Ranking the areas still requiring animals

yoav_r

yoav_r
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Here is a map of the PZ roster based on the below mentioned color categories:
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Here is a modern biome map based on the WWF classification, on which our ranking is based:
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And the WWF map:

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Credit to all the maps goes to @call me Omi

Color category system for regions:
  1. Grey Category - Regions that have very few zoo relevant species (0-2), and thus don't need major representation.
  2. Red Category - Regions for which it is impossible to build a dedicated area in a zoo (require exapnsions the most)
  3. Orange Category: - Regions which are still lacking compared to their biodiversity (require expansions down the line)
  4. Yellow category - Regions which are missing key species (require specific species, but not dedicated expansions)
  5. Green category - Regions from which all essential species have been added to the game
  6. Blue category: - Regions from which all essential species have been added, plus a few extra species on top, making them extremely well represented
Based on this biome map, color category system, and the other provided data, here is the ranking (with the major candidates for each region). The numbers in parentheses are the number of habitat animals we have from every region.

Grey regions:
  • Caribbean -
    Additional animals that can be added:
    1. Cuban crocodile
    2. Cuban hutia
    3. Hispaniolan solenodon
    4. Rhinoceros iguana

    Ingame animals:
    1. American flamingo
    2. Green iguana (E)
    3. Lesser antillean iguana (E)
  • Antarctica -
    Additional animals that can be added:
    1. Adelie penguin
    2. Chinstrap penguin
    3. Gentoo penguin
    4. Leopard seal (no real life presence in zoos)
    5. Southern rockhopper penguin

    Ingame animals:
    1. King penguin (outskirts of continent)
  • Pacific islands -
    Additional animals that can be added:
    1. Guam rail
    2. Hawaii goose
    3. Kagu
    4. New caledonia giant gecko

    Ingame animals:
    • None
  • Phillipines -
    Additional animals that can be added:
    1. Luzon giant cloud rat
    2. Philippine sailfin dragon
    3. Visayan spotted deer
    4. Visayan warty pig

    Ingame animals:
    1. Saltwater crocodile
Red regions:
- No more Red regions left!
Orange regions:
- No more Orange regions left!
Yellow regions:
  • Indian Savannah-
    Animals considered essential:
    1. Blackbuck - a popular and colorful indian antelope
    2. Monkey species - a monkey is considered essential for the region, with the gray langur and Lion-tailed macaque as leading candidates

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Axis deer - a tropical equivalent of the fallow deer that is common in zoos
    2. Cobra - a cobra species is requested by many
    3. Honey badger - a widespread dominant musteloid
    4. Indian crested porcupine - a porcupine is a popular choice, and this is the most common one in captivity
    5. Nilgai - a large unique looking antelope

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Asian lion
    2. Asian palm civet
    3. Fishing cat
    4. Gaur
    5. Gooty sapphire tarantula
    6. Greater/lesser adjutant stork
    7. Indian flying fox
    8. Indian hog deer
    9. Indian leopard
    10. Indian muntjac
    11. Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle
    12. Indian star tortoise
    13. Jungle cat
    14. Rhesus macaque
    15. Ruddy shelduck
    16. Rusty spotted cat
    17. Sarus crane
    18. Slender loris

    Ingame animals:
    1. Bengal tiger
    2. Gharial
    3. Indian elephant
    4. Indian peafowl
    5. Indian rhino
    6. Dhole
    7. Asian small clawed otter
    8. Wild water buffalo
    9. Caracal
    10. Striped hyena
    11. Sloth bear
    12. Wild boar
    13. Giant forest scorpion (E)
  • Patagonian plains and pampas -
    Animals considered essential:
    1. Patagonian Mara - a large rodent that is extremely common in zoos

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Argentine Tegu - a large and calm lizard common in zoos
    2. Guanaco - the wild cousin of the llama, endemic to the region and common in zoos
    3. Second armedillo - a patagonian armadillo is highly reqiested, with the Big hairy armadillo in the lead

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Black necked swan
    2. Buffed necked ibis
    3. Chilean flamingo
    4. Elegant crested tinamou
    5. Geoffrey's cat
    6. Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk
    7. Magellanic penguin
    8. Muscovy duck
    9. South American sea lion
    10. Pampas cat
    11. Pampas deer
    12. Patagonian goose
    13. Plains viscacha

    Ingame animals:
    1. King penguin (ocassionally occures in region)
    2. Cougar
    3. Capybara (outskirts of region)
    4. Greater Rhea
  • South American rainforest -
    Animals considered essential:
    1. Small monkey - Tamarin/Marmoset
    2. Coati - a coati species is considered essential, with the south anerican coati being slightly more popular

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Agouti - a common small alternative to the capybara
    2. Emerald tree boa - colorful and very common
    3. Howler monkey
    4. Spider monkey
    5. Squirrel monkey
    6. Green anaconda - heaviest snake, common in zoos
    7. Tamandua - smaller arboreal alternative to the giant anteater
    8. Tortoise/River turtle - with several large options for species, including the:
      1. Mata mata
      2. Red-footed tortoise
      3. Yellow spotted river turtle

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Black caiman
    2. Brazilian porcupine
    3. Brazilian tapir
    4. Jagarundi/pampas cat
    5. Kinkajou
    6. Leafcutter ant
    7. Marsh deer
    8. Night monkeys
    9. Poison dart frogs - more species
    10. Red-legged sereima
    11. Tayra
    12. Two-toed sloth
    13. Wooly monkeys

