05/12/2009
- Check out the Biome Squares map (available in both challenge and freeform games). It’s a great example of the inventive zoo-design solutions possible with the free-of-charge terrain-modification tools.
- Use the zoo walls as part of the animal exhibit fencing to save money.
- Share fences and walls between exhibits to save money. Remember to add a staff gate between the exhibits for easy access for your staff and yourself when you’re in Zoo Guest mode.
- U-shaped or “dented” exhibits allow guests to see farther into an exhibit to get a better view of your animals. Place paths into the area where the exhibit will be located, and then place the fence around the path in a U-shape.
- Place animal food, water, and enrichment items near guest viewing areas so they can enjoy interesting animal behaviors.
- Remember that all animals have privacy needs, but not all species can use a shelter. For sunken exhibits that guests view from a higher elevation where they can see everything, you may need to use natural barriers, such as hills, rows of trees, or solid fencing such as brick wall fence to impede guests’ line of sight and give your animals the privacy they need.
- Locate exhibits with similar biomes in the same area. Animals are sensitive to the conditions around their exhibits, so it makes them feel more at home. Avoid placing exhibits with conflicting biomes near each other. The cold tundra and hot savannah biomes simply don’t mesh well in the same area.
- Provide animals that can swim with deep water in their exhibits. This lets them satisfy both privacy and exercise needs.
- Plan for the future! If you want to breed animals or care for them until you can release them to the wild, be sure to plan for exhibit expansion. Some animals need extra space or they challenge and fight each other.
- Consider building a multi-species exhibit. Guests love it (and donate more money) when you recreate the African Savannah. But it’ll be tough for your staff to keep up with all those animals, so you may need to go into Zoo Guest mode and get your own hands dirty scooping up some poop yourself.
- Animals prefer to relieve themselves on a patch of dirt or a rock if there is no dirt in the exhibit. Provide a suitably private dirt or rock patch within reasonable distance of the food-and-water area.
- Terrain changes stop at fences to make it easy to “draw inside the lines.” Press and hold the Shift key while changing terrain near fences and the terrain will go through the fence.
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