What did you do in Planet Zoo today?

I have been working on and off on my tropical zoo set in Africa. I have unintentionally created some issues with my bongos always being stressed and their enclosure being small, my fennec foxes were always stressed so I've put them into the trade center for now. I absolutely LOVE this because this created problems that now I have to solve, and it feels like I'm actually managing the zoo instead of only building perfect habitats. Where do I relocate my bongos? The starting enclosures are kind of "set in stone" so I have to find a way to work with that without changing too much. What animal do I put in the bongo enclosure? Do they have different foliage needs? How can I include my fennec foxes into the meerkat/aardvark area without them being stressed, but also still feel like a part of that area? It feels like a real zoo. I just wish the game would bring you these issues or challenges (or a different kind) on its own without having them by my own mistake. The management is really lacking, but that's a debate for another thread. Anyway, more info below in spoilers:

When I first built this there were meerkats on the left side and fennec foxes on the right side. The foxes were SO STRESSED that I just had to remove them. They had a lot of hiding spots, but I guess the massive influx of guests was too much to handle. They are in the trade center for now. What I did with the habitats is I've connected them with a tunnel that runs below the path that goes in between the habitats. I've kept the meerkats and put in a female aardvark. I've made sure almost all the shelters and paths are accessible to the aardvark since it has a bigger hitbox. I figured the aardvarks were a perfect companion, and I didn't have to change much to fit them in.


20210707115618_1.jpg


This is my empty habitat waiting for the clouded leopards. I wanted to try the new mesh pieces and the new one-way glass pieces, but since there's an issue with them at the moment, and until we get a new patch, the habitat will have to stay empty. sad clouded leopard noises There are only 2 viewing spots and one has the mesh fence, and the other has the one-way glass. I was thinking of putting up a sign that says "coming soon" or something like that. I think that would be pretty cool.

20210707115700_1.jpg


I wanted to have another cat next to the leopard so I've built a habitat for the jaguar. I quite like it. It's dynamic, and they have a few hiding spots where they can relax from the guests. Lots of climbing structures, and a pond to swim in.


20210707115805_1.jpg


My WIP pygmy hippo habitat. I think this is my first underwater tunnel build. There's going to be 2 more viewing spots, one reserved for the animal talk, but the main thing will be the tunnel.

20210707115837_1.jpg


I've started doing this more frequently - I have a simple bamboo wall with a door and a "Staff only" sign. I just copy these pieces all over the zoo where there's a staff path leading to the staff facilities. As I don't really care too much about making the staff areas pretty, I can just put this down, and hide the ugliness of the backstage. :p I have noticed that I also don't really like to build for the guests, so I've downloaded some shop blueprints that I plan on using. I much more prefer building for the animals and decorating around the habitat, and of course, managing the zoo.

20210707115928_1.jpg


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Yes I know there's trash, my caretakers are useless. :LOL:
 
Every time I play PZ: "Okay, I got a plan, I'm gonna finish this habitat today"

Ten seconds later: "Cool, cool, but what if you added a detailed fence to this visitor area instead and worked the foliage and rocks around it?"

Me: "Oh right! I guess I'm gonna do that then!"

My Gemsbok waiting in the TC: 😐

I know the feeling.. everytime you plan out something, it takes like 10x the time you estimated it to take and you just keep adding small details.
That Gemsbok habitat looks great and I like the scenery around the road a lot!! the big building also really gives a good zoo feel. So GJ on that!


North African themed Keeper/Animal trader skin here. front and back
20210706143224_1.jpg

20210706143334_1.jpg


Just a little exhibition skin.
20210707103217_1.jpg


I also made a education board skin, but I don´t know how happy I am about it tbh... Its hard to be creative, if you play for too long.
20210707104202_1.jpg



Hopefully I get to redo or make some new habitats during the summer.

