Let's play: What I saw, What I'll see! 👀🫎

[Markiz]

Just for fun!

Everyone answer the following questions:

1. Most exciting animal you saw in the wild?
2. Most exciting animal you saw in zoos?
3. Animal you most want to see in the game?
4. Animal you want to see in a zoo?animal you want to see in the wild?
5. Where could you go to see the animals from the previous question?

Questions 4&5 require a realistic answer.

The idea: in a year or so we could revive this thread, and see which people got their wishes ingame and in real life, and also see if it topped their previous best animals encounters.

1. Haven't seen many exciting wild animals. Two of the most exciting encounters were sound of a Brown Bear roar close by and a glimpse of a Shark fin. But I wouldn't count either as proper sighting, so for this category I candidate Balkan Chamois. It's the most reoccurring sight whenever I hike local mountains. They're always a joy to watch as they sprint up and down steep, vertical hills with such ease.

2. Seeing animal in zoo doesn't generate same excitement like seeing animal in wild, so I can't really recall singular zoo species leaving a mark on me. What makes me remember zoos more is their design and how well their habitats are made. For this I could single out first time I've saw White Rhinoceros, in one Safari drive-through section in one Italian zoo. They're really something else when seen in real life and that up close.

3. There's only one real wish for this game left on my lists:

4. Well again zoo animals don't hold the same weight. But I would love to see a Moose. American species if I could choose, with proper antlers. As for the wild, the list is endless, I've barely scratched what we have here in Balkans. But to keep it local let's say Eurasian Lynx (or Balkan subspecies). Lynx I've seen in zoos, but it would be a real gem spotting one in wild.

5. Well according to ZooTierliste no one keeps American Moose, but there's Eurasian species everywhere, which would be a good start, so I guess I was just unlucky with my zoo visits. Closest holding to me seems to be in Ljubljana, Slovenia. As for the Lynx they're spread in all neighboring countries (we made them go locally extinct :I). We share mountain range with Albania (Prokletije) where there is notable population. There's also active conservative efforts in Macedonian mountains as well as in Croatia (Velebit). I might visit the latter with my mountaineering group this summer, so I might get lucky, even tho they're extremely elusive.

I must say very cool topic idea @yoav_r and I'm looking forward to your list. I feel like it's going to be tough to pick a choice for first segment given your recent travels.

 

[yoav_r]

In the wild, idk maybe a Barnowl, would be a magic moment for me.

You can try setting a nesting house in a shaded place, try to attract them. I did it as a kid and we manahed to get a barn owl to settle once.

Usually we had more diurnal birds however :/

 

[nutrit]

Just for fun!

Everyone answer the following questions:

1. Most exciting animal you saw in the wild?
2. Most exciting animal you saw in zoos?
3. Animal you most want to see in the game?
4. Animal you want to see in a zoo?animal you want to see in the wild?
5. Where could you go to see the animals from the previous question?

Questions 4&5 require a realistic answer.

The idea: in a year or so we could revive this thread, and see which people got their wishes ingame and in real life, and also see if it topped their previous best animals encounters.

1. Lion tailed macaques - I have saw them in Silent Valley National Park in Kerala, India many times and they are unique and majestic.

2. Somali wild donkey - I have saw them in Basel zoo for the first time and it was the most exciting experience ever. I love them ever since. It’s my personal obsession with critically endangered species that can breed well in captivity.

3. Père David’s deer - I know that many of you probably don’t want read any more about my love to this species but I still find them extraordinary and very special.

4. Sloth bear - I would really like to see how mother bear piggyback her cubs. Addax - Unlike other antelopes, Addax males and females have curled horns about the same size and those are super cute for me.

5. Sloth bear - Night Safari in Singapore and Addax - in Bou-Hedma National Park, Tunesia.

 

[YesIndeed]

Just for fun!

Everyone answer the following questions:

1. Most exciting animal you saw in the wild?
2. Most exciting animal you saw in zoos?
3. Animal you most want to see in the game?
4. Animal you want to see in a zoo?animal you want to see in the wild?
5. Where could you go to see the animals from the previous question?

Questions 4&5 require a realistic answer.

The idea: in a year or so we could revive this thread, and see which people got their wishes ingame and in real life, and also see if it topped their previous best animals encounters.