    Ingame animals:
    1. Giant anteater
    2. Jaguar
    3. Cuvier's dwarf caiman
    4. Giant otter
    5. Cougar
    6. Capybara
    7. Spectacled caiman
    8. Nine-banded armadillo
    9. Collared peccary
    10. Spectacled bear
    11. Ocelot
    12. Bush dog
    13. White-faced saki
    14. American flamingo (coastal)
    15. Amazonian giant centipede (E)
    16. Boa constrictor (E)
    17. Brazilian salmon pink tarantula (E)
    18. Brazilian wandering spider (E)
    19. Goliath birdeater (E)
    20. Golden poison frog (E)
    21. Lehmann's posion frog (E)
    22. Green iguana (E)
    23. Titan beetle (E)
    24. Menelaus blue morpho (WE)
    25. Brown-throated sloth (WE)
  • Central American rainforest -
    Animals considered essential:
    1. Coati - a coati species is considered essential, with the south anerican coati being slightly more popular

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Agouti - a common small alternative to the capybara
    2. Tamandua - smaller arboreal alternative to the giant anteater

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Armadillo - second species
    2. Jaguarundi
    3. Kinkajou
    4. Leafcutter ant
    5. Night monkeys
    6. Poison dart frogs - more species
    7. Plumed basilisk
    8. Tayra
    9. Two-toed sloth

    Ingame animals:
    1. Baird's tapir
    2. Colombian white-faced capuchin
    3. Giant anteater
    4. Jaguar
    5. Cougar
    6. Capybara
    7. Spectacled caiman
    8. Nine-banded armadillo
    9. Collared peccary
    10. Bush dog
    11. Ocelot
    12. American flamingo (coastal)
    13. Green iguana (E)
    14. Mexican red-knee tarantula (E)
    15. Red-eyed tree-frog (E)
    16. Menelaus blue morpho (WE)
    17. Brown-throated sloth (WE)
  • South American Grasslands -
    Animals considered essential:
    1. New world monkeys - for this biome the candidate list is smaller than for the rainforest, but still considered essential additions. The candidates are:
      1. Howler monkeys - most popular choice, colorful with unique vocalizations
      2. Squirrel monkeys - a common alternative to the capuchin

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. See "South/Central american rainforest" section due to major overlap.

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. See "South/Central american rainforest" section due to major overlap.

    Ingame animals:
    1. Giant anteater
    2. Jaguar
    3. Giant otter
    4. Cougar
    5. Capybara
    6. Spectacled caiman
    7. Maned wolf
    8. Nine-banded armadillo
    9. Collared peccary
    10. Ocelot
    11. Bush dog
    12. American flamingo
    13. Greater rhea
    14. Boa constrictor (E)
    15. Green iguana (E)
    16. Yellow anaconda (E)
    17. Brown-throated sloth (WE)
  • New Guinea -
    Animals considered essential:
    1. Tree kangaroo - would make for our first tropical macropod

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Frill-necked lizard
    2. Short-beaked echidna
    3. Victoria crowned pidgeon

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Agile wallaby
    2. Amethystine python
    3. Brolga
    4. Brown dorcopsis
    5. Common spotted cuscus
    6. Crocodile monitor
    7. Dusky pademelon
    8. Emerald tree monitor
    9. Green tree python
    10. Ground cuscus
    11. New Guinea singing dog
    12. Magpie goose
    13. Pig nosed turtle

    Ingame animals:
    1. Saltwater crocodile
    2. Southern cassowary
    3. Eastern brown snake (E)
    4. Spectacled flying fox (WE)
Green regions:
  • Desert Middle east -
    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Arabian oryx - endemic to the middle east, with a succesful conservation story
    2. Honey badger - common in zoos menetic animal
    3. Rock hyrax - a small animal common in zoos from a unique order

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Desert monitor
    2. Dorcas gazelle
    3. Golden jackal
    4. Jerboa
    5. Kleinmann's tortoise
    6. Mastigure
    7. Nubian ibex
    8. Onager


    Ingame animals:
    1. Greater flamingo
    2. Caracal
    3. Striped hyena
    4. Dromedary
    5. Sand cat
    6. Hamadrayas baboon
    7. Puff adder (E)
    8. Sacred scarab beetle (E)
    9. Desert horned viper (E)
    10. Egyptian fruit bat (WE)
  • Madagascar and surrounding Islands -
    All essential animals have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Aye-aye
    2. Panther chameleon
    3. Radiated tortoise

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Black lemur
    2. Madagascar giant day gecko
    3. Madagascar hissing cockroach
    4. Tomato frog

    Ingame animals:
    1. Aldabra giant tortoise
    2. Black and white ruffed lemur
    3. Red ruffed lemur
    4. Ring tailed lemur
    5. Fossa
    6. Coquerel's Sifaka
  • Tropical african rainforest -
    All essential animals have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. There's a demand for a tropical african monkey, with the Mantled guereza in the lead and the Diana/De brazza monkey as alternative options
    2. Crocodile species:
      1. Dwarf crocodile
      2. Nile crocodile
      3. Slender snouted crocodile (any)
    3. Duikers
    4. Shoebill

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. African civet
    2. African giant millipede
    3. Black and rufous elephant shrew
    4. Congo peafowl
    5. Drill
    6. Sitatunga

    Ingame animals:
    1. Aardvark
    2. African buffalo (different subspecies)
    3. Bongo
    4. Bonobo
    5. Common warthog
    6. Greater flamingo
    7. Hippopotammus
    8. Mandrill
    9. Nile monitor
    10. Okapi
    11. Western Chimpanzee
    12. Western lowland gorilla
    13. Pygmy hippo
    14. Red river hog
    15. African crested porcupine
    16. African giant land snail (E)
    17. Goliath beetle (E)
    18. Goliath frog (E)
  • Arctic Circle -
    All essential animals have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Musk ox - largest caprid and famous for the region
    2. Walrus - largest pinniped with unique tusks