Link to my North African Collection - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2532722356
 
I have been working on and off on my tropical zoo set in Africa. I have unintentionally created some issues with my bongos always being stressed and their enclosure being small, my fennec foxes were always stressed so I've put them into the trade center for now. I absolutely LOVE this because this created problems that now I have to solve, and it feels like I'm actually managing the zoo instead of only building perfect habitats. Where do I relocate my bongos? The starting enclosures are kind of "set in stone" so I have to find a way to work with that without changing too much. What animal do I put in the bongo enclosure? Do they have different foliage needs? How can I include my fennec foxes into the meerkat/aardvark area without them being stressed, but also still feel like a part of that area? It feels like a real zoo. I just wish the game would bring you these issues or challenges (or a different kind) on its own without having them by my own mistake. The management is really lacking, but that's a debate for another thread. Anyway, more info below in spoilers:

When I first built this there were meerkats on the left side and fennec foxes on the right side. The foxes were SO STRESSED that I just had to remove them. They had a lot of hiding spots, but I guess the massive influx of guests was too much to handle. They are in the trade center for now. What I did with the habitats is I've connected them with a tunnel that runs below the path that goes in between the habitats. I've kept the meerkats and put in a female aardvark. I've made sure almost all the shelters and paths are accessible to the aardvark since it has a bigger hitbox. I figured the aardvarks were a perfect companion, and I didn't have to change much to fit them in.


View attachment 248151

This is my empty habitat waiting for the clouded leopards. I wanted to try the new mesh pieces and the new one-way glass pieces, but since there's an issue with them at the moment, and until we get a new patch, the habitat will have to stay empty. sad clouded leopard noises There are only 2 viewing spots and one has the mesh fence, and the other has the one-way glass. I was thinking of putting up a sign that says "coming soon" or something like that. I think that would be pretty cool.

View attachment 248152

I wanted to have another cat next to the leopard so I've built a habitat for the jaguar. I quite like it. It's dynamic, and they have a few hiding spots where they can relax from the guests. Lots of climbing structures, and a pond to swim in.


View attachment 248153

My WIP pygmy hippo habitat. I think this is my first underwater tunnel build. There's going to be 2 more viewing spots, one reserved for the animal talk, but the main thing will be the tunnel.

View attachment 248155

I've started doing this more frequently - I have a simple bamboo wall with a door and a "Staff only" sign. I just copy these pieces all over the zoo where there's a staff path leading to the staff facilities. As I don't really care too much about making the staff areas pretty, I can just put this down, and hide the ugliness of the backstage. :p I have noticed that I also don't really like to build for the guests, so I've downloaded some shop blueprints that I plan on using. I much more prefer building for the animals and decorating around the habitat, and of course, managing the zoo.

View attachment 248156

View attachment 248157

Yes I know there's trash, my caretakers are useless. :LOL:

Besides the trash, it looks really awesome :LOL:
The Jaguar habitat looks really great! You should upload that one on the workshop
 
I know the feeling.. everytime you plan out something, it takes like 10x the time you estimated it to take and you just keep adding small details.
That Gemsbok habitat looks great and I like the scenery around the road a lot!! the big building also really gives a good zoo feel. So GJ on that!


North African themed Keeper/Animal trader skin here. front and back
View attachment 248142
View attachment 248146

Just a little exhibition skin.
View attachment 248143

I also made a education board skin, but I don´t know how happy I am about it tbh... Its hard to be creative, if you play for too long.
View attachment 248148


Hopefully I get to redo or make some new habitats during the summer.

Link to my North African Collection - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2532722356
The one with the Camels under the Star covered Sky looks really nice 👍
 
I have been working on and off on my tropical zoo set in Africa. I have unintentionally created some issues with my bongos always being stressed and their enclosure being small, my fennec foxes were always stressed so I've put them into the trade center for now. I absolutely LOVE this because this created problems that now I have to solve, and it feels like I'm actually managing the zoo instead of only building perfect habitats. Where do I relocate my bongos? The starting enclosures are kind of "set in stone" so I have to find a way to work with that without changing too much. What animal do I put in the bongo enclosure? Do they have different foliage needs? How can I include my fennec foxes into the meerkat/aardvark area without them being stressed, but also still feel like a part of that area? It feels like a real zoo. I just wish the game would bring you these issues or challenges (or a different kind) on its own without having them by my own mistake. The management is really lacking, but that's a debate for another thread. Anyway, more info below in spoilers:

