Creating a zoo
A new zoo is mostly a terrain decision. Pick the map and sculpted-or-flat setting to match the species you already plan to buy, not the other way round.
Franchise lets you own several zoos, and accreditation counts them. Because of that, the second zoo is a strategic decision: it can be the reputation zoo, the breeding zoo, or the cheap overflow for surplus animals.
What you choose at creation
| Choice | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Map | Determines the base terrain and how much flattening the first habitat needs |
| Scultped or flat terrain | Flat maps are faster to build on; sculpted maps sell the look |
| Starting position | Drives path layout and where guests enter |
1.0.5 fixed a bug where a Wildlife Reserve was sometimes selected as the sculpted terrain option when creating a Taiga sandbox or franchise map. If you saw that, it is a known-and-fixed issue.
First-build order
- Place the entrance and a path long enough for two facilities.
- Build one habitat to the species' published space value, with barrier grade and height from the species page.
- Paint terrain inside the published ranges before animals arrive.
- Add keeper and vet facilities before shops.
- Only then buy animals and check welfare.
Multiple zoos and accreditation
- Reputation is per zoo, and accreditation counts zoos at 3 stars.
- Storage is shared across the Franchise — a second zoo can hold overflow stock.
- Reserves are separate from zoos and carry the biodiversity rating.
FAQ
Common questions about this topic.
Should a second zoo be flat or sculpted?
Flat if you want to build quickly and test a species; sculpted if the zoo is meant to earn reputation.
Does a second zoo share storage?
Yes, storage is a Franchise-level capacity; the tier table lists +50 as a tier-4 reward.
Is the Taiga terrain bug still present?
No — 1.0.5 resolved the Wildlife Reserve terrain option being selected incorrectly.