My Final DLC Wishlist for Planet Zoo

With the release of Planet Zoo: Console Edition, and following some ambiguous financial reports, many are predicting the imminent end of official support for Planet Zoo and with it, the end of DLC. Frontier have stated that there's one more animal pack yet to be released, which presumably will be the last.

I've written this post to share some of my ideas and preferences for a future DLC. As I like to build realistic zoos, I've only chosen animals which have a sizable captive presence. I've not included flying birds or fully aquatic animals as I don't think we'll get those until a possible sequel. Lastly, I've also excluded exhibit animals as, despite them being useful, I'd prefer a habitat animal instead.

South America Animal Pack

I think the one region which truly deserves another pack is South America because it's still very under-represented relative to its biodiversity. There's so many good options that you could arguably make a third South America pack and still have some left over. These are the higher priority animals in my opinion:

Common marmoset

Alternatives:

cotton-top tamarin

golden lion tamarin

Goeldi's monkey

I've chosen a marmoset but any common zoo callitrichid would suffice. These small primates may not be the most practical in terms of game mechanics due to their size and arboreal nature (things the game doesn't handle well) but they're an extremely common animal in zoos of all sizes, all across the world. I actually can't think of a single zoo I've been to which hasn't had them and for some of the smaller ones I visit, they are the only primate representative to be found. These primates can be star attractions in smaller zoos or useful filler animals in larger ones. Most importantly, though, they'd give us another South American primate, something we really need before official support ends. Sadly, I think the likelihood of these being added is low due to their size and the fact they're highly arboreal, but we've had small animals and arboreal ones before, so who knows!

South American coati

Alternatives:

white-nosed coati

Another essential South American animal which we're still missing. Like the callitrichids above, it is a very common zoo animal, featured at zoos of all sizes. Some may prefer the white-nosed coati but the South American (or brown-nosed) one has more versatility as they're present at even the smallest zoos. Many zoos also house them alongside raccoons. I'd say the likelihood of these being added is quite high, partly because it probably wouldn't be too much effort to create one from the raccoon as a base.

Colombian black spider monkey

Alternatives:

white-faced saki

black howler monkey

South America has so many primates, I think this pack deserves to have at least a second. Any of these medium- to large-sized primates would deliver what we're sorely lacking at the moment: South American representation and a new monkey. Seeing gibbons brachiate after the Tropical Pack was impressive enough but seeing a spider monkey brachiate using its tail as well as its limbs would be even better. Likewise, hearing the growls of a howler monkey in the treetops would evoke some fond zoo memories. As for the saki, it's a very common zoo inhabitant which would find its place in most zoos. Of the three, I think the howler is more likely due to it being easier to implement than the spider monkey and more well known than the saki.

Patagonian mara

Alternatives:

Azara's agouti

A frequent companion of the capybara in walkthrough habitats, these rodents are widespread in zoos and rarely omitted from South American sections. It would also give us another representative for Patagonia, a region which is still under-represented in our games. If we do get another South America pack, I think there's a high chance we'll get these because they're so essential and unique in appearance. Another great alternative would be an agouti, which fills a similar niche.

Spectacled bear

The only large South American carnivore we're still yet to see. It offers something unique in being the only bear in South America and one of only two large South American carnivores in our games (three if you count the cougar). Aside from the sloth bear and sun bear, the only other bears we have look quite outdated in terms of their models, so it would be nice to have another bear with a more up-to-date model.

Southern pudu

This would be only our third deer but it would standout from the others due to its uniquely small size, being the second-smallest deer in the world (the smallest being the northern pudu which doesn't exist in zoos). I've seen a few of them in captivity and they're always fun to watch due to how active they are, something I feel will translate well with how active animals are in Planet Zoo.

Red-legged seriema

Whilst the secretary bird is one of the community's most requested animals, the red-legged seriema could offer a like-for-like alternative. Smaller but undoubtedly more common in captivity, the red-legged seriema would give us another terrestrial bird and something more unique than another ratite. They're the closest living relatives to the aptly-named terror birds and are known for their prey-thrashing behaviour which would be interesting to see in Planet Zoo.