When I first built this there were meerkats on the left side and fennec foxes on the right side. The foxes were SO STRESSED that I just had to remove them. They had a lot of hiding spots, but I guess the massive influx of guests was too much to handle. They are in the trade center for now. What I did with the habitats is I've connected them with a tunnel that runs below the path that goes in between the habitats. I've kept the meerkats and put in a female aardvark. I've made sure almost all the shelters and paths are accessible to the aardvark since it has a bigger hitbox. I figured the aardvarks were a perfect companion, and I didn't have to change much to fit them in.


View attachment 248151

This is my empty habitat waiting for the clouded leopards. I wanted to try the new mesh pieces and the new one-way glass pieces, but since there's an issue with them at the moment, and until we get a new patch, the habitat will have to stay empty. sad clouded leopard noises There are only 2 viewing spots and one has the mesh fence, and the other has the one-way glass. I was thinking of putting up a sign that says "coming soon" or something like that. I think that would be pretty cool.

View attachment 248152

I wanted to have another cat next to the leopard so I've built a habitat for the jaguar. I quite like it. It's dynamic, and they have a few hiding spots where they can relax from the guests. Lots of climbing structures, and a pond to swim in.


View attachment 248153

My WIP pygmy hippo habitat. I think this is my first underwater tunnel build. There's going to be 2 more viewing spots, one reserved for the animal talk, but the main thing will be the tunnel.

View attachment 248155

I've started doing this more frequently - I have a simple bamboo wall with a door and a "Staff only" sign. I just copy these pieces all over the zoo where there's a staff path leading to the staff facilities. As I don't really care too much about making the staff areas pretty, I can just put this down, and hide the ugliness of the backstage. :p I have noticed that I also don't really like to build for the guests, so I've downloaded some shop blueprints that I plan on using. I much more prefer building for the animals and decorating around the habitat, and of course, managing the zoo.

View attachment 248156

View attachment 248157

Yes I know there's trash, my caretakers are useless. :LOL:
I love your foliage and rock work, it looks really great and organic! Also theming the staffdoors that way is really clever. Right now most of the staff entries in my zoo just dwindle of to the side, trying to be subtle, but your approach seems way better. Might be trying that too in the future
 
I have been working on and off on my tropical zoo set in Africa. I have unintentionally created some issues with my bongos always being stressed and their enclosure being small, my fennec foxes were always stressed so I've put them into the trade center for now. I absolutely LOVE this because this created problems that now I have to solve, and it feels like I'm actually managing the zoo instead of only building perfect habitats. Where do I relocate my bongos? The starting enclosures are kind of "set in stone" so I have to find a way to work with that without changing too much. What animal do I put in the bongo enclosure? Do they have different foliage needs? How can I include my fennec foxes into the meerkat/aardvark area without them being stressed, but also still feel like a part of that area? It feels like a real zoo. I just wish the game would bring you these issues or challenges (or a different kind) on its own without having them by my own mistake. The management is really lacking, but that's a debate for another thread. Anyway, more info below in spoilers:

When I first built this there were meerkats on the left side and fennec foxes on the right side. The foxes were SO STRESSED that I just had to remove them. They had a lot of hiding spots, but I guess the massive influx of guests was too much to handle. They are in the trade center for now. What I did with the habitats is I've connected them with a tunnel that runs below the path that goes in between the habitats. I've kept the meerkats and put in a female aardvark. I've made sure almost all the shelters and paths are accessible to the aardvark since it has a bigger hitbox. I figured the aardvarks were a perfect companion, and I didn't have to change much to fit them in.


View attachment 248151

This is my empty habitat waiting for the clouded leopards. I wanted to try the new mesh pieces and the new one-way glass pieces, but since there's an issue with them at the moment, and until we get a new patch, the habitat will have to stay empty. sad clouded leopard noises There are only 2 viewing spots and one has the mesh fence, and the other has the one-way glass. I was thinking of putting up a sign that says "coming soon" or something like that. I think that would be pretty cool.

