I posted this on reddit earlier this week, so I'll add it here for your planning:
Every animal has a required land and water area for one animal stated in the Zoopedia. The requirements for additional animals of the same species are not stated. For example:
Below is an example of calculating land area for an exhibit with 2 adult zebras + 1 baby zebra + 4 warthogs + 2 baby warthogs: (Know that a single warthog requires 290 m^2 of land area and each additional adult requires 10 m^2)
What about water? It is required separately. So calculate water area required the same way.
Here is what I have for the animals that can create an African Safari habitat:
From what I have observed, there is no max total number of animals for a happy habitat, but there is for each species. This means you could have 50 buffalo and 90 springboks in a single habitat without negative effects (I think). I have a list of other animals that I collected on, but what is most interesting is how large an African Safari of all these animals would need to be at max populations (I think baby's are not counted against max populations). For reference, a 50,000 m^2 area (about the size you might want for an African Safari) would take up almost 1/16 of your zoo.
Thank you to r/LaChouetteOrtho on reddit for finding the African Buffalo numbers!
TL/DR: I figured out how to calculate the theoretical maximum area you would need for a habitat.
Every animal has a required land and water area for one animal stated in the Zoopedia. The requirements for additional animals of the same species are not stated. For example:
- 1 Adult zebra requires 510 m^2 of land area (Provided in the Zoopedia)
- Add one more adult zebra and the land required goes up 180 m^2 (Not documented)
- Any additional adult zebras will require an additional 180 m^2 of land (Every additional adult adds the same amount)
- Add a baby zebra and the land required goes up 90 m^2 (Every additional baby adds half an adult)
Below is an example of calculating land area for an exhibit with 2 adult zebras + 1 baby zebra + 4 warthogs + 2 baby warthogs: (Know that a single warthog requires 290 m^2 of land area and each additional adult requires 10 m^2)
- 510 for 1 adult zebra (the animal requiring the most initial space)
- 180 for the other adult zebra
- 90 for the baby zebra
- 40 for the adult warthogs (Each additional warthog adds 10)
- 10 for the baby warthogs (Each additional baby warthog adds 5)
What about water? It is required separately. So calculate water area required the same way.
Here is what I have for the animals that can create an African Safari habitat:
| Species | Land for 1st | Land for 2nd | Water for 1st | Water for 2nd | Max # of Adults |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African Elephant | 2151 | 667 | 148 | 74 | 15 |
| Common Ostrich | 675 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Common Warthog | 290 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Gemsbok | 270 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| Plains Zebra | 510 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Reticulated Giraffe | 1306 | 332 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| Sable Antelope | 450 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Springbok | 425 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 90 |
| African Buffalo | 420 | 90 | 20 | 10 | 50 |
From what I have observed, there is no max total number of animals for a happy habitat, but there is for each species. This means you could have 50 buffalo and 90 springboks in a single habitat without negative effects (I think). I have a list of other animals that I collected on, but what is most interesting is how large an African Safari of all these animals would need to be at max populations (I think baby's are not counted against max populations). For reference, a 50,000 m^2 area (about the size you might want for an African Safari) would take up almost 1/16 of your zoo.
Thank you to r/LaChouetteOrtho on reddit for finding the African Buffalo numbers!
TL/DR: I figured out how to calculate the theoretical maximum area you would need for a habitat.