Here's mine:

1. Short beaked echidna - very cool experience
2. Siamang - very loud
3. Tree kangaroo - would love to see how the devs would handle their movement
4. Maned wolf in zoo. Cassowary in wild.
5. The 1st I can see 2 hours north of me. The 2nd I'll see behind a riot sheild

 

[synthetase]

1. Most exciting animal you saw in the wild? Red Foxes and Deer including North American elk.
2. Most exciting animal you saw in zoos? Chevrotain, striped hyena (just going on rarity and personal likes)
3. Animal you most want to see in the game? Bat-eared Fox <3
4. Animal you want to see in a zoo?animal you want to see in the wild? Dhole and Virginia opossum
5. Where could you go to see the animals from the previous question? Zoo Miami and maybe(?) right outside.

 

[yoav_r]

I must say very cool topic idea @yoav_r and I'm looking forward to your list. I feel like it's going to be tough to pick a choice for first segment given your recent travels

Thanks! Well I guess I should do mine:


1. Most exciting animal you saw in the wild?
Man it's hard, the last few minths I was lucky to see so many amazing animals. But at the end of the day the answer would be a tie between hammerhead sharks at the galapagos, orcas in antarctica, and a jaguar in the bolivian amazon. (I have no image of the jaguar unfortunately)

2. Most exciting animal you saw in zoos?
I saw a pangolin in the San Diego zoo, where it had a meet and greet with guests. I remember this was one of the best experiences I ever had in a zoo. Such a strange but cute animal.

3. Animal you most want to see in the game?
Good ole' arabian oryx. The less boring option would be the Aye-aye.

4. Animal you want to see in a zoo?animal you want to see in the wild?
In a zoo I really want to see a king penguin. In the wild my eyes are set on the next targets - a blue whale, a whale shark, and a white rhino.

5. Where could you go to see the animals from the previous question?
For the king penguin I know it's in many german zoos.

For the three wild species - well, I'm not making promises, but I have a pretty concrete plan to see them all by 2026

 

[biggest_dreamer]

Just for fun!

Everyone answer the following questions:

1. Most exciting animal you saw in the wild?
2. Most exciting animal you saw in zoos?
3. Animal you most want to see in the game?
4. Animal you want to see in a zoo?animal you want to see in the wild?
5. Where could you go to see the animals from the previous question?

Questions 4&5 require a realistic answer.

The idea: in a year or so we could revive this thread, and see which people got their wishes ingame and in real life, and also see if it topped their previous best animals encounters.

1. Yellow-bellied marmot due to the novelty factor. American alligator would probably be it if you can objectify “exciting”, but they’re relatively commonplace near the coast so it’s easy to undervalue how dangerous and impressive they are.
2. White-bellied pangolin, hands down. It was almost surreal getting to see it active. Runner up is probably harpy eagle.
3. Tanuki
4. I really want to hit most of the US’s rarities that I could envision disappearing with a moment’s notice: mountain tapir, platypus, three-toed sloth, Tasmanian devil, probably a handful of others I’m not thinking about at the moment. I’m not sure about wild species, because I’ve never been much of an outdoors person, but I think California sea lions are probably the best vaguely realistic option.
5. Mountain tapir is at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, where I have a decent chance of visiting within the next handful of years (also at LA Zoo, which is far less likely for me). Platypus is at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, which alongside the Zoo proper is basically my holy grail of zoos. I’m super ill visit eventually. The sloth is at Dallas World Aquarium… no obvious path here for me, but I can see it happening. There are currently four zoos with devils, but I can only see that number going down and I believe all of the individuals left are older - I think Columbus is the most immediately realistic possibility here.

As a bonus category, here are a handful of species I have more or less serious plans to see in zoos for the first time in 2023 that I’m super excited for: black-backed jackal, tayra, lowland paca, yellow-footed rock wallaby, gharial, shoebill, kea. Blue-eyed black lemur and Coquerel’s sifaka could potentially be added here but they’re rotational species at Jacksonville Zoo so I could just as easily show up and see ring-tails and red-ruffs.