View attachment 248152

I wanted to have another cat next to the leopard so I've built a habitat for the jaguar. I quite like it. It's dynamic, and they have a few hiding spots where they can relax from the guests. Lots of climbing structures, and a pond to swim in.


View attachment 248153

My WIP pygmy hippo habitat. I think this is my first underwater tunnel build. There's going to be 2 more viewing spots, one reserved for the animal talk, but the main thing will be the tunnel.

View attachment 248155

I've started doing this more frequently - I have a simple bamboo wall with a door and a "Staff only" sign. I just copy these pieces all over the zoo where there's a staff path leading to the staff facilities. As I don't really care too much about making the staff areas pretty, I can just put this down, and hide the ugliness of the backstage. :p I have noticed that I also don't really like to build for the guests, so I've downloaded some shop blueprints that I plan on using. I much more prefer building for the animals and decorating around the habitat, and of course, managing the zoo.

View attachment 248156

View attachment 248157

Yes I know there's trash, my caretakers are useless. :LOL:
I like the way you use rocks. I struggle with them, so yeah.

That guy with the red shirt (polka dots) looks like he's up to something
 
Today i did some work on my africa panorama and the old rule of thumb "have a cool fence and no one will notice that your habitat is empty" rule applies again.
I did barely any work inside of the habitats, but finished the linked fences atleast for now. Still have a side of the warthogs open where im thinking about either letting them expand or putting in some meercats, but hey maybe you guys have an opinion about that ;)

pana 4.jpeg





pana 3.jpeg



pana 2.jpeg




pana 1.jpeg
 
Today i did some work on my africa panorama and the old rule of thumb "have a cool fence and no one will notice that your habitat is empty" rule applies again.
I did barely any work inside of the habitats, but finished the linked fences atleast for now. Still have a side of the warthogs open where im thinking about either letting them expand or putting in some meercats, but hey maybe you guys have an opinion about that ;)

I would do a mix of both. Have meerkats and expand the hogs (assuming they can share similar requirements)
 
Today i did some work on my africa panorama and the old rule of thumb "have a cool fence and no one will notice that your habitat is empty" rule applies again.
I did barely any work inside of the habitats, but finished the linked fences atleast for now. Still have a side of the warthogs open where im thinking about either letting them expand or putting in some meercats, but hey maybe you guys have an opinion about that ;)

Looks great!
Good idea about the fence
 
I am in abit of a struggle today. I like my buildings in my zoo, but hate my habitats (I did them abit to fast maybe) but even the one I used abit of time on is problematic, since its way to big on the viewing area and guest will either hate or love it... but often its the "its ok" reply.. I normally don´t get that, but rather only good reponses from habitats.. maybe I am missing something.

This is how the habitat look like (I actually had fennec foxes here first, but they were way to small, so went with the camels instead)

20210707192211_1.jpg

20210707192012_1.jpg

I also have a few other habitats.. I guess it should be easy enough to redesign them and make it all more organic. The buildings are done, so I have my theme right.
 
I am in abit of a struggle today. I like my buildings in my zoo, but hate my habitats (I did them abit to fast maybe) but even the one I used abit of time on is problematic, since its way to big on the viewing area and guest will either hate or love it... but often its the "its ok" reply.. I normally don´t get that, but rather only good reponses from habitats.. maybe I am missing something.

This is how the habitat look like (I actually had fennec foxes here first, but they were way to small, so went with the camels instead)

View attachment 248239
View attachment 248240
I also have a few other habitats.. I guess it should be easy enough to redesign them and make it all more organic. The buildings are done, so I have my theme right.
What's supposed to be bad about this Enclosure? I think it's absolutely awesome. I don't really orient myself around the Guest Thoughts about Animal Visibility. In my Opinion it's not bad if the Guests can see the Animals only relatively good. Think it's more important that the Animals are happy

Spend the whole day creating "Croc World", a habitat for Saltwater Crocs and Gharials.


There will be more foliage in the water. And I need to look at some of the null barriers again. Or does anyone know if guests can pass through them?
I like the Color of the Water. Reminds me of my Marine Park. The Indoor Area looks also really nice.


Today I fought a lot with artificial Rocks to get the Wall of my Panda Enclosure to look how I want it and now it's finally looking good. Maybe I will soon be able to get the first Giant Pandas in there that this Zoo ever had (and the first ones in that Franchise since a very long Time). I do already have a Breeding Pair that waits to finally get in there. I just hope that they aren't closely related. They do both have extremely good Genetics but they might be from the same Zoo (not sure because for some Reason the Letters of the Franchise Name couldn't be shown). I assume some Chinese Player who wanted to make it more realistic for Zoos to get Pandas 🙃
Somehow I didn't notice that you can compare Mates with Animals on the Market until someone pointed it out to me when it was already too late. I hope I won't get a negative Surprise
 
I am in abit of a struggle today. I like my buildings in my zoo, but hate my habitats (I did them abit to fast maybe) but even the one I used abit of time on is problematic, since its way to big on the viewing area and guest will either hate or love it... but often its the "its ok" reply.. I normally don´t get that, but rather only good reponses from habitats.. maybe I am missing something.

This is how the habitat look like (I actually had fennec foxes here first, but they were way to small, so went with the camels instead)

View attachment 248239
View attachment 248240
I also have a few other habitats.. I guess it should be easy enough to redesign them and make it all more organic. The buildings are done, so I have my theme right.
May i suggest something? Like i said in my own post, if you have a cool layout and fence your habitat will probably carry itself easily.
I would redo the terraforming a bit to make the hilly bits look more dynamic and natural, as well as redoing the planters. They themself are fine, but having just weed like nettle in them kind of goes against the point of a planter.
I would bet that these two changes, if not just the planters could boost the looks of the habitat by a good bit. Maybe use the pink flowers, should be rather quick and you can see if you like it or not and want to do more detail
 
May i suggest something? Like i said in my own post, if you have a cool layout and fence your habitat will probably carry itself easily.
I would redo the terraforming a bit to make the hilly bits look more dynamic and natural, as well as redoing the planters. They themself are fine, but having just weed like nettle in them kind of goes against the point of a planter.
I would bet that these two changes, if not just the planters could boost the looks of the habitat by a good bit. Maybe use the pink flowers, should be rather quick and you can see if you like it or not and want to do more detail
The problem was, that I made this for the Fennec fox and had flowers around the planters, but guest keept complaining and being angry about not being able to see them.. (they are small after all) and the Camel´s can´t have to much of it, so if I put flowers there, they would go over the limit.. This is the reason, why I wanna redo my sections and such. I want to make stuff more dynamic.
 
What's supposed to be bad about this Enclosure? I think it's absolutely awesome. I don't really orient myself around the Guest Thoughts about Animal Visibility. In my Opinion it's not bad if the Guests can see the Animals only relatively good. Think it's more important that the Animals are happy


I like the Color of the Water. Reminds me of my Marine Park. The Indoor Area looks also really nice.


Today I fought a lot with artificial Rocks to get the Wall of my Panda Enclosure to look how I want it and now it's finally looking good. Maybe I will soon be able to get the first Giant Pandas in there that this Zoo ever had (and the first ones in that Franchise since a very long Time). I do already have a Breeding Pair that waits to finally get in there. I just hope that they aren't closely related. They do both have extremely good Genetics but they might be from the same Zoo (not sure because for some Reason the Letters of the Franchise Name couldn't be shown). I assume some Chinese Player who wanted to make it more realistic for Zoos to get Pandas 🙃
Somehow I didn't notice that you can compare Mates with Animals on the Market until someone pointed it out to me when it was already too late. I hope I won't get a negative Surprise

Maybe I should not care to much indeed.. I guess I am just used to guest loving the views.
I am happy you think it looks great!
 
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