, not sure if they had no plans at the time to revisit the continent, or if they never intended in giving this game long term support but having such a rich continent in biodiversity squeeze into one tiny pack with four habitat animals and one exhibit was truly incomprehensively.

I’ve never understood why anyone would assume that, Just because the South America (or Arctic, Australia, or now South East Asia) packs are done, that those regions will not be ‘revisited’ but it makes even less sense to me now that the aquatic pack has demonstrated that it is not true... Both South America and Arctic have already been revisited (Giant otter, Dwarf Caimen and Grey Seal) and there is zero reason to think we won’t get more animals from these regions (or Australia) in the future.

 

[Aramar]

Both South America and Arctic have already been revisited (Giant otter, Dearf Caimen and Grey Seal)

The king penguin is also from South America and it has that tag on the game, so the aquatic pack brought 3 new animals from that continent. Many people forget about that because it is not a tropical animal, which leads us again to the fact that although there are many non-tropical animals in South America, most of us (including myself) tend to associate SA with tropical and forget about the others.

 

[ElectricMonk]

The king penguin is also from South America and it has that tag on the game, so the aquatic pack brought 3 new animals from that continent. Many people forget about that because it is not a tropical animal, which leads us again to the fact that although there are many non-tropical animals in South America, most of us (including myself) tend to associate SA with tropical and forget about the others.

Good point... though I don’t think I missed it because it’s not tropical but, rather, that it’s not endemic and certainly not representative of the continent in the way that other non tropical species (eg Rhea, vicuña, ets., etc., etc.) are.