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Arctic hare
    2. Branacle goose
    3. Canadian lynx
    4. Eider duck
    5. Harbor seal
    6. Ribbon seal
    7. Sea otter
    8. Snow goose
    9. Spotted seal

    Ingame animals:
    1. Arctic wolf
    2. Dall sheep
    3. Polar bear
    4. Reindeer
    5. Grey seal
    6. Arctic fox
    7. Wolverine
  • Temperate Europe & Near East -
    All essential animals have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Alpine marmot
    2. Eurasian otter
    3. Mallard

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Chamois
    2. European hare
    3. European Hedgehog
    4. European wildcat
    5. Marbled polecat
    6. Mouflon
    7. Roe deer
    8. Sable
    9. Western Capercallie

    Ingame animals:
    1. Timber wolf
    2. Alpine ibex
    3. Eurasian lynx
    4. European badger
    5. European fallow deer
    6. Red fox
    7. Red deer
    8. Mute swan
    9. Wild boar
    10. Wisent
    11. Alpine goat (domesticated)
    12. Highland Sheep (domesticated)
    13. Hill Radnor sheep (domesticated)
    14. Sussex chicken (domesticated)
    15. Tamworth pig (domesticated)
    16. Fire salamamder (E)
    17. Danube crested newt (E)
    18. Hermann's tortoise (E)
  • Mediterranean -
    All essential animals have been added.
    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Barbary macaque
    2. Barbary sheep
    3. Pelican
    4. White stork

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Bustard
    2. Common genet
    3. Eurasian spoonbill
    4. European rabbit
    5. Greek tortoise
    6. Iberian lynx
    7. Mediterranean chameleon
    8. Mediterranean monk seal
    9. Roe deer

    Ingame animals:
    1. Greater flamingo
    2. Timber wolf
    3. Red deer
    4. European badger
    5. European fallow deer
    6. Caracal
    7. Striped hyena
    8. Red fox
    9. African crested porcupine
    10. Mute swan
    11. Wild boar
    12. Sacred scarab beetle (E)
    13. Hermann's tortoise (E)
    14. Egyptian fruit bat (WE)
  • Temperate East Asia and Japan -
    All essential animals have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Mandarin duck
    2. Pere David's deer
    3. Pheasents (all kinds)
    4. Reeve's muntjac

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Chinese alligator
    2. Chinese crocodile lizard (E)
    3. Chinese giant salamander (E)
    4. Japanese serrow
    5. Golden snub-nosed monkey
    6. Mang Mountain pit viper (E)
    7. Masked palm civet
    8. Oriental fire-bellied toad (E)
    9. Raccoon dog
    10. red giant flying squirrel (WE)
    11. Scaly-sided merganser
    12. Tufted deer
    13. Yellow throated marten

    Ingame animals:
    1. Chinese pangolin
    2. Formosan black bear
    3. Giant panda
    4. Japanese macaque
    5. Red panda
    6. Siberian tiger
    7. Eurasian lynx
    8. Red-crowned crane
    9. Amur leopard
    10. Red fox
    11. Takin
    12. Wild boar
  • Galapagos islands -
    Additional animals that can be added:
    1. Marine iguana (no real life presence in zoos)

    Ingame animals:
    1. Galapagos giant tortoise
    2. American flamingo
  • Andes -
    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Long-tailed chinchilla
    2. Vicunia - the wild camelid of the andes

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Andean cat
    2. Andean flamingo
    3. Andean fox
    4. Southern pudu
    5. Titicaca water frog
    6. Yellow-Tailed Wooley Monkey

    Ingame animals:
    1. Cougar
    2. Spectacled bear
    3. Greater rhea
    4. Llama (domesticated)
    5. Alpaca (domesticated)
  • Arid Australia -
    All essential species have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Perentie - largest australian varanid and a desert varanid
    2. Short-beaked echidna - common australian animal, that would also complete the monotremes
    3. Yellow footed rock wallaby - a colorful desert alternative to the red-necked wallaby

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Central bearded dragon (E)
    2. Greater bilby
    3. Inland taipan (E)
    4. Numbat
    5. Sand goanna
    6. Thorny devil (E)
    7. Woma python (E)

    Ingame animals:
    1. Dingo
    2. Red kangaroo
    3. Emu
    4. Common death adder (E)
    5. Eastern brown snake (E)
    6. Eastern blue tongued lizard (E)
  • Temperate Australia -
    All essential species have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Black swan - extremely common and iconic zoo animal
    2. Short beaked echidna - the leading candidaate of the other remaining monotreme group

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Australian fur seal
    2. Australian pelican
    3. Australian sea lion
    4. Australia white ibis
    5. Brush tailed possum
    6. Bush turkey
    7. Eastern grey kangaroo
    8. grey-headed flying-fox
    9. Lace monitor
    10. long-nosed potoroo
    11. Plumed whistling duck
    12. Quoll - The Tiger quoll and Eastern quoll have been mentioned as more options for marsupial carnivores
    13. Sugar glider
    14. Superb lyrebird

    Ingame animals:
    1. Dingo
    2. Koala
    3. Platypus
    4. Common wombat
    5. Emu
    6. Red-necked wallaby
    7. Little blue penguin
    8. Quokka
    9. Tasmanian devil
    10. Common death adder (E)
    11. Eastern brown snake (E)
    12. Eastern blue tongued skink (E)
  • Tropical Australia -
    All essential species have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Frill-necked lizard
    2. Short-beaked echidna
    3. Victoria crowned pidgeon

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Agile wallaby
    2. Brolga
    3. Emerald tree monitor
    4. Freshwater crocodile
    5. Giant spiny stick insect
    6. Green tree python
    7. Lace monitor
    8. Magpie goose
    9. Pig nosed turtle

    Ingame animals:
    1. Saltwater crocodile
    2. Dingo
    3. Koala
    4. Southern cassowary
    5. Platypus
    6. Emu
    7. Common death adder (E)
    8. Eastern brown snake (E)
    9. Giant burrowing cockroach (E)
    10. Eastern bluetongue skink (E)
    11. Spectacled flying fox (WE)
  • New zealand -
    Additional animals that can be added:
    1. New zealand fur seal
    2. Takahe
    3. Tuatara

    Ingame animals:
    1. King penguin
    2. Little blue penguin
    3. North island brown kiwi
Blue regions:
  • North African Deserts -
    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Barbary sheep - a hot climate caprine from the Sahara
    2. Honey badger - a hot climate alternativew to the european badger
    3. Nubian ibex - a hot climate ibex that occures in the eastern sahara

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Nubian bustard
    2. Saharan mastigure
    3. Jerboa

    Ingame animals:
    1. Fennec fox
    2. Scimitar horned oryx
    3. Caracal
    4. Striped hyena
    5. Addax
    6. African wild ass
    7. Dama gazelle
    8. Sand cat
    9. Hamadrayas baboon
    10. African spurred tortoise
    11. Dromedary camel (domesticated)
    12. Sacred scarab beetle (E)
    13. Desert horned viper (E)
  • The Himalayas -
    All essential animals have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Yak - either the domestic or wild variety, is a good bovine option for the region

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Himalayan monal
    2. Himalayan tahr
    3. White-lipped deer
    4. Yellow-throated marten

    Ingame animals:
    1. Chinese pangolin
    2. Formosan black bear (on species level)
    3. Himalayan brown bear
    4. Red panda
    5. Snow leopard
    6. Dhole
    7. Takin
    8. Markhor
    9. Pallas' cat
  • Central Asia and the Gobi desert -
    All essential animals have been added.

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Bar-headed goose
    2. Corsac fox
    3. Demoiselle crane

    Ingame animals:
    1. Dhole
    2. Eurasian lynx
    3. Przewalski's wild horse
    4. Red fox
    5. Saiga
    6. Wild boar
    7. Pallas' cat
    8. Bactrian camel (domesticated)
  • Tropical South east asia -
    All essential animals have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. More monkeys - suggestions include a second langur and the sulawesi black macaque
    2. King cobra
    3. Lowland anoa
    4. Reticulated python

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Bornean earless monitor
    2. Fishing cat
    3. Indian muntjac
    4. Northern treeshrew
    5. Prevost's squirrel
    6. Slow loris

    Ingame animals:
    1. Bengal tiger
    2. Bornean orangutan
    3. Indian elephant
    4. Indian peafowl
    5. Saltwater crocodile
    6. Komodo dragon
    7. Binturong
    8. Clouded leopard
    9. Dhole
    10. Malayan tapir
    11. North sulawesi babirusa
    12. Proboscis monkey
    13. Sun bear
    14. Asian small-clawed otter
    15. Wild water buffalo
    16. Siamang
    17. Lar gibbon
    18. Asian water monitor
    19. Giant forest scorpion (E)
    20. Malayan giant leaf insect (E)
  • African Savanna -
    All essential animals have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Grey/black crowned crane - common in zoos, endangered and colorful bird
    2. Guineafowl - very common in zoos savanna fowl
    3. Honey badger - common memetic mustelid with a large range
    4. Marabou stork - common in zoos waterbird
    5. Nile crocodile - the most common african crocodile species
    6. Secretary bird - colorful and endangered mostly terrestrial bird of prey
    7. Serval - common middle sized cat

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. African civet
    2. African rock python
    3. African sacred ibis
    4. Banded mongoose
    5. Black backed jackal
    6. Common genet
    7. Common eland
    8. Elephant shrew
    9. Gaboon viper
    10. Galago
    11. Gerenuk
    12. Great white pelican
    13. Greater kudu
    14. Grevy's zebra
    15. Hartebeest
    16. Leopard tortoise
    17. Naked mole rat
    18. Patas monkey
    19. Rock hyrax
    20. Southern ground hornbill
    21. Springhare
    22. Topi
    23. Waterbuck

    Ingame animals:
    1. Aardvark
    2. African buffalo
    3. African elephant
    4. African wild dog
    5. Cheetah
    6. Common ostrich
    7. Common warthog
    8. Greater flamingo
    9. Hippopotamus
    10. Nile monitor
    11. Nyala
    12. Plains zebra
    13. Reticulated giraffe
    14. Sable antelope
    15. Thomson's gazelle
    16. West african lion
    17. Nile lechwe
    18. Southern white rhino
    19. Blue wildebeest
    20. Caracal
    21. Striped hyena
    22. African crested porcupine
    23. African wild ass
    24. Black rhino
    25. African leopard
    26. Hamadrayas baboon
    27. Kirk's dik-dik
    28. Puff adder (E)
    29. Sacred scarab beetle (E)
    30. Egyptian fruit bat (WE)
  • South African desert and Scrubland -
    All essential animals have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. See "African Savannah" section due to major overlap

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. See "African Savannah" section due to major overlap

