Ok so now that Planet Zoo 2 is basically confirmed, I was thinking "what returners are gonna come back?"
Because the way I see it, there's no way in hell we're gonna see all 210 animals coming back for this next CMS in 2026 so I wanted to see what animals people actually wanted.
So I made a survey with Google Forms that asked people to rate every animal in Planet Zoo on a scale of 1 to 5. Now, just as a quick explanation, here's what those numbers actually mean.
5: This is a base game priority
These animals are essential to the Planet Zoo 2 experience. They're either iconic, foundational to the zoo experience, or were standout favorites in PZ1. Leaving them out of the base game would feel like a stinging omission.
4: I'd like it in the base game but it's ok if it isn't
Highly desirable animals that would add a lot to the base game, but their absence wouldn't be a dealbreaker. They’re great to have early on but could be added later in a strong DLC.
3: This would be great for DLC
Perfect candidates for a themed DLC pack. These animals are exciting or unique but don’t necessarily need to be in the base game to feel like the roster is complete.
2: I could see it as filling a DLC
Not standouts on their own, but useful for rounding out a pack. These animals support a theme or biome well and add diversity, even if they’re not the headliners.
1: Not really worth it; maybe for a free update
Low priority species. These might be too niche, redundant, or underwhelming to justify paid content. Still, they could be nice surprises in a free update or special event.
So I posted it in multiple discords and on the PZ subreddit to make sure I got as robust of a sample size as I possibly could.
If you wanna see the results as any other votes come in, here's a link to the spreadsheet
Now, if all 210 animals aren't making it in, how many spots are there for returners?
Well, I've talked to some friends of mine like @Iben and @Nicholas LionRider and we eventually agreed that 135 animals for PZ2 is a decent number, with maybe about 80-90 of them being returners from Planet Zoo 1. So that means you can basically take the top 80-90 here, put them in the base game, and you now have a ton of species that can be used to fill out DLC, which I imagine will be a mix of returners and new animals
Because the way I see it, there's no way in hell we're gonna see all 210 animals coming back for this next CMS in 2026 so I wanted to see what animals people actually wanted.
So I made a survey with Google Forms that asked people to rate every animal in Planet Zoo on a scale of 1 to 5. Now, just as a quick explanation, here's what those numbers actually mean.
5: This is a base game priority
These animals are essential to the Planet Zoo 2 experience. They're either iconic, foundational to the zoo experience, or were standout favorites in PZ1. Leaving them out of the base game would feel like a stinging omission.
4: I'd like it in the base game but it's ok if it isn't
Highly desirable animals that would add a lot to the base game, but their absence wouldn't be a dealbreaker. They’re great to have early on but could be added later in a strong DLC.
3: This would be great for DLC
Perfect candidates for a themed DLC pack. These animals are exciting or unique but don’t necessarily need to be in the base game to feel like the roster is complete.
2: I could see it as filling a DLC
Not standouts on their own, but useful for rounding out a pack. These animals support a theme or biome well and add diversity, even if they’re not the headliners.
1: Not really worth it; maybe for a free update
Low priority species. These might be too niche, redundant, or underwhelming to justify paid content. Still, they could be nice surprises in a free update or special event.
So I posted it in multiple discords and on the PZ subreddit to make sure I got as robust of a sample size as I possibly could.
If you wanna see the results as any other votes come in, here's a link to the spreadsheet
| 1 | Reticulated giraffe | 4.837837838 |
| 2 | African savannah elephant | 4.797297297 |
| 3 | Western lowland gorilla | 4.783783784 |
| 4 | Hippopotamus | 4.77027027 |
| 5 | Plains zebra | 4.72972973 |
