More animals should be given the ability to swim

[Dodoraptor]

To get this clear, I am not currently talking about the deep diving mechanic, but basic surface level swimming. I am talking about animals that are currently incapable of swimming in any form (aside from glitching and walking on water), when the animals in real life do it enough to justify giving them the mechanic.

Tortoises:
Both the tortoises in the game are island species, which got there by floating on the ocean (tortoises are insanely good in colonizing islands due to their mix of buoyancy and their ability to survive without food for long periods of time). But floating over great distances isn’t the only reason I’m talking about them.
They can go in water to cool themselves, and Aldabra tortoises have been recorded swimming in the wild.

Source: https://youtu.be/Dlfno6YJ-Co


Japanese macaques:
We all heard about the monkeys hanging in hot springs, but this is not what I’m talking about. They have been recorded swimming (sometimes in the ocean after sweet potatoes thrown by researchers)

Common ostriches:
Ostriches like to cool themselves in water, in addition to also being seen swimming in the ocean (ok that part constantly repeats itself...)

Source: https://youtu.be/vXi_7Tv4U_w


Red kangaroos:
Red kangaroos are known to be good at swimming. They even retreat to water when chased by dingoes in order to drown the dogs if they get brave and follow them in.

Not nearly as important:
Indian peafowl:
Finally an animal in the list that wasn’t recorded swimming in the ocean... I also think it’s a lot less important than the animals mentioned earlier. Still, just mentioning that they can sometimes do so willingly.

Source: https://youtu.be/xkhWpcIVbsI

A lot more nitpicky than the other animals, and if anything these birds have far greater problems of mobility than simply not entering the water.

 

[NZFanatic]

Eh. I find that certain species already swim more than they really would, such as the antelope or bison. I'd actually prefer to see an overall reduction on what species can swim rather than an inrease.

Edit: To clarify, it isn't so much about whether they can or not, but about how often they do it. It gets annoying putting in a small watering hole and seeing it full of nyala moments later as though nyala are particularly fond of being soaking wet (they aren't).

 

[Firestar97]

Thought exactly the same about the Japanese Macaque and the Tortoises (even though I wasn't sure anymore if they can really swim or just walk on the Ground). I think Giant Tortoises are even capable of holding their Breath for a really long Time.
Didn't know about the other ones. The funny Thing is that the Peafowl had a Water Area Requirement during Beta if I remember correctly (not sure anymore if they were able to swim). If we get a Peafowl Swimming Update before we get Ducks or other Waterfowl, I'll build a Fake Duck Pond with White Peafowl

 

[Dodoraptor]

Eh. I find that certain species already swim more than they really would, such as the antelope or bison. I'd actually prefer to see an overall reduction on what species can swim rather than an inrease.

Edit: To clarify, it isn't so much about whether they can or not, but about how often they do it. It gets annoying putting in a small watering hole and seeing it full of nyala moments later as though nyala are particularly fond of being soaking wet (they aren't).

I think animals can be tweaked to swim more or to swim less, so the developers could hypothetically keep the animals able to swim while reducing the time they do so willingly (as in not doing it to reach somewhere they can’t get to otherwise)

 

[Firestar97]

I think animals can be tweaked to swim more or to swim less, so the developers could hypothetically keep the animals able to swim while reducing the time they do so willingly (as in not doing it to reach somewhere they can’t get to otherwise)

I think they limited how often most Bears dive, so I assume the same would be possible with swimming

 

[NZFanatic]

I think animals can be tweaked to swim more or to swim less, so the developers could hypothetically keep the animals able to swim while reducing the time they do so willingly (as in not doing it to reach somewhere they can’t get to otherwise)

Unfortunately I haven't seen many people complain about it - it seems to be a personal issue mostly. For example I have a tiny watering hole for my warthogs in my current zoo, but even though it's small and they have tons of enrichment outside of it, all five of them crowd in there all the damn time.

 

[KönigDerKaffeebohnen]

Unfortunately I haven't seen many people complain about it - it seems to be a personal issue mostly. For example I have a tiny watering hole for my warthogs in my current zoo, but even though it's small and they have tons of enrichment outside of it, all five of them crowd in there all the damn time.

Maybe its because of the temperature?
Water is cooler and Most animals dont go so often into the water in colder habitats, atleast thats my observation for when swimming spikes

 

[Swjosdotschka]

Maybe its because of the temperature?
Water is cooler and Most animals dont go so often into the water in colder habitats, atleast thats my observation for when swimming spikes

Nope. I have a tempred biome and wheather off, so it's cozy 25 degrees. No need for the animals to constantly cool themself down and they still swim and swim and swim.

 

[DrBurrito]

To get this clear, I am not currently talking about the deep diving mechanic, but basic surface level swimming. I am talking about animals that are currently incapable of swimming in any form (aside from glitching and walking on water), when the animals in real life do it enough to justify giving them the mechanic.

Tortoises:
Both the tortoises in the game are island species, which got there by floating on the ocean (tortoises are insanely good in colonizing islands due to their mix of buoyancy and their ability to survive without food for long periods of time). But floating over great distances isn’t the only reason I’m talking about them.
They can go in water to cool themselves, and Aldabra tortoises have been recorded swimming in the wild.

Source: https://youtu.be/Dlfno6YJ-Co

Here's some sad news. Galapagos giant tortoises could actually swim during the beta, but later this was taken out. Their swimming animations were pretty well made, resembling the swimming loop in that video you linked. I was hoping Aldabra giant tortoises would also receive those animations but for whatever reason, swimming for tortoises was completely taken out of the game. I have a feeling they made this decision because of the fun fact in the Zoopedia crediting their buoyancy for colonizing island chains, which probably lead them to think they can't actively swim. Even saltwater crocodiles have to use ocean currents to inactively travel long distances, a behavior called "surfing", so that shouldn't really be a reason to remove animations from any animal. It has been over a year and I'm still hopelessly waiting for them to add those animations back.

 

[Firestar97]

Here's some sad news. Galapagos giant tortoises could actually swim during the beta, but later this was taken out. Their swimming animations were pretty well made, resembling the swimming loop in that video you linked. I was hoping Aldabra giant tortoises would also receive those animations but for whatever reason, swimming for tortoises was completely taken out of the game. I have a feeling they made this decision because of the fun fact in the Zoopedia crediting their buoyancy for colonizing island chains, which probably lead them to think they can't actively swim. Even saltwater crocodiles have to use ocean currents to inactively travel long distances, a behavior called "surfing", so that shouldn't really be a reason to remove animations from any animal. It has been over a year and I'm still hopelessly waiting for them to add those animations back.

Really hope they still have the Animations and give the Ability to swim back to them. I think I never built a Enclosure with Water for Tortoises during the Beta so sadly I've never seen it