    Ingame animals:
    1. Aardvark
    2. African buffalo
    3. Black wildebeest
    4. Cheetah
    5. Common ostrich
    6. Common warthog
    7. Gemsbok
    8. Nile monitor
    9. Plains zebra
    10. Springbok
    11. African penguin (coastal)
    12. Meerkat
    13. Southern white rhino
    14. African crested porcupine (looks identical to he cape crested porcupine)
    15. Black rhino
    16. African leopard
  • Eurasian Taiga -
    All essential animals have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Eurasian otter

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Alpine marmot
    2. Eurasian brown bear
    3. Roe deer
    4. Pine marten
    5. Siberian musk deer

    Ingame animals:
    1. Timber wolf
    2. Arctic fox
    3. Reindeer
    4. Grey seal
    5. Moose
    6. Eurasian lynx
    7. Red fox
    8. Wild boar
    9. Wisent
    10. Wolverine
  • North American Taiga -
    All essential animals have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. American black bear - the remaining bear species for north america

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Bobcat
    2. Canadian lynx
    3. Groundhog
    4. North american porcupine
    5. North american river otter

    Ingame animals:
    1. American bison
    2. Grizzly bear
    3. Timber wolf
    4. Dall sheep
    5. Reindeer
    6. Grey seal
    7. Arctic fox
    8. Moose
    9. North american beaver
    10. Red fox
    11. Wolverine
  • Temperate North America -
    All essential animals have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. American Black Bear - considered essential by many, the ABB is a highly popular candidate
    2. Alligator snapping turtle
    3. Sea otter
    4. White-tailed deer
    5. Wild turkey

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Black-footed ferret
    2. Brown pelican
    3. Burrowing owl
    4. Coral snake (E)
    5. Eastern box turtle (E)
    6. Elk/Wapiti
    7. greater roadrunner
    8. Grey fox (@DarthQuell 's favorite)
    9. Hellbender (E)
    10. Mallard
    11. North american porcupine
    12. North american river otter
    13. Ringtail
    14. Sandhill crane
    15. Spotted skunk
    16. Virginia opposum
    17. Wood duck
    18. Wyoming toad (E)

    Ingame animals:
    1. American bison
    2. Grizzly bear
    3. Pronghorn
    4. Timber wolf
    5. Grey seal (Coastal)
    6. American alligator
    7. California sea lion (Coastal)
    8. Cougar
    9. Moose
    10. North american beaver
    11. Raccoon
    12. Red fox
    13. Striped skunk
    14. Bighorn sheep
    15. Coyote
    16. American standard donkey (domesticated)
    17. Diamondback terrapin (E)
    18. American bullfrog (E)
    19. Cloudless sulphur (WE)
    20. Monarch (WE)
  • North America Great plains -
    All essential animals have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Black-footed ferret - an endangered ferret
    2. White-tailed deer - most common north american deer

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. Gray fox
    2. Wild turkey

    Ingame animals:
    1. American bison
    2. Black-tailed prairie dog
    3. Cougar
    4. Nine-banded armadillo
    5. Pronghorn
    6. Raccoon
    7. Red fox
    8. Striped skunk
    9. Coyote
    10. Bighorn sheep
    11. American standard donkey (domesticated)
  • North American Desert -
    All essential species have been added.

    Animals considered good additions:
    1. Ringtail - a desert dwelling relative of the raccoon
    2. Roadarunner - popular bird and found in zoos
    3. White-nosed coati - a coati species is a popular choice
    4. White-tailed deer - common american deer

    Oddball animal suggestions:
    1. California quail
    2. Collared lizard
    3. Gray fox
    4. Horned lizard
    5. Mexican wolf

    Ingame animals:
    1. Pronghorn
    2. Black-tailed prairie dog
    3. Cougar
    4. Nine-banded armadillo
    5. Collared peccary
    6. Bighorn sheep
    7. Coyote
    8. American standard donkey (domesticated)
    9. Giant desert hairy scorpion (E)
    10. Gila monster (E)
    11. Mexican redknee tarantula (E)
    12. Western diamondback rattlesnake (E)
    13. Axolotl (E)

  1. Africa
    1. Tropical Africa
    2. Madagascar and surrounding Islands
    3. South African desert and Scrubland
    4. African Savannah
    5. North African desert
  2. Eurasia
    1. Phillipines
    2. Indian Savannah
    3. Desert Middle east
    4. Temperate Europe and Near East
    5. Mediterranean
    6. Temperate East Asia and Japan
    7. Eurasian Tundra (arctic circle)
    8. Eurasian Taiga
    9. Central asia and the gobi desert
    10. the Himalayas
    11. Tropical South-east Asia
  3. North America
    1. Caribbean
    2. Tropical Central America
    3. North American Tundra (arctic circle)
    4. North American Desert
    5. North American Great Plains
    6. Temperate North America
    7. North American Taiga
  4. South America
    1. Patagonian plains and Pampas
    2. South American rainforest
    3. South American Savannah
    4. Galapagos Islands
    5. Andes
  5. Oceania
    1. Pacific islands
    2. Tropical New guinea
    3. Tropical Australia
    4. Temperate Australia
    5. Arid Australia
    6. New Zealand
  6. Antarctica
    1. Antarctica*


This is of course my opinion, but I thought I'd sum up the situation and general thoughts in the community as of now.
 
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KönigDerKaffeebohnen

K
I honestly both agree and disagree at some points. For example, i think india should be in the tier above, as it still lacks a lot of animal and niches, be it just some ungulates (axisdeer, waterbuffalo, gaur, blackbuck), monkeys and overall small animals. Its not the worst, but it could defenetly use atleast a 4+1 pack, eventhough the dhole already helped a bit in that regard.

