What's Your Oddball animal that you hope makes it in?

A group of animals in general that I doubt will ever make it into the game at this stage, but I've always wanted to see are shorebirds. They're far from priority over less niche species like ducks, pelicans, or geese (unless Frontier somehow surprises us with more packs and decides to add more birds per pack, which I highly doubt at this point), but they're some of my favorites and I just want to give them an appreciation post and present a few options. If we ever got a coastal pack or something in a PZ2 they'd be really fun to have. I've always wanted to build one of those bird houses with cute lil' biome based displays that seem to be relatively popular in NA, and these funky lil guys would be perfect for that, especially if we got multiple for mixed aviaries.

Pied Avocet (Wild Range - Asia, Africa, and Europe)
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Not very common outside of Eurasia and thus not my first choice for a bird like this, but I've been lucky enough to see them at a couple US zoos and they're just the cutest lil' guys. I admit that I'm not always immune to ZT2 nostalgia and these were some of my favorites when playing modded (I think it was the Aves pack that added them, though I could be wrong!)

Pied Stilt (Wild Range - Oceania and parts of Southern Asia)
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I would shrivel up into mush if I left out Oceania, so here's another pied goober - Australasian edition! Like the avocet, it’s not too common overseas, but it would be a great addition if we got different alternative shorebirds for different regions. It’s not very common within the region (as far as I’m aware? I know the Oceanian listings on ZooTierliste are behind rn so they could be more common than I realize) so it’s not a huge priority, but its still a niche that would be nice to see filled.

Black-necked Stilt (Wild Range - North and South America)
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This guy is pretty common in both NA and EU, whilst having a few holdings in SA and one in JP according to Zootierliste, thus is among one of my first picks for this niche. Not too much to say about it, I just think they're ✨silly and I like them✨.

Masked Lapwing (Wild Range - Australasia)
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Here's one that isn't a black & white avocet or stilt if that isn't your thing. Although native to Oceania, these goofs seem to be far more common overseas, with 69 holdings in Europe, 39 in North America, 7 in Asia, 1 in South America, and 2 in Australia according to Zootierliste if we include both unspecified subspecies and the northern subspecies (though again, that probably doesn’t show the full story since the whole worldwide thing is so new. I've only seen zoo-kept ones in NA, but if anyone else has seen these guys in an Oceanian zoo besides Taronga or Shoalhaven I'd love to hear it!).

Eurasian Curlew (Wild Range - Europe, Asia, and Africa)
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Not too common outside of Eurasia, but I adore curlews and these goobers are so stinkin' cute I've gotta include them (I love weird little guys with long beaks/noses if you couldn't tell lol)

Bush Thick-Knee (Wild Range - Australia)
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An Aussie endemic that's also pretty common in Europe, plus a handful of holdings elsewhere. Definitely one of the more unique looking shorebirds too thanks to its kinda grumpy vibe : p.

Spotted Dikkop (Wild Range - Africa)
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A distinguished gentleman that would be a great addition for African mixed aviaries, very common in both Europe and North America as well.

South Island Oystercatcher (Wild Range - Aotearoa NZ)
South Island Oystercatcher.jpg

A native manu that I'd love to have. Definitely not essential as its only really found in a handful of zoos, but I'd love to see it someday even if its just as a mod. :>

Anyways, thanks for coming to my TEDTalk, I hope you like these sillies as much as I do! :>

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A group of animals in general that I doubt will ever make it into the game at this stage, but I've always wanted to see are shorebirds. They're far from priority over less niche species like ducks, pelicans, or geese (unless Frontier somehow surprises us with more packs and decides to add more birds per pack, which I highly doubt at this point), but they're some of my favorites and I just want to give them an appreciation post and present a few options. If we ever got a coastal pack or something in a PZ2 they'd be really fun to have. I've always wanted to build one of those bird houses with cute lil' biome based displays that seem to be relatively popular in NA, and these funky lil guys would be perfect for that, especially if we got multiple for mixed aviaries.

Pied Avocet (Wild Range - Asia, Africa, and Europe)
View attachment 383672
Not very common outside of Eurasia and thus not my first choice for a bird like this, but I've been lucky enough to see them at a couple US zoos and they're just the cutest lil' guys. I admit that I'm not always immune to ZT2 nostalgia and these were some of my favorites when playing modded (I think it was the Aves pack that added them, though I could be wrong!)

Pied Stilt (Wild Range - Oceania and parts of Southern Asia)
View attachment 383677
I would shrivel up into mush if I left out Oceania, so here's another pied goober - Australasian edition! Like the avocet, its not too common overseas, but it would be a great addition if we got different alternative shorebirds for different regions. Its not very common within the region so its not a huge priority, but its still a niche that would be nice to see filled.

Black-necked Stilt (Wild Range - North and South America)
View attachment 383681
This guy is pretty common in both NA and EU, whilst having a few holdings in SA and one in JP according to Zootierliste, thus is among one of my first picks for this niche. Not too much to say about it, I just think they're ✨silly and I like them✨.

Masked Lapwing (Wild Range - Australasia)
View attachment 383682
Here's one that isn't a black & white avocet or stilt if that isn't your thing. Although native to Oceania, these goofs seem to far more common overseas, with 69 holdings in Europe, 39 in North America, 7 in Asia, 1 in South America, and 2 in Australia according to Zootierliste if we include both unspecified subspecies and the northern subspecies (though that might not show the full story since the whole worldwide thing is so new? I've only seen zoo-kept ones in NA, but if anyone else has seen these guys in an Oceanian zoo besides Taronga or Shoalhaven I'd love to hear it!).