Greater rhea

Alternatives:

lesser rhea

Rheas are the last of the extant ratites we still have yet to see in our games. After the emu, they're the most widespread of the ratites in captivity and that's why they're favoured by me and many others. They can combine with the capybara (and the mara, if we get those) to create a mixed species South American walkthrough habitat which we're currently not able to make.

Other packs

If the final pack isn't a revisit to South America, then I'd hope to see any of the following animals, in whatever pack they fit in:

Hamadryas baboon

Alternatives:

Gelada

Guinea baboon

I was torn with the gelada but I'd prefer a true baboon as they're such classic zoo animals. I chose the Hamadryas because I think Frontier would do a great job on the fur but any common zoo baboon would suffice. I think the likelihood of us getting one is pretty high, just because it's such an obvious omission at the moment. Either would fit into a highlands-themed pack — the only other theme I could see being made into a DLC.

Secretary bird

More terrestrial birds would help deliver that avian flavour we're still missing in our zoos. There's a wide variety to choose from but one of the standout choices has to be the secretary bird. It would offer something very unique: our first bird of prey and our first African bird which isn't a penguin or an ostrich. I think the likelihood of them being added is quite high, partly because it's another Zoo Tycoon favourite, and Frontier seem determined to bring over as many of those as possible!

Blackbuck

Alternatives:

nilgai

Père David's deer

We need more Asian hoofstock and I think the blackbuck or the two alternatives above would be great picks as they're all fairly common in zoos and would make suitable pairings with the Indian rhino in grassland-themed habitats. The blackbuck and deer are visually similar to animals we already have, which may make them easier for Frontier to create, whilst the nilgai is more visually unique.

European wildcat

Alternatives:

Pallas' cat

It wouldn't win any popularity contests given large parts of the community feel we have enough cats, but I think it would be the perfect fit for a highlands pack. Whenever I hear "highlands", the first thing I think of is the Scottish Highlands and that's where the last remaining population of Scottish wildcats is found. Another great choice is the Pallas' cat which is more popular with the wider community, partly due to its unique appearance.

American black bear

As someone who likes to build North American-themed areas, this is one species I often find myself sorely lacking. They're an emblematic North American animal and a "must have" for North American sections, especially since the alternative is the grizzly bear, the model for which looks very outdated at this point.

Great white pelican

Alternatives:

pink-backed pelican

brown pelican

A pelican is one of the highest requested animals in the community and for good reason; they're unique and a common feature of many zoos. Of the three listed, I'd definitely prefer the great white pelican as it's more common in captivity worldwide, whereas the brown is mostly kept at North American zoos. I will admit, though, that the brown has the added uniqueness of being marine and having a diving ability.

African spurred tortoise

Some may not consider these an essential but given they are the sixteenth most common animal in captivity, I'd say they deserve a spot in our zoos. They're probably the one reptile I miss the most when building smaller zoos as they're a common feature of them. Furthermore, we're still lacking habitat reptiles and the current two tortoises look quite outdated compared to our newer animals.

Raccoon dog

This one's a must have for any British zoo fan as they're so common here that every zoo seems to have them, although they're far less common in other parts of the world. They would provide another East Asian species to our zoos, something we're still lacking. They were also introduced into Europe, making them suitable candidates for any habitats themed on invasive species. If none of that appeals then maybe their cuteness will! 

Other animals I'd like to see are: walrus, Nile crocodile, common squirrel monkey, Canada lynx, Kirk's dik-dik, serval, large hairy armadillo, grey crowned crane, golden pheasant, helmeted guineafowl, bobcat, common palm civet, western sitatunga, Eurasian otter, bush dog, woolly monkey, marabou stork, American crocodile, Sulawesi crested macaque, barbary macaque, alligator snapping turtle, veiled chameleon, Burmese python, Madagascar day gecko, emerald tree boa, reticulated python, Luzon giant cloud rat and Visayan warty pig.

I think a South America pack is the most deserving as we're still missing so many animals from that part of the world. A highlands pack would be nice, as there's some great options, but there aren't many that I'd truthfully consider essential. Personally, I'd love to see Frontier do away with a set theme and just give us a mixed bag of the most needed animals but I don't see that happening. As a final note, whilst the sun may be setting on official support for this game, PC players can look forward to the fact that a growing modding community will keep it alive for many years to come with all the animals and items we're still missing!