Ironically, skandinavia and northern asia will be the most likly one to get expanded, as the amurleopard, eurasian lynx, pretzwalski horse and wolverine are among the most requested animals and some of the most likly to still be added in an european, eurasian or even endangerd species pack.

Japan is a place, where i wouldnt mind more animals from, but honestly at the same time dont see as any priority. The only noteworthy animals from japan that are relevant in international collections are the sika deer, japanese quail and the tanuki, eventhough the japanese serrow could also be nice, if niche additions. But the giant salamander would be a no brainer for the exhibit, but thats what we always think.

Central asia is a place i would put higher on the priority list, as we only have 4 animals, 2 of them being apex predators and one a clone. Thinking up a pack isnt hard, in fact it was one of the first things i did in these forums. The domestic yak, himalayan thar, himalayan monal and honestly any species from northern india or around that area like the pallas cat would make for an fantastic pack, that would do an amazing job of elevating the himalaya to an actual region.

But these are just my two cents at this, great list and cool idear for a thread.
 

yoav_r

yoav_r
KönigDerKaffeebohnen said:
I honestly both agree and disagree at some points. For example, i think india should be in the tier above, as it still lacks a lot of animal and niches, be it just some ungulates (axisdeer, waterbuffalo, gaur, blackbuck), monkeys and overall small animals. Its not the worst, but it could defenetly use atleast a 4+1 pack, eventhough the dhole already helped a bit in that regard.

Ironically, skandinavia and northern asia will be the most likly one to get expanded, as the amurleopard, eurasian lynx, pretzwalski horse and wolverine are among the most requested animals and some of the most likly to still be added in an european, eurasian or even endangerd species pack.

Japan is a place, where i wouldnt mind more animals from, but honestly at the same time dont see as any priority. The only noteworthy animals from japan that are relevant in international collections are the sika deer, japanese quail and the tanuki, eventhough the japanese serrow could also be nice, if niche additions. But the giant salamander would be a no brainer for the exhibit, but thats what we always think.

Central asia is a place i would put higher on the priority list, as we only have 4 animals, 2 of them being apex predators and one a clone. Thinking up a pack isnt hard, in fact it was one of the first things i did in these forums. The domestic yak, himalayan thar, himalayan monal and honestly any species from northern india or around that area like the pallas cat would make for an fantastic pack, that would do an amazing job of elevating the himalaya to an actual region.

But these are just my two cents at this, great list and cool idear for a thread.
Click to expand...
Good feedback. I added a category for India and moved other areas into it.
 

yoav_r

yoav_r
KönigDerKaffeebohnen said:
I honestly both agree and disagree at some points. For example, i think india should be in the tier above, as it still lacks a lot of animal and niches, be it just some ungulates (axisdeer, waterbuffalo, gaur, blackbuck), monkeys and overall small animals. Its not the worst, but it could defenetly use atleast a 4+1 pack, eventhough the dhole already helped a bit in that regard.

Ironically, skandinavia and northern asia will be the most likly one to get expanded, as the amurleopard, eurasian lynx, pretzwalski horse and wolverine are among the most requested animals and some of the most likly to still be added in an european, eurasian or even endangerd species pack.

Japan is a place, where i wouldnt mind more animals from, but honestly at the same time dont see as any priority. The only noteworthy animals from japan that are relevant in international collections are the sika deer, japanese quail and the tanuki, eventhough the japanese serrow could also be nice, if niche additions. But the giant salamander would be a no brainer for the exhibit, but thats what we always think.

Central asia is a place i would put higher on the priority list, as we only have 4 animals, 2 of them being apex predators and one a clone. Thinking up a pack isnt hard, in fact it was one of the first things i did in these forums. The domestic yak, himalayan thar, himalayan monal and honestly any species from northern india or around that area like the pallas cat would make for an fantastic pack, that would do an amazing job of elevating the himalaya to an actual region.

But these are just my two cents at this, great list and cool idear for a thread.
Click to expand...
Plus, I added a few examples for each category.
 

KönigDerKaffeebohnen

K
Good update. Honestly i really hope we will still get some fun 4+1 packs for a while, honing in on a specific region, as most of them could use some love.
My personal favorite would be the himalaya, but im also a sucker for tibetian and nepal architecture, so maybe im a bit biased on that front too.
Overall, some more of them would really help to give us the actual ability to choose and or make very specalised areas in our zoo, which is also one of the reasons why i liked the arctic wolf and still do.

Its always great to have a choice, and i would love especally asia to be able to not just have an asia section like in the basegame, but an himalayan, india, indonesia and atleast a northern steps themed area, with sadly only one of them being really doable in the game right now, with two being iffy and one just represented by the bactrian camel.

Another thing that might be interesting to add would be to add groups of animals, like ungulates, small carnivores, felines, canids, ursine (or all three as mid-large carnivores), aboreal animals, domestic animals, etc. Not every regions needs the same stuff, and while i wouldnt mind a new african antelope, some domestic species or african monkey would be fire. Watussi cattle and african dwarf goat where you at?
 

jvandiver1991

J
This is a really interesting breakdown, and I’m glad you took the time to do it. I don’t think I really disagree with anything, per se. I think an India-specific pack would certainly be good, but I also think the non-tropical areas of Asia are underserved. More than anything, I guess I mostly just wish we could get some version of all of the aforementioned things (non-tropical South America, Europe/Eurasia, Oceania, India/Indian subcontinent, a Primate pack, etc.), even though I don’t personally see DLC packs going beyond end of 2022 :cry:

But that aside, again, really solid breakdown.
 

DarthQuell

DarthQuell
Couple of quick suggestions for essentials:
yoav_r said:
Non-tropical South America - (Mara, Armadillo, Maned wolf, Spectacled bear)
Click to expand...
Add the rhea to this. Amy species, but I believe that the greater rhea is best. They would be perfect alongside capybaras, Baird's tapirs, giant anteaters (I know this because the Houston Zoo has an enclosure with all 4 species in it)
yoav_r said:
Western Europe, Southern Europe - (Red deer, Alpine ibex, Eurasian lynx, European badger)
Click to expand...
I would add in the wild boar. Don't ask me why, I just feel like it should be a part of it, more than the red fox even (which is saying something coming from me; I want a red fox as a an alternative to the now-unlikely-to-get gray fox)
 

ElectricMonk

ElectricMonk
yoav_r said:
  • Non-tropical South America - (Mara, Armadillo, Maned wolf, Spectacled bear)
Click to expand...
add either vicuña or guanaco as well… the llama almost fills the spot whilst, at the same time, really doesn’t at all.

yoav_r said:
  • Middle east - (Dromedary, Sand cat, Hamadrayas Baboon, Striped Hyena)
Click to expand...
I’d add Persian leopard.. dependant on what different leopard gets in somewhere else though. Not that lots of European species are also middle-eastern so the packs could easily be combined (Eurasia) or add to each other.

yoav_r said:
Australia - (Emu, Wallaby, Tasmanian devil, Tree kangaroo)
Click to expand...
At least one wallaby - two would be better (yellow-footed rock and Bennett’s)
 
Last edited:

Cool Cats and Kittens

Cool Cats and Kittens
yoav_r said:
Japan - (Red crowned crane, Sika deer
Click to expand...
I don't think that Japan's fauna is unique enough to warrant its own DLC. The crane is of a huge cultural significance in China and Korea as well and neither the sika is endemic to Japan. The pack should be renamed to East Asia or north East Asia (so East Asia should move to key species missing). But A dedicated expansion is not needed.

yoav_r said:
New zealand (Kiwi, Kea, Tuatara, Little blue penguin)
Click to expand...
NZ desperately needs representation due to their unique fauna, but I don't see a interesting 4 animal dlc. Most of the unique NZ-fauna, that could be used for a habitat species, consists of ground dwelling birds and half of them aren't even allowed in captivity (oversimplified !). Kea (popular and interesting zoo animal) and 🥝 (charismatic) should be part of a DLC of some description (biome or Oceania).

yoav_r said:
Western Europe, Southern Europe - (Red deer, Alpine ibex, Eurasian lynx, European badger
Click to expand...
To be as unpopular in this forum as possible ;-) , I don't think we need an European DLC right now. I think that would play really similar to the North American DLC. I would prefer to get some of the key species (especially the ibex) in biome packs with a bigger scope than Europe instead.

yoav_r said:
India - (Blackbuck, Axis deer, Asian water buffalo)
Click to expand...
India has potential for its own expansion due to the size of that subcontinent and it's interesting fauna (Lion-tailed macaque, gaur). Introducing more indian animals with biome packs would work too
 
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OkapiJohn

OkapiJohn
Really nice maps!!

My areas are these:
South America: Rhea, Maned Wolf, Armadillo, howler monkey, spectacled bear, capibara, sloth.
Europe: Fallow deer, chamois, Ibex, Eurasian lynx, Iberian lynx, badger, wild boar, red fox,
Australia and NZ: Wombat, Emu, platypus, Kiwi, Tuatara, Monitor lizard, Echidna. Tree Kangoroo, Wallabies. Tasmanian Devil
Congo: Red river hog, forest buffalo, guineafowl, colobus monkey, African pangolin, duikers, sitatunga, African leopard, congo peacock
India: Axis Deer, Blackbuck, India Leopard, Gaur/Bateng, Asian Wild Ass, Langur,
 
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Kyon_kun

K
I see a lot of great ideas. But i'm realy hoping for more east asian animals.
Something like a chinese/korean dlc.
The animals I currently mis the most are: the muntjac, siberian muskdeer, sika deer, eastern/japanese crane, golden pheasant, amurleopard, pallas cat and stubed nose monkey.
 

yoav_r

yoav_r
Kyon_kun said:
I see a lot of great ideas. But i'm realy hoping for more east asian animals.
Something like a chinese/korean dlc.
The animals I currently mis the most are: the muntjac, siberian muskdeer, sika deer, eastern/japanese crane, golden pheasant, amurleopard, pallas cat and stubed nose monkey.
Click to expand...
There are enough high profile animals for a central/east asia pack. I think its a function of how many dlcs are left.
 

Antimony96

Antimony96
Add the takin to central Asia, maybe swapped out with the saiga (which has no zoo presence outside of Russia, Kazakhstan, and maybe Ukraine). Maybe the grey crowned crane for tropical Africa.
 

yoav_r

yoav_r
Antimony96 said:
Add the takin to central Asia, maybe swapped out with the saiga (which has no zoo presence outside of Russia, Kazakhstan, and maybe Ukraine). Maybe the grey crowned crane for tropical Africa.
Click to expand...
Kazakhstan is part of central asia in my book. And I considered the crane, but apparently they live exclusively in Savannahs (and wetlands), and don't actually get to the rainforests of central africa.
 

coatifan

coatifan
In my personal opinion, Latin America is the most urgently needed area for an update, perhaps even enough to justify a Latin American animal pack. Now, this is of course informed by my (limited) (USAmerican) perspective, but every other continent except Oceania (which, as an American, has little representation in the zoos I visit) has what I would consider to be a good baseline for building a themed area. In the two zoos I have visited regularly, North America generally has 5-8 species represented (most of which now exist in-game), Africa is represented with a very large area and nothing at all (though of course this is quite uncommon), Europe and Oceania have no dedicated area, Asia has a smaller (6-8) collection (almost all of which exist as of the SEA pack), and Latin America has a fairly significant amount of species. Additionally, it would offer an opportunity to add small mammals (which in my opinion we can always use more of), non-mammal animals (criminally underrepresented), and groups of animal with two or less representatives (procyonids, rodents, xenarthans, pilosans). Of course, I'd also love to see Oceania and Asia get more representation, but to me only South America is a pressing "must."
 

yoav_r

yoav_r
coatifan said:
In my personal opinion, Latin America is the most urgently needed area for an update, perhaps even enough to justify a Latin American animal pack. Now, this is of course informed by my (limited) (USAmerican) perspective, but every other continent except Oceania (which, as an American, has little representation in the zoos I visit) has what I would consider to be a good baseline for building a themed area. In the two zoos I have visited regularly, North America generally has 5-8 species represented (most of which now exist in-game), Africa is represented with a very large area and nothing at all (though of course this is quite uncommon), Europe and Oceania have no dedicated area, Asia has a smaller (6-8) collection (almost all of which exist as of the SEA pack), and Latin America has a fairly significant amount of species. Additionally, it would offer an opportunity to add small mammals (which in my opinion we can always use more of), non-mammal animals (criminally underrepresented), and groups of animal with two or less representatives (procyonids, rodents, xenarthans, pilosans). Of course, I'd also love to see Oceania and Asia get more representation, but to me only South America is a pressing "must."
Click to expand...
This is very much influenced by your being an American. My experience on the european side of things is a lot of focus on Africa and South east Asia, usually some European and middle eastern animals, and South American and Oceania areas tend to be small and underepresented. However, by far the least represented areas in european zoos is North America, with the only common species endemic to NA being the raccoon and alligator. So IMO we need to round up all corners of the world for all variety of players.
 

coatifan

coatifan
yoav_r said:
This is very much influenced by your being an American. My experience on the european side of things is a lot of focus on Africa and South east Asia, usually some European and middle eastern animals, and South American and Oceania areas tend to be small and underepresented. However, by far the least represented areas in european zoos is North America, with the only common species endemic to NA being the raccoon and alligator. So IMO we need to round up all corners of the world for all variety of players.
Click to expand...
That's really interesting! It's great to get input from all around the world, and I'd like to clarify that I certainly am not advocating for the areas I mentioned as low priority to not be expanded on (to the contrary, I think all but Europe have at least one species on my wishlist). Thanks so much for providing a contrasting opinion, I love to hear what's going on outside of my red-white-and-blue bubble (presumably, a bubble full of bald eagles and walmarts). Out of curiosity, what species are common in Middle East and Europe areas in European zoos, in your experience? I've never seen such a thing, so I'm curious.
 

yoav_r

yoav_r
coatifan said:
Out of curiosity, what species are common in Middle East and Europe areas in European zoos, in your experience? I've never seen such a thing, so I'm curious.
Click to expand...
Depends on the climate. Hotter climates can have stuff like Porcupine, Striped Hyena, Arabian/Scimitar Oryx, Caracal, Fennec, Dromedary etc. (This is mainly from my experience in Israel and southern Europe)

Scandinavia can have cold weather animals like Moose and Reindeer.

And temperate animals like boars, fallow deer, lynx, roe deer are omnipresent in many zoos.
 

coatifan

coatifan
yoav_r said:
Depends on the climate. Hotter climates can have stuff like Porcupine, Striped Hyena, Arabian/Scimitar Oryx, Caracal, Fennec, Dromedary etc. (This is mainly from my experience in Israel and southern Europe)

Scandinavia can have cold weather animals like Moose and Reindeer.

And temperate animals like boars, fallow deer, lynx, roe deer are omnipresent in many zoos.
Click to expand...
Fascinating! Of those species, I've only ever seen the Fennec Fox and maybe the Scimitar Oryx in zoos, and they were displayed in a small mammal house and general "hoofstock/africa" loop without a clear theme respectively.

For reference, the two zoos I've seen have the following North American animals:
National Zoo:
  • Alligator
  • North American Porcupine
  • Prairie Dog
  • Several exhibit animals/small mammals I've likely forgotten
  • America Trail
    • Grey Seal
    • Harbor Seal
    • Cali. Sea Lion
    • Timberwolf (not on exhibit)
    • Raven
    • Bald Eagle
    • North American River Otter
    • North American Beaver
    • Assorted ducks (wood, ruddy, others)
New Orleans/Audubon Zoo:
  • Cali. Sea Lion
  • Louisiana Swamp
    • Alligator
    • Raccoon
    • Black Bear
    • Cougar
    • Nutria (formerly)
    • Snapping Turtle
    • N.A.R. Otter
    • Bobcat
    • Red Fox
    • Alligator Gar
    • Several tanks (gar, terrapin, rattlesnakes, etc)
I suppose it makes sense that zoos would have some species that reflect their local wildlife, especially in areas with robust ecosystems, but I had never really thought much about it before. All in all, I find this highly interesting, and the requests for more European animals seems a lot more understandable to me, contextualizing that those left out thus far are analogous to American animals common only in American zoos (black bear, river otter, bobcat, etc). Altogether fascinating, you've really opened my eyes!
 
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