Planet Zoo 2 has a hefty list of animals in its roster, which can make deciding which additions to bring into your zoo a difficult challenge.
Frontier Developments has expanded the roster of animals in Planet Zoo 2 to include aquatic and avian species, giving you even more options to consider.
If you’re stuck trying to work out which animals you should start with and bring into your zoo, Insider Gaming has some tips.
Best Planet Zoo 2 Starter Animals
Aardvark
Aardvarks were my go-to starter animal of choice in the original game and remain the same in Planet Zoo 2, with a cheap upfront cost, low upkeep, and easy habitats to construct.
Just two aardvarks are enough to satisfy the population and social requirements, so bring in a pair for breeding, and reap the rewards long-term.
Another benefit to aardvarks is that there are a few species they are happy to live alongside, giving you options to easily expand the animals you have on display.
Bactrian Camel
One hump or two? Camels are another decent option to bring in as your zoos first star, with a pair sufficing to meet social requirements and an extremely easy habitat to construct.
Camels are quick breeders and often a decent return in that aspect, and you won’t need to splash out on a heap of fauna to fill out the enclosure to meet their needs.
Like aardvarks, there are additional animals you can bring in to fill out the habitat later down the line.
Common Ostrich
If your long-term aim is to construct a large habitat that houses a host of animals from the African savannah, Common Ostrich are a great option to consider.
They’re easy to breed and have basic requirements, but the main benefit is that, long term, there’s a wide range of animals they can live with.
This includes the likes of zebra, giraffes, buffalo, and antelope, and it’s a great first step toward building a multi-species habitat.
Common Warthog
Another option when constructing a large habitat for African savannah animals long term is warthogs, which require less space than ostriches and are even easier to breed.
Warthogs are perfectly happy in a small group and have a low upfront cost, and they breed large litters, giving you a handful of babies to sell on or release when the time comes later down the line.
Like ostriches, they can be housed with a wide range of African animals, leaving the door open for lots of options in the future.
Red Deer
Perhaps the most basic animal of them all, Red Deer tick a number of boxes in Planet Zoo 2 and are a solid choice for a starter animal.
You’ll need a small group of them to fulfil their social needs, but they’re not too expensive, and the young they produce can be released to three of the Wildlife Reserves in the game.
One downside is that their young take four years to mature, meaning a longer wait for a return on your investment compared to other species.
Wild Boar
Similar to the warthogs, Wild Boar are a quick and easy choice in Planet Zoo 2, requiring just a small group, and they’re among the most proficient breeders in the game.
There’s a long, long list of animals that wild boar can co-habit with, if you want multi-species habitats, and their requirements are really easy to meet.
Another benefit is that it takes just a year for the young to mature and, by the time the release window comes around, you’ll more than likely have a fresh batch of youngsters waiting in the wings.
What’s your go-to choice in Planet Zoo 2 for a starter animal? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
For your next read, check out the Planet Zoo 2 patch notes, take a look at the game breaking a Steam record, and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter.
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