Revision 3

Animals are the heart of Planet Zoo 2. Every species is a realistically simulated creature with its own needs, and a habitat only thrives when those needs are met. The sequel rebuilds animal behaviour around what Frontier calls an improved animal brain, producing more natural and varied actions such as herding, grazing, and reacting to the world around them.

Welfare is tracked through clear on-screen indicators, and animals now show more obvious physical reactions to their surroundings and condition, making problems easier to spot. Frontier highlights a generational leap in fidelity, with detailed fur, feathers, and scales, along with authentic breathing and sounds.

Behaviour is also more expressive. Layered animations communicate an animal's mood and emotional state at a glance, without the player needing to open a menu, and species show off newly detailed actions such as more dynamic climbing and jumping, resting on raised frames, and rubbing against their surroundings.

Care, breeding, and conservation

Players raise animals from their earliest moments and can breed them across generations, while enrichment items help keep animals stimulated and healthy. Conservation is a central theme: animals can ultimately be released, and that effort extends beyond the zoo through the new Wildlife Reserves.

Cohabitation returns from the first game and takes on a larger role in management, letting compatible species share a single habitat. Frontier has said it will detail how cohabitation works closer to launch.

New kinds of animal

For the first time in the series, zoos can keep fully aquatic species in aquariums and free-flying birds in aviaries, greatly broadening the kinds of life on display.

Confirmed species

Frontier has not yet revealed the full animal roster, though the in-game Zoopedia returns as a reference for every animal and more of the base lineup is set to be shown through it before launch. Among the species confirmed so far are the following: Later reveals have continued to expand this list with species such as the Masai Giraffe, Red Deer, Eurasian Beaver, Great Hornbill and Blackspotted Puffer.

A further set of six species, including the Golden Eagle, Golden Lion Tamarin, Great Hammerhead Shark, Axolotl, Blue and Gold Fusilier, and Longfin Batfish, is tied to the game's deluxe release rather than the base game.