A good habitat does three things: it keeps the animal happy, keeps the animal inside, and lets guests actually see it. Most new players get the first and third right and then lose a leopard over the fence, so this guide starts with fences (the game calls them barriers).
Planning before you draw
- Read the Zoopedia for land area, water area, deep water, shelter, barrier height and grade, and climbing needs.
- Lay out habitats first in a new area, because they're size-critical. Shops and staff areas can flex around them.
- Draw temporary barriers and pin the species to check the size before decorating.
- Think sightlines. Where will guests stand? Habitats double- and triple-dip in real zoos: an above-water view, an underwater window and a raised overlook.
The online Zoopedia on the official site is handy for planning a whole area, because you can filter animals by region and type.
Barrier grades and heights
Each species needs a minimum barrier height and grade (strength), and some need climb-proof barriers.
| Species | Requirement seen |
|---|---|
| Warthog | At least 1.25 m (they jump) |
| Sable antelope | Above 1.25 m |
| Golden eagle | 1 m, grade 2 (aviary netting) |
| Asian small-clawed otter | 1.25 m, grade 2 |
| Eurasian lynx | 1.8 m minimum (3 m to be safe) |
| Sun bear | ~9 ft, grade 3, climb-proof |
| Grey wolf / gharial | ~4 m worked well |
| Sumatran tiger / orangutan | ~5 m |
| Reef sharks | 1 m above the water line |
The guest-height trick
A 1.25 m wall blocks the view for children. Draw the barrier, then lower the terrain on the animal side so the wall is 1.25 m for the animal but only about 80 cm from the path. Drawing a path along the inside edge first gives you a clean line to push the terrain down to.
Null barriers and natural edges
A null barrier is invisible. Use it where terrain, rock or a building already forms the edge: a steep cliff, a moat, the back wall of a staff building. Null barriers occasionally refuse to place (a temporary bug some players hit), so be ready to fall back on concrete hidden behind rocks.
One-way glass
Barrier sections can be glass or one-way glass. One-way glass lets guests see in without the animal seeing out, which is useful for shy or stressed species.
Hiding fences
In good real-world zoos fences are hidden behind rocks and planting, which reduces stress for the animals. In Planet Zoo 2 you can disguise barriers with mud-wall pieces and rocks. Just re-check the traversable area afterwards in case a rock became a ramp.
How animals escape (and how to stop them)
Escapes almost always come from objects near the edge:
- Trees next to the fence: a leopard climbed one and dropped out.
- Rocks and boulders: wolves and antelope use them as launch pads, and zebra foals jumped onto a low rock.
- