Underrated/Underappreciated Animals

[KönigDerKaffeebohnen]

The topic should be self explanatory, so lets get into the Hottakes.

My animal of choice is the arctic wolf. It often is needlessly hated for Not being a fox, which is, while understandable, Not fair towards the wolf and now that we have him shouldnt be part of the equasion anymore.
But why Do I think the arctic wolf is a cute inclusion?
First lets look at the basegame. We have multiple species that we could consider sidegrades from each other, the elephants, chimp and bonobo, the tigers, the brownbears, the tortoises and to an extend the hippos and even the monitors.
These sidegrades are nice options, as they allow us to put a slightly different Spin on the animal and its habitat, mostly either biome or regionally.
I argue, that the arctic wolf is one of the best sidegrades, only rivaled by the hippo and the elephants, even outshining the monitors.
My criteria for that are simple:

• is the sidegrade Held often in Zoos (over 100 times in the EAZA)?
• is the sidegrade visually distingushable from the original? (A white coat is Not only beautiful, but very distict from the normals greys and brown)
• is the sidegrade recognizable on its own (look above)
• does it give the oportunity for different and distinct habitats? (Yes the new Tundra biome helps alot, even though they look great in normal wolf enclosues)

So yeah, i think the arctic wolf is a great addition to the game, being one of the best sidegrades, but what are your hottakes?

 

[Antimony96]

I will say I like having both giant tortoises. They work perfectly for a small space-filling exhibit as well as having good chemistry with various South American and African animals respectively even if they aren't officially compatible with anyone.

 

[biggest_dreamer]

I think I'd be more open to the arctic wolf if Frontier hadn't already pigeonholed what should have been one of the most versatile species presently in the game, the gray wolf, into being a distinctly North American subspecies thanks to its name, only to follow it up with another North American subspecies. I get that it's tagged with both Europe and Asia, but I still have trouble getting over its needlessly specific name. Add to it that the arctic wolf was paid DLC, which presumably should've indicated an extra level of polish and distinctiveness, and on top of that we got another wolf subspecies as DLC two packs later... it's hard to get excited about the wolf situation in the game presently.

There's several other "clone" species I could say similar-but-not-nearly-so-scathing about (most notably the two brown bears, they could've made the Himalayan into the Syrian brown bear with minimal extra effort, or just given us a "brown bear" and happily called it a day), but of those I do feel passionately about, the two tortoises are near the top of the list. They fit into different areas in a zoo, they fill different niches, and they're both incredibly valid and important inclusions.

I've been pleasantly surprised by how few people undervalue the African penguin, but I feel the same about it. Super important species to have alongside the king. Similarly, having two lemur species adds so much to the game in terms of variety and cohabitation, I'm actively clamoring for more lemurs.

On that note, I don't think it's possible to overstate just how much work the capuchin monkey is putting in. It's arguably the only truly small monkey in the game (arguably the macaque fits, but I feel like it better fills a different sort of niche. Maybe my experience is off here). It's the only new world monkey in the game. These are both super common and important roles to fill in zoos, and in this game our capuchin is the only species keeping those zoo sections afloat. For what it represents compared to how common its role is in actual zoos and how few (no) alternatives there are in this game, I'd go as far as arguing that the capuchin monkey is by default the single most underappreciated animal in this game, regardless of how much appreciation it might get.

 

[ElectricMonk]

Can I ask what ‘sidegrade’ means?

 

[KönigDerKaffeebohnen]

Can I ask what ‘sidegrade’ means?

I used it more or less for very similar animals with only little differences, Most of the time subspecies or animals that are very similar in either look or model (for example the giant tortoises).

I use the term sidegrade to show that they are Not neccessarly better then their counterpart (ergo arnt an upgrade) and just fit better in certain circumstances.
For example the HBB fits better into the asian section of a Zoo and the grizzly better into the northamerican section, making each one a better fit for their respective area.

Another thing is, that all of them could fit into the same enclousure for the most part, with only habitat sizemaking a big difference in most cases, but you could also twist it up a Bit to suit it better for one in particular, for example an indian Temple theme for the asian elephant, something that would feel of with the african.

I hope this is an alright explanation and brings my point across. In no way Do I mean to attack the animals, as i personally quite like them and the choice + better fitting qualities they bring.

 

[NZFanatic]

I'll never be fully happy with the Arctic wolf, but I think I'll use it more now that the temperature complaints can be turned off in Sandbox. I'd still prefer really any other Arctic animal - the Arctic fox or wolverine for carnivores; I'd even take the muskox, another hoofed animal, over the Arctic wolf.

I think the mandrill is underappreciated. They were used constantly during the beta (because it was the only climbing animal in the beta) and at launch, but lately people don't seem to use them at all. Honestly they're one of the most interesting primates in the world and I was pleasantly surprised to find them in the game.

 

[jcp011c]

Definitely not a sidegrade of any existing animal but one I find to be underappreciated is the giant anteater. I don't see a lot of dislike for it, but I don't see a lot of comments about it period. For me, it was an absolute surprise inclusion in that pack and is very unique. Sure, I would have traded it for a capybara in an instant but otherwise it may be my favorite animal in the pack since it's so unique. And the funny thing is, it wasn't even in the group of four animals I wanted to see, and two that made it in, the Jaguar and Llama, were.

 

[NZFanatic]

Definitely not a sidegrade of any existing animal but one I find to be underappreciated is the giant anteater. I don't see a lot of dislike for it, but I don't see a lot of comments about it period. For me, it was an absolute surprise inclusion in that pack and is very unique. Sure, I would have traded it for a capybara in an instant but otherwise it may be my favorite animal in the pack since it's so unique. And the funny thing is, it wasn't even in the group of four animals I wanted to see, and two that made it in, the Jaguar and Llama, were.

I love the giant anteater, and I was pleasantly surprised to see it added. I wouldn't have traded it for the capybara - the llama should have been traded for the capybara. It still blows my mind that they included a farm animal in a zoo game DLC.

 

[markun]

I quite like the llama. At the same time I totally get why people think it doesn’t deserve to be in the game. I just like to have some basics and I keep meaning to build a tiny, realistic zoo that might gradually grow and the llama is just the kind of species that those kind of zoos have.

I think I might have suggested elsewhere that it would be good to have a mode where you start with a basic collection and move up.

 

[NZFanatic]

I quite like the llama. At the same time I totally get why people think it doesn’t deserve to be in the game. I just like to have some basics and I keep meaning to build a tiny, realistic zoo that might gradually grow and the llama is just the kind of species that those kind of zoos have.

I think I might have suggested elsewhere that it would be good to have a mode where you start with a basic collection and move up.

As I've said before, my consternation with the llama is that it stands alone. If they'd included two or three other farmyard animals in the base game (not unfeasible - zoos do often and frequently contain these animals in dedicated sections) then the llama wouldn't have stood out so much. It's one of those ones that has its place, just not in the pack we got it in.

 

[markun]

As I've said before, my consternation with the llama is that it stands alone. If they'd included two or three other farmyard animals in the base game (not unfeasible - zoos do often and frequently contain these animals in dedicated sections) then the llama wouldn't have stood out so much. It's one of those ones that has its place, just not in the pack we got it in.

That makes complete sense and I agree that it would be better if there were comparable species to go alongside it.

 

[DarthQuell]

I like the Arctic wolf for similar reasons that Konig said.

But 2 animals I particularly like are:

1. Dingo - hate me all you want for this, but i think that this was a good choice. They are iconic for Australia, more than the Tasmanian devil, in my opinion, because they are found across the continent. They're the top predator, and a unique species found nowhere else, unless you count New Guinea dogs
2. Southern cassowary - another underrated animal, I believe. Hated because they chose this instead of an emu. But, I've never seen an emu, but I have seen this guy. Their look makes up for it: a beautiful blue, black feathers, a strange headcrest, and powerful legs. These add a bunch of character to a zoo that for me other animals don't.

Now, another animal I think deserves more is the giant otter. I admit, I thought it was weird looking at first, but they grew on me, especially when the Houston Zoo acquired 4. I loved them the instant I saw them swim and squeal in their enclosure.


Those are my choices

 

[biggest_dreamer]

But, I've never seen an emu, but I have seen this guy.

This initially seemed strange to me, as emus stand out in my mind as being a quintessential zoo animal here in the southeastern US. But this made me stop and think about it... I don't think I've actually seen an emu in any of the AZA zoos I've been to across the southeast. Every emu I've seen was at one of various awful roadside zoos I was taken to as a kid and wouldn't have revisited since learning better as an adult. Most AZA zoos I've visited have ostriches, and one has rheas, and indeed one has cassowaries, but not a single emu... huh. Kinda weird to realize given how prominent they remain in my mind.

As for the cassowary itself, personally, I did somewhat begrudge it for not being an emu. But with this new personal revelation I don't think I can really hold that against it anymore. I know the emu is apparently more commonly kept in the rest of the world, but still. The cassowary has always been a great, colorful, fun addition; that's impossible to deny. It always would've been a 10/10 in my eyes, in a vacuum. And now I have no reason to actively dislike it for what it's not.

 

[NZFanatic]

But 2 animals I particularly like are:

Thing is, both those species seem iconic and essential to you as someone outside of the region, but the opinions that really matter are from those inside the region. The dingo I think can pass, because yes, it is an iconically Australian animal, but the cassowary over the emu just showed a complete lack of understanding on Frontier's part, and it's very obvious that they didn't choose it because it's iconic or anything like that, they chose it because it's got flashy colours and is more instantly recognisable and marketable.

The gripe with the dingo wasn't because it wasn't iconic. It was because it was another wolf-like canine in a region with many more famous animals that aren't wolf-like canines. The Tasmanian devil was the go-to alternative because it's Australia's only other major carnivore, and because it's endangered, and because those in the region are also well aware of its conservation significance especially in recent years (facial tumour disease or FTD is ravaging their populations, so devils have been moved into almost every major zoo in Australasia, and are starting to be reintroduced to the mainland as well). But really I think most people would have been satisfied if they'd gone with the wombat, or quoll, or a bilby or bandicoot over the dingo.

The Australia Pack represented a European view of Australian wildlife rather than an Australian view, IMO.

Anyway, that's just my two-cents. I don't think you're wrong for liking either animal - I like the cassowary just fine and I use the dingo because I'm kind of forced to without a better alternative for Australian zoo sections - but I don't think it's necessary to defend their inclusion beyond that.

 

[NZFanatic]

And now I have no reason to actively dislike it for what it's not.

Just to sort of echo myself, I don't think liking/disliking it and thinking it was the wrong choice are at all related. It's not a zero-sum game; you can like it but still think it should have been the emu.

 

[Firestar97]

Even though I like the Llama a lot and use it all the Time (even built a Llama Farm with selective Breeding) I kind of understand the Dislike for it. Farm Animals are great but the Quanaco looks so similar to it that it wouldnt've been that much Work to add both. I wish Frontier would start adding very similar Species that don't require much Work as Bonus Animals in DLCs

Dingo - hate me all you want for this, but i think that this was a good choice. They are iconic for Australia, more than the Tasmanian devil, in my opinion, because they are found across the continent. They're the top predator, and a unique species found nowhere else, unless you count New Guinea dogs

Actually there are also Dingos in Thailand and I think also a few other Places (I think according to Fossils they even originated from there) and if I remember correctly, the Population there is even more purebred than the Australian one. Maps just often show only the Australian Distribution for some Reason

 

[NZFanatic]

Actually there are also Dingos in Thailand and I think also a few other Places (I think according to Fossils they even originated from there) and if I remember correctly, the Population there is even more purebred than the Australian one. Maps just often show only the Australian Distribution for some Reason

That isn't true at all. There are only dingoes in Australia. From Wikipedia:

"The earliest known dingo fossil, found in Western Australia, dates to 3,450 years ago,"

There are offshoots of the dingo's ancestor in Asia (the New Guinea singing dog is one such offshoot) but there are no true dingoes anywhere but Australia.

