Planet Zoo 2 Wildlife Reserves: which animals go where

Predators, scavengers and the roles they need

Frontier's guide says an ecosystem can become Flourishing only once it is Established and animals fill the Ecosystem Roles it needs, and that some release groups need a Flourishing ecosystem. 10 releasable species list "Required Roles" on their Zoopedia page. Beside each, the releasable species that fill that role in at least one of the same reserves:

• African Leopard needs Medium Prey. Medium Prey: Black Wildebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Common Ostrich, Common Warthog, Gemsbok, Nyala, Plains Zebra, Sable Antelope, Springbok and Thomson's Gazelle.
• African Wild Dog needs Medium Prey. Medium Prey: Black Wildebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Common Ostrich, Common Warthog, Gemsbok, Nyala, Plains Zebra, Sable Antelope, Springbok and Thomson's Gazelle.
• Eurasian Lynx needs Medium Prey. Medium Prey: Red Deer and Wild Boar.
• Grey Wolf needs Medium Prey and Small Prey. Medium Prey: Red Deer and Wild Boar. Small Prey: Eurasian Beaver and Mountain Hare.
• Lion needs Medium Prey. Medium Prey: Black Wildebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Common Ostrich, Common Warthog, Gemsbok, Nyala, Plains Zebra, Sable Antelope, Springbok and Thomson's Gazelle.
• Nile Monitor needs Predators. Predators: African Leopard, African Wild Dog, Lion, Secretarybird, Shoebill and Spotted Hyena.
• Saltwater Crocodile needs Medium Prey. Medium Prey: Malayan Tapir and North Sulawesi Babirusa.
• Spotted Hyena needs Medium Prey. Medium Prey: Black Wildebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Common Ostrich, Common Warthog, Gemsbok, Nyala, Plains Zebra, Sable Antelope, Springbok and Thomson's Gazelle.
• Sumatran Tiger needs Medium Prey. Medium Prey: Malayan Tapir and North Sulawesi Babirusa.
• White-Backed Vulture needs Predators. Predators: African Leopard, African Wild Dog, Lion, Nile Monitor, Secretarybird, Shoebill and Spotted Hyena.

Frontier does not say in what order to release them; the lists only show which animals fill each role.

How to release animals into a Wildlife Reserve

1. Open the Release Groups tab in the reserve (you need a Research Outpost there first), or open Animal Trading & Storage in a zoo and go to Release Groups.
2. Select Create Release Group and choose a species. Some species have to be researched before they appear.
3. Choose the group type, the number and mix of animals, and select Create.
4. Edit the group members: add animals from Animal Storage until the group meets its requirements.
5. Select Finalise Release Group. This cannot be undone.
6. Choose Release to Wildlife Reserve, or Quick Release for Conservation Credits straight away.
7. From a zoo, the Planet Hub opens with the reserves that suit the group; travel to one, pick an Established ecosystem that meets the species' needs and release.

The group types the Zoopedia uses are female bachelor herd, solitary male, male bachelor herd, mixed group, breeding partners and solitary female. Frontier says released animals need much less management than zoo animals, and that you have less control over them.

Biodiversity Rating

Every reserve has a Biodiversity Rating with two parts:

• Ecosystem Rating goes up as you create Established and Flourishing ecosystems, remove pollution and invasive plants with the Demolish Brush, and release more suitable species (Species Diversity).
• Research Rating goes up with a network of Observation Platforms, Camera Traps and Acoustic Monitors across the reserve.

An ecosystem is painted with the Ecosystem Brush and becomes Established once its area, terrain and plant requirements are met; some also need the right amount of water or high or low ground. Research networks also open Research Gates and higher levels of species research, and some species have to be released and studied in a reserve before their research is complete.

Wildlife Reserves in Franchise mode

In Franchise mode, a reserve's Biodiversity Rating raises your accreditation tier along with your zoos' reputation, and release Conservation Credits go into the pool every zoo in the franchise shares. Update 1.0.5 fixed reserves costing the wrong amount of Conservation Credits there. More in our Franchise mode guide.

Before you release a species, check what it needs in a zoo first: the animal requirements calculator gives each species' minimum habitat.

Common questions

How many Wildlife Reserves are in Planet Zoo 2?

The Zoopedia's species pages name 6 reserves that animals can be released into: Tanzania Reserve, Great Rift Valley Reserve, Sumatra Reserve, Sweden Reserve, Poland Reserve and Scottish Highlands.

Can every animal be released into a Wildlife Reserve?

No. 58 of the 136 species list at least one valid reserve on their Zoopedia page, and the other 78 list none. The releasable species include 6 aquarium fish, such as the African Tigerfish.

Can released animals come back to the zoo?

No. Once you finalise a release group, the animals go to acclimatisation and cannot return to your zoo. Frontier's guide says finalising cannot be undone.

What is the difference between releasing and Quick Release?

Both follow a finalised release group. Release to Wildlife Reserve takes you to a reserve, where you pick an Established ecosystem for the species and get Conservation Credits for a successful release. Quick Release gives Conservation Credits straight away.

Why can I not create a release group for a species?

You may need to research the species in a zoo first to unlock its release group options. To create a release group inside a reserve, you also need a Research Outpost there. The animals must already be in Animal Storage and meet the group's requirements.