| 6 | Cheetah | 4.716216216 |
| 7 | Bornean orangutan | 4.702702703 |
| 8 | Western chimpanzee | 4.702702703 |
| 9 | Ring-tailed lemur | 4.689189189 |
| 10 | Red panda | 4.675675676 |
| 11 | West African lion | 4.662162162 |
| 12 | Polar bear | 4.648648649 |
| 13 | Jaguar | 4.648648649 |
| 14 | Meerkat | 4.635135135 |
| 15 | Capybara | 4.621621622 |
| 16 | Giant panda | 4.608108108 |
| 17 | Red kangaroo | 4.594594595 |
| 18 | Grizzly bear | 4.581081081 |
| 19 | Giant anteater | 4.581081081 |
| 20 | Indian elephant | 4.567567568 |
| 21 | Southern white rhinoceros | 4.567567568 |
| 22 | Indian peafowl | 4.554054054 |
| 23 | Common ostrich | 4.540540541 |
| 24 | Spotted hyena | 4.527027027 |
| 25 | Komodo dragon | 4.5 |
| 26 | Snow leopard | 4.486486486 |
| 27 | Koala | 4.445945946 |
| 28 | California sea lion | 4.445945946 |
| 29 | Timber wolf | 4.432432432 |
| 30 | Okapi | 4.418918919 |
| 31 | Siberian tiger | 4.391891892 |
| 32 | American bison | 4.351351351 |
| 33 | Common warthog | 4.337837838 |
| 34 | Saltwater crocodile | 4.337837838 |
| 35 | African wild dog | 4.324324324 |
| 36 | Asian small-clawed otter | 4.324324324 |
| 37 | Galapagos giant tortoise | 4.297297297 |
| 38 | Lar gibbon | 4.297297297 |
| 39 | North American beaver | 4.283783784 |
| 40 | Blue wildebeest | 4.283783784 |
| 41 | Mandrill | 4.256756757 |
| 42 | King penguin | 4.256756757 |
| 43 | Dromedary camel | 4.243243243 |
| 44 | Pygmy hippopotamus | 4.202702703 |
| 45 | Przewalski's horse | 4.202702703 |
| 46 | Black rhinoceros | 4.175675676 |
| 47 | Greater flamingo | 4.135135135 |
| 48 | American alligator | 4.135135135 |
| 49 | Cougar | 4.135135135 |
| 50 | Bongo | 4.121621622 |
| 51 | Indian rhinoceros | 4.121621622 |
| 52 | Moose | 4.121621622 |
| 53 | Hamadryas baboon | 4.121621622 |
| 54 | Southern cassowary | 4.108108108 |
| 55 | Green iguana | 4.094594595 |
| 56 | Malayan tapir | 4.094594595 |
| 57 | Maned wolf | 4.094594595 |
| 58 | African penguin | 4.081081081 |
| 59 | Nine-banded armadillo | 4.067567568 |
| 60 | Fennec fox | 4.054054054 |
| 61 | Emu | 4.054054054 |
| 62 | Red-crowned crane | 4.040540541 |
| 63 | Platypus | 4.027027027 |
| 64 | Aardvark | 4.013513514 |
| 65 | Red river hog | 4.013513514 |
| 66 | Mute swan | 4.013513514 |
| 67 | Clouded leopard | 4 |
| 68 | Scimitar-horned oryx | 4 |
| 69 | Sloth bear | 4 |
| 70 | African crested porcupine | 3.986486486 |
| 71 | Eurasian lynx | 3.972972973 |
| 72 | Siamang | 3.972972973 |
| 73 | African buffalo | 3.945945946 |
| 74 | Black-and-white ruffed lemur | 3.945945946 |
| 75 | Bactrian camel | 3.932432432 |
| 76 | Baird's tapir | 3.932432432 |
| 77 | Thomson's gazelle | 3.932432432 |
| 78 | Reindeer | 3.932432432 |
| 79 | North Island brown kiwi | 3.932432432 |
| 80 | Bengal tiger | 3.918918919 |
| 81 | Gemsbok | 3.918918919 |
| 82 | Japanese macaque | 3.918918919 |
| 83 | Red ruffed lemur | 3.918918919 |
| 84 | Boa constrictor | 3.905405405 |
| 85 | Red deer | 3.905405405 |
| 86 | Gharial | 3.891891892 |
| 87 | Amur leopard | 3.891891892 |
| 88 | Ocelot | 3.891891892 |
| 89 | Wolverine | 3.878378378 |
| 90 | Red-eyed treefrog | 3.864864865 |
| 91 | European fallow deer | 3.864864865 |
| 92 | Markhor | 3.864864865 |
| 93 | Spectacled bear | 3.851351351 |
| 94 | Binturong | 3.837837838 |
| 95 | Common wombat | 3.837837838 |
| 96 | Red-necked wallaby | 3.824324324 |
| 97 | Colombian white-faced capuchin monkey | 3.797297297 |
| 98 | Sun bear | 3.797297297 |
| 99 | Egyptian fruit bat | 3.797297297 |
| 100 | Giant otter | 3.783783784 |
| 101 | Tasmanian devil | 3.783783784 |
| 102 | Caracal | 3.77027027 |
| 103 | Gila monster | 3.756756757 |
| 104 | Grey seal | 3.756756757 |
| 105 | Axolotl | 3.72972973 |
| 106 | Red fox | 3.72972973 |
| 107 | American flamingo | 3.72972973 |
| 108 | Blackbuck | 3.702702703 |
| 109 | North Sulawesi babirusa | 3.689189189 |
| 110 | Arctic fox | 3.689189189 |
| 111 | Striped hyena | 3.675675676 |
| 112 | Honey badger | 3.675675676 |
| 113 | Yellow anaconda | 3.648648649 |
| 114 | European badger | 3.648648649 |
| 115 | White-faced saki | 3.648648649 |
| 116 | Raccoon | 3.635135135 |
| 117 | Takin | 3.635135135 |