 

[markun]

The Australia Pack represented a European view of Australian wildlife rather than an Australian view, IMO.

I think it was more a view of Australian wildlife from people who aren’t bothered about providing a realistic and representative selection of animals and just picked what they thought looked cool. The fact that they are European is irrelevant.

To most Europeans an emu is more iconic and recognisably Australian than a cassowary, definitely to Europeans who know what’s kept in zoos.

They just took the approach that allowing us to build realistic Australian zoos or Australian sections wasn’t a priority.

For me, a European, the lack of an emu is the biggest disappointment of any pack. Worse than the Arctic wolf, worse than the lack of a capybara, worse even than the Malayan tapir that looks nothing like a Malayan tapir because it basically makes building an Australian zoo impossible. Although Adelaide recently stopped keeping emus I believe…

Still, they are essential and iconic and I can remember the afternoon I saw the announcement and had to read the species list twice because I was so shocked, disappointed and baffled that the emu was missing.

 

[solacefruit]

but the cassowary over the emu just showed a complete lack of understanding on Frontier's part, and it's very obvious that they didn't choose it because it's iconic or anything like that, they chose it because it's got flashy colours and is more instantly recognisable and marketable.

Disagree entirely on this! I think including the cassowary over the emu was a great move on Frontier's part. Emus are common internationally and in Australia in parks and zoos, and a lot of people do view them as quintessentially Australian, much like the red kangaroo. For that reason, I think the lazy and honestly kind of pandering to USA-market etc. move would have been to include the emu.

I much prefer, as an Australian, that Frontier did their homework and included the frankly much less recognised cassowary, which is also far more in need of conservation. I don't know many Americans or generally non-Australian/Southeast Asian people who even know what a cassowary is, unless they're big into animals as a research hobby, so I think Frontier taking this opportunity to give a really gorgeous, important bird an international platform was very cool of them and the very opposite of what you're suggesting re: just because it's "flashy".

If they'd included the red kangaroo and the emu, I'd be a bit annoyed, actually, given that those are two species that already have a lot of ~brand recognition~ (for lack of a better term) and aren't anywhere near in need of the same conservation as nearly all other endemic Australian species, you know? Anyway, all this to say I was coming here to be like "I thought it was neat and great and exciting that they included a cassowary," but got carried away.

 

[markun]

Disagree entirely on this! I think including the cassowary over the emu was a great move on Frontier's part. Emus are common internationally and in Australia in parks and zoos, and a lot of people do view them as quintessentially Australian, much like the red kangaroo. For that reason, I think the lazy and honestly kind of pandering to USA-market etc. move would have been to include the emu.

I much prefer, as an Australian, that Frontier did their homework and included the frankly much less recognised cassowary, which is also far more in need of conservation. I don't know many Americans or generally non-Australian/Southeast Asian people who even know what a cassowary is, unless they're big into animals as a research hobby, so I think Frontier taking this opportunity to give a really gorgeous, important bird an international platform was very cool of them and the very opposite of what you're suggesting re: just because it's "flashy".

If they'd included the red kangaroo and the emu, I'd be a bit annoyed, actually, given that those are two species that already have a lot of ~brand recognition~ (for lack of a better term) and aren't anywhere near in need of the same conservation as nearly all other endemic Australian species, you know? Anyway, all this to say I was coming here to be like "I thought it was neat and great and exciting that they included a cassowary," but got carried away.

I disagree. I think they missed the opportunity to create a cohesive, representative selection of animals and instead we got a random mix that prevents us making realistic Australian zoos. Certainly any plans I had of doing so (I had many) are on hold until if and when we get the emu.

The lazy choice wouldn’t be including the emu, the lazy choice was including the dingo.

I love the cassowary and am glad we have it. But the emu is crucial for Australian zoo building.

Most of all this highlights the huge limitations of the 4 habitat species model.