 

[Fallax]

1. Yellow-bellied marmot due to the novelty factor. American alligator would probably be it if you can objectify “exciting”, but they’re relatively commonplace near the coast so it’s easy to undervalue how dangerous and impressive they are.
2. White-bellied pangolin, hands down. It was almost surreal getting to see it active. Runner up is probably harpy eagle.
3. Tanuki
4. I really want to hit most of the US’s rarities that I could envision disappearing with a moment’s notice: mountain tapir, platypus, three-toed sloth, Tasmanian devil, probably a handful of others I’m not thinking about at the moment. I’m not sure about wild species, because I’ve never been much of an outdoors person, but I think California sea lions are probably the best vaguely realistic option.
5. Mountain tapir is at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, where I have a decent chance of visiting within the next handful of years (also at LA Zoo, which is far less likely for me). Platypus is at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, which alongside the Zoo proper is basically my holy grail of zoos. I’m super ill visit eventually. The sloth is at Dallas World Aquarium… no obvious path here for me, but I can see it happening. There are currently four zoos with devils, but I can only see that number going down and I believe all of the individuals left are older - I think Columbus is the most immediately realistic possibility here.

As a bonus category, here are a handful of species I have more or less serious plans to see in zoos for the first time in 2023 that I’m super excited for: black-backed jackal, tayra, lowland paca, yellow-footed rock wallaby, gharial, shoebill, kea. Blue-eyed black lemur and Coquerel’s sifaka could potentially be added here but they’re rotational species at Jacksonville Zoo so I could just as easily show up and see ring-tails and red-ruffs.

I'm pretty sure the last mountain Tapir at CMZ died a few months back, I could be wrong though.

 

[NZFanatic]

1. Most exciting animal you saw in the wild?

Sounds lame, but a grass snake in Italy. Being from New Zealand, I never, ever get to see snakes unless I travel overseas. This one slithered right over my feet while I was having a smoke (which for posterity I don't do anymore). I was so excited by it I went looking for it every day I was at that villa.

1. Most exciting animal you saw in zoos?

This one is a toss up between the giant pandas at San Diego Zoo (my favourite animal, so an easy choice overall), or the clouded leopards at the Singapire Night Safari (I didn't see them in San Diego, not sure if they had them back then, but at the time I was fascinated by them so when I saw them in Singapore it blew my mind).

1. Animal you most want to see in the game?

There's actually two equal answers to this question: The North Island brown kiwi, and the tuatara (the latter as an exhibit animal, obviously). Both together makes for a decent New Zealand zoo in game terms. The close second is the kea as a WE animal, but since we still don't have any flying birds at all yet I only mention it in passing.

1. Animal you want to see in a zoo?animal you want to see in the wild?

For a zoo, that's a hard question to answer. I've seen a lot of animals in zoos in my travels...previously it would have been the Sumatran rhinoceros, but since they aren't in captivity anymore, it's harder to pick. I guess the walrus is one I'd like to see, never seen one before.

As for the wild, that's even harder to say! I guess I'll stick with the Sumatran rhinoceros, though.

1. Where could you go to see the animals from the previous question?

For the walrus, Prairi Daiza seems like the best bet, as this is a zoo I'm dying to one day visit since learning about it here on the forums. Hopefully I'll make it there before I die! The rhino is much harder, presumably some kind of reserve in Sumatra.

 

[Cynogale bennettii II]

Here we go:

1. Most exciting animal you saw in the wild?
A toss-up between American crocodiles in Costa Rica, an ocean sunfish off the Welsh coast or a minke whale off the coast of Scotland. Also had a glimpse of a Central American squirrel monkey in Costa Rica from a hotel room window, but it was too brief to be up there as an exciting view (I never got photos of the sunfish or minke whale, and my picture of the squirrel monkey is too poor to consider posting).

2. Most exciting animal you saw in zoos?
Lots of options here as well - if we go by an animal I knew was present and was excited to see them, then the Asiatic golden cat and honey badger at Edinburgh Zoo and the yellow-throated marten, fanaloka and Northern cassowary at the Rare Species Conservation Centre are all up there. Alternatively, there was the time when I went to my local zoo (Colchester Zoo) and found that, without any fanfare, they had brought in a pair of Francois langurs. Walking into the chimp house and finding a brand-new primate that you had never seen before was a very exciting thing.

3. Animal you most want to see in the game?
Yellow-throated marten - bold, beautiful, active, sociable and surprisingly fearsome. They have everything I want in an animal and more.

4. Animal you want to see in a zoo?animal you want to see in the wild?
Owston's civet, as the animal I'd most like to see in a zoo. As for the wild, I'd love to see a maned rat - a big, fluffy rodent that licks poison into its fur hits all the right notes for me.