Eurasian Curlew (Wild Range - Europe, Asia, and Africa)
View attachment 383686
Not too common outside of Eurasia, but I adore curlews and these goobers are so stinkin' cute I've gotta include them (I love weird little guys with long beaks/noses if you couldn't tell lol)

Bush Thick-Knee (Wild Range - Australia)
View attachment 383687
An Aussie endemic that's also pretty common in Europe, plus a handful of holdings elsewhere. Definitely one of the more unique looking shorebirds too thanks to its kinda grumpy vibe : p.

Spotted Dikkop (Wild Range - Africa)
View attachment 383688
A distinguished gentleman that would be a great addition for African mixed aviaries, very common in both Europe and North America as well.

South Island Oystercatcher (Wild Range - Aotearoa NZ)
View attachment 383689
A native manu that I'd love to have. Definitely not essential as its only really found in a handful of zoos, but I'd love to see it someday even if its just as a mod. :>

Anyways, thanks for coming to my TEDTalk, I hope you like these sillies as much as I do! :>

View attachment 383690
This is amazing! Shorebirds and sea birds are easily some of my favorite animals! I would love to have some!
 
Oddball animals I want see are mostly ungulates. We have many of ungulates already, but personally, there are still many more ungulates to add in the game, even clones too as well. I am always happy with any new ungulates like the ones we got in last pack. It's hard for me to pick just one oddball animal I want since I probably have a long list of oddball animals.
Grevy's Zebra
Largest, noticeable and endangered zebra species. I don't mind using Plains Zebra however, it's nice to get a new zebra species with better model quality since I am bit tired of using Plains Zebra as it's getting old imo.
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Lowland Tapir
Third Tapir species, very common in zoos. I am hoping to see it in a potentially Latin America pack as a clone/oddball choice. I don't use Baird's tapir as none of zoos in my country have one.
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Visayan Warty Pig
The last suidae species I want to see in the game is Visayan Warty Pig as it's very high on my wishlist. It is very common in zoos, critically endangered pig species which making it a great addition for the game. I am very doubtful about Visayan Warty Pig making it in the game, we shall wait and see.
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Lowland Anoa
Tropical and small bovine species. Asia still need more ungulates, anoa makes a great addition for it.
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Eland
I don't mind which Eland species we get as we need some more African antelope. It's pretty much widespread in zoos and great for African mixed exhibit along with giraffe, zebra, other antelopes, etc.
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Kirk's Dik-Dik
A small African antelope species which makes it an awesome addition for the game as we need some small ungulates.
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Aye-Aye

Weirdest and unique animal, it's very high on my wishlist along with Visayan Warty Pig and some other animals. I am not sure if it is considered as an oddball animal. Creating a nocturnal house in Planet Zoo feels empty without Aye-Aye which is common in nocturnal houses, more nocturnal animals are welcome especially this one!
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Bush Dog
For a potentially Latin America pack, I would love to see this animal in that pack. It's an unique canid which makes an awesome choice for a Latin America pack as an oddball animal.
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Tamandua
I'm not sure if this is an "oddball" animal. It would be awesome to see this animal in the game as having more arboreal/climbing South American animals are always welcome.
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I really want the coconut crab!
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But as a habitat animal. In my opinion every animal that could be a habitat animal should be a habitat animal
And these guys are plenty big enough for habitats.
I really enjoy animals that stand out from the crowd, and as the only habitat invertebrate (and only crustacean) in the game, this would definitely be unique. The way it moves, the long, creepy legs and giant claws... This is nothing like the other in-game animals, and would present a really cool challenge and many creative possibilities for habitat making. I think the most "artistic" players would have a great time with this one
 
Eurasian Curlew (Wild Range - Europe, Asia, and Africa)
View attachment 383686
Not too common outside of Eurasia, but I adore curlews and these goobers are so stinkin' cute I've gotta include them (I love weird little guys with long beaks/noses if you couldn't tell lol)
I'd love to see a curlew - they were the last of the shorebirds kept at my local zoo, and I clearly remember really enjoying watched them.

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If the Frontier gonna make shorebirds my suggestion would be Ruff, but they might be too small as the habitat species, most shorebirds are very tiny and might be hard to find them in the exhibit especially if you build a large one. Like several people complain that it is hard to find those Creepy Crawls in such big tank.
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Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle. Large aquatic turtles are awesome and the game could use at least one. While alligator snapping turtle, pig-nosed turtle and a few South American species are more popular here, and I'd like any, this is the species I bat for hardest.

Also known as Indo-Gangetic softshell turtle or small-headed softshell turtle, because it is one of the largest species of turtle but has a ridiculous small head that makes for one of the most unique morphologies. It has unique digging and swimming behaviors, and an important conservation story as an endangered turtle that benefits from tons of captive breeding. San Diego Zoo became the first accredited institution in the US to hatch these turtles in 2022, and houses them with India's other oversized, endangered prehistoric relic: the gharial. Adding these would be a realistic boost to India as well as the generic "tropical Asian river" roster with its otter, buffalo, gharial, and water monitor. Some large-bodied life for all that underwater space.

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