| 118 | Chinese pangolin | 3.621621622 |
| 119 | Springbok | 3.608108108 |
| 120 | Fossa | 3.608108108 |
| 121 | Western diamondback rattlesnake | 3.594594595 |
| 122 | Sable antelope | 3.581081081 |
| 123 | Pronghorn antelope | 3.554054054 |
| 124 | Spectacled caiman | 3.554054054 |
| 125 | Monarch butterfly | 3.554054054 |
| 126 | Nyala | 3.540540541 |
| 127 | Menelaus blue morpho | 3.540540541 |
| 128 | Brown-throated sloth | 3.540540541 |
| 129 | Spectacled flying fox | 3.540540541 |
| 130 | Coquerel's sifaka | 3.540540541 |
| 131 | African leopard | 3.540540541 |
| 132 | Black-tailed prairie dog | 3.527027027 |
| 133 | Kirk's dik dik | 3.527027027 |
| 134 | Lion-tailed macaque | 3.527027027 |
| 135 | Bonobo | 3.486486486 |
| 136 | Eastern blue-tongued lizard | 3.486486486 |
| 137 | Little penguin | 3.486486486 |
| 138 | Wisent | 3.486486486 |
| 139 | Japanese raccoon dog | 3.486486486 |
| 140 | Golden poison frog | 3.472972973 |
| 141 | Alpine ibex | 3.472972973 |
| 142 | Aldabra giant tortoise | 3.459459459 |
| 143 | Wild boar | 3.459459459 |
| 144 | Quokka | 3.432432432 |
| 145 | Wild water buffalo | 3.418918919 |
| 146 | Greater rhea | 3.418918919 |
| 147 | Cuvier's dwarf caiman | 3.405405405 |
| 148 | Nile monitor | 3.391891892 |
| 149 | Llama | 3.378378378 |
| 150 | Sand cat | 3.378378378 |
| 151 | Fire salamander | 3.364864865 |
| 152 | African spurred tortoise | 3.364864865 |
| 153 | Goliath birdeater | 3.351351351 |
| 154 | Pallas's cat | 3.351351351 |
| 155 | Asian water monitor | 3.337837838 |
| 156 | Bush dog | 3.310810811 |
| 157 | Giant Malaysian leaf insect | 3.297297297 |
| 158 | Sacred scarab | 3.297297297 |
| 159 | Bighorn sheep | 3.297297297 |
| 160 | Diamondback terrapin | 3.283783784 |
| 161 | Collared peccary | 3.283783784 |
| 162 | Nilgai | 3.283783784 |
| 163 | Dingo | 3.27027027 |
| 164 | Striped skunk | 3.27027027 |
| 165 | Somali wild ass | 3.27027027 |
| 166 | Père David's deer | 3.27027027 |
| 167 | Addax | 3.243243243 |
| 168 | Puff adder | 3.216216216 |
| 169 | Proboscis monkey | 3.216216216 |
| 170 | Dhole | 3.202702703 |
| 171 | Nile lechwe | 3.202702703 |
| 172 | Desert horned viper | 3.202702703 |
| 173 | Mexican redknee tarantula | 3.148648649 |
| 174 | Lehmann's poison frog | 3.121621622 |
| 175 | European peacock butterfly | 3.121621622 |
| 176 | Hermann’s tortoise | 3.121621622 |
| 177 | Giant desert hairy scorpion | 3.081081081 |
| 178 | Goliath beetle | 3.054054054 |
| 179 | Dama gazelle | 3.054054054 |
| 180 | Giant forest scorpion | 3.040540541 |
| 181 | Black wildebeest | 3.027027027 |
| 182 | Common death adder | 3 |
| 183 | Giant tiger land snail | 3 |
| 184 | American bullfrog | 2.972972973 |
| 185 | Old World swallowtail | 2.972972973 |
| 186 | Saiga | 2.972972973 |
| 187 | Amazon giant centipede | 2.932432432 |
| 188 | Brazilian salmon pink tarantula | 2.932432432 |
| 189 | Eastern brown snake | 2.932432432 |
| 190 | Danube crested newt | 2.932432432 |
| 191 | Coyote | 2.932432432 |
| 192 | Alpaca | 2.905405405 |
| 193 | Malabar rose | 2.905405405 |
| 194 | Formosan black bear | 2.837837838 |
| 195 | Giant burrowing cockroach | 2.824324324 |
| 196 | Lesser Antillean iguana | 2.810810811 |
| 197 | Goliath frog | 2.783783784 |
| 198 | Cloudless sulphur | 2.783783784 |
| 199 | Titan beetle | 2.72972973 |
| 200 | Brazilian wandering spider | 2.689189189 |
| 201 | Highland cattle | 2.689189189 |
| 202 | Sussex chicken | 2.608108108 |
| 203 | Dall sheep | 2.567567568 |
| 204 | Arctic wolf | 2.554054054 |
| 205 | Alpine goat | 2.445945946 |
| 206 | Hill Randor sheep | 2.445945946 |
| 207 | Tamworth pig | 2.445945946 |
| 208 | American standard donkey | 2.405405405 |
| 209 | Bornean elephant | 2.121621622 |
| 210 | Himalayan brown bear | 2.081081081 |
Well, I've talked to some friends of mine like @Iben and @Nicholas LionRider and we eventually agreed that 135 animals for PZ2 is a decent number, with maybe about 80-90 of them being returners from Planet Zoo 1. So that means you can basically take the top 80-90 here, put them in the base game, and you now have a ton of species that can be used to fill out DLC, which I imagine will be a mix of returners and new animals