5. Where could you go to see the animals from the previous question?
Newquay Zoo would probably be my best bet for an Owston's civet, as they have two different enclosures for them. They also have loads of other animals I've never seen before in a zoo that I'd like to, such as big-headed turtle, black wildebeest, Hoffman's two-toed sloth and Javan green magpie.
As for the maned rat, Kenya seems to be the place to go. That would also add a lot of potential for seeing plenty of other wild animals as well.

 

[Markiz]

Thanks! Well I guess I should do mine:


1. Most exciting animal you saw in the wild?
Man it's hard, the last few minths I was lucky to see so many amazing animals. But at the end of the day the answer would be a tie between hammerhead sharks at the galapagos, orcas in antarctica, and a jaguar in the bolivian amazon. (I have no image of the jaguar unfortunately)View attachment 354273View attachment 354274

2. Most exciting animal you saw in zoos?
I saw a pangolin in the San Diego zoo, where it had a meet and greet with guests. I remember this was one of the best experiences I ever had in a zoo. Such a strange but cute animal.

3. Animal you most want to see in the game?
Good ole' arabian oryx. The less boring option would be the Aye-aye.

4. Animal you want to see in a zoo?animal you want to see in the wild?
In a zoo I really want to see a king penguin. In the wild my eyes are set on the next targets - a blue whale, a whale shark, and a white rhino.

5. Where could you go to see the animals from the previous question?
For the king penguin I know it's in many german zoos.

For the three wild species - well, I'm not making promises, but I have a pretty concrete plan to see them all by 2026

You're living the dream man

 

[Hanged_Stan]

1. A red deer doe right outside my window. It was very magical and it's stuck with me for years.

2. Hard choice. If I had to pick one, African Elephants. Their size has to be seen to be believed and they're usually very active and curious.

3. As birds seem unrealistic, coatis. I've seen them at animal shows at my local zoo and they're a pretty obvious choice for a small mammal.

4. For zoos, I want to see more Australian animals. They were always fascinating to me and you don't usually see them in my country. In the wild, Humpback whales, either from a boat or diving with them.

5. There are probably more zoos in the UK I could go to see Australian animals. I know Edinburgh Zoo has koalas. For the humpback whales, French Polynesia. I don't get to travel all that much so it may have to go on my bucket list.

 

[Spiderhawk]

Most exciting animal you saw in the wild?
I got 2 that I want to talk about. Offshore Orcas: an eco type of orca (there are at least 14 eco types) and these pods hunt and eat the liver of sharks. According to orca researchers I have worked alongside, we have little knowledge of them.

Most exciting animal you saw in zoos?
Red wolf. At my local zoo the Beardsley zoo I sow 2 of the red wolves they have or at least had and I made eye contact with them.

Animal you most want to see in the game?
At this point it’s too hard for me to pick.

Animal you want to see in a zoo?animal you want to see in the wild?
Okapi for zoo.
Steller sea eagle.

Where could you go to see the animals from the previous question?

1. Kenai Fjords national park. Note that I worked there on whale watches for years, I sow fish and mammal eating eco types many times but these shark eaters only 2 times so it is very rare to see them.
2. Last time I went to the Beardsley zoo the red wolves were not on habitat (not sure why) but I know in South Carolina there are places that have them as that’s where the majority of the critically endangered species live in captivity.
3. Blank
4. It’s been a long time since I have been to the bronx zoo and I don’t think I got to see the okapis they have. I was in San Diego for a limited time so I didn’t get to go to the zoo. If you want to see a steller sea eagle you can go to Hokkaido Japan or you can be on the lookout for a vagrant that has been seen in Canada and Maine (my current location) since last year.

 

[KönigDerKaffeebohnen]

1. I got a few ones and while they might sound a bit more lame then others, they were defenetly magical in their own right for me.
The first was driving through the italian alps in a small open top car when suddenly a golden eagle started gliding overhead, seemingly following the street, maybe looking for road kill. For good 5 minutes we were driving around with this majestic bird flying overhead and it was just beautiful.
Going one down the excitement ladder, i once was driving my bike along the outskirts of my city in the evening when i crossed path with 2 roe deer, cycling past them just around 1 meter away. I could have stretched my arm out and touched them, that close were they.
The last one i want to mention was on the same route, where i had to pass a little bridge where i saw what i thought at first in the night was a cat, but actually it was a racoon coming from the other side! It was a stary night and we made eye contact, both surprised before moving along our ways.

2. Tough one, the most recent must have been my visit in zoo berlin last year, watching not one but 2 baby pandas playing around in a hammok, but while it was a long ago it must be when i was ~12 years old and we went to a bird park with my family. The park itself was nothing special, but what was were the bird encounters you could have there with tiny me being given a falcony glove and holding a golden eagle on my arm. I still remember how i looked into his yellow beautiful eyes, how heavy he was but also how happy i was in that moment. Truly magical. I even was allowed to give him a treat afterwards!

3.

4. I dont really have a wishlist of what to see, i just see what i do and dont what i dont, makes it less disappointing when the animal i want to see is asleep or off display during my visit, but that said i wanna see a really, really big elephant yard. All elephant habitats ive seen so far were planning to either be demolished with the animals given away/after the last elderly animals died or were still collecting funds for the renovation so once one in my many surrounding zoos has finished it in like 10 years id be super excited to see it.

5. Given my track record, im most likly gonna see more animals on that bike road i mentioned, as i have seen there all kinds of waterfowl, european pond turtles, roe deer, multiple racoons, squirrels, mice, an owl hunting during sunset and many, many insects. All the beauty that a small river and artifical hill full of flowers can draw to them.
For zoos, i wanna go to a switzerland zoo as they all seem to be really cool

 

[DarthQuell]

Am I allowed to post another one, for animals I've seen in the wild? I have a few more stories

 

[yoav_r]

Am I allowed to post another one, for animals I've seen in the wild? I have a few more stories

Sure

 

[Cocolori]

1. Most exciting animal you saw in the wild?

Blue Whales for sure in Monterey Bay, never thought I'd get to see them in the wild and I happened to be there for three months when they had more visitng than they had in years

1. Most exciting animal you saw in zoos?

Do places I've worked count in which case the Lions in South Africa cos nothing is going to be more exciting than being sat on by a pile young lions

1. Animal you most want to see in the game?

Birds! No seriously I don't even have many strong preferences just let me build some aviaries although I'd hope my raptors got a look in. Other than that I would go with either a small primate like a tamarin or I also love a Common Genet cos I didn't even know they existed until we got one on a Portugues camera trap.

1. Animal you want to see in a zoo?animal you want to see in the wild?

In a zoo - I've never seen a Snow leopard in real life and it seems really unlikely I'll see on in the wild so I'm going to go with that. In the wild - maybe a Wandering Albatross, they are just so very odd and I just love watching seabirds in general as they tend to be the most elegent fliers (penguins and puffins aside)

1. Where could you go to see the animals from the previous question?

Highland wildlife park seems most likely spot for Snow Leopards and I often visit Scotland and love Edinburgh Zoo so one of these days I'll venture there. Albatross is a bit more tricky as I'm not planning any boat trips soon. I do have an ambition to visit every continent in my lifetime so a trip to the Antarctic seems to be the most likely option.

 

[yoav_r]

Albatross is a bit more tricky as I'm not planning any boat trips soon. I do have an ambition to visit every continent in my lifetime so a trip to the Antarctic seems to be the most likely option.

Saw one of them in my trip to antarctica. The albatross was circling our ship for the whole morning. They look unreal, as if they were drones.

 

[Marvinb]

Saw one of them in my trip to antarctica. The albatross was circling our ship for the whole morning. They look unreal, as if they were drones.

Yo are you like a professional adventurer or something? Like where do you find the time and money to travel this much? Im hella jealous

 

[yoav_r]

Yo are you like a professional adventurer or something? Like where do you find the time and money to travel this much? Im hella jealous

I took a year off. And traveling is actually kinda cheap if you don't mind squatting in hostels and making your own food, plus pick cheap destinations.

Also, cheap destinations tend to have more interesting wildlife than pricy destinations.

My current trip cost a total of 18k dollars for roughly 8 months of traveling. Not including antarctica that one is roughly for the price of a kidney, I just managed to get a (relatively) cheaper last minute ticket.

Edit: If anyone wants more detailed travel tips on how to plan and save money and travel efficiently I'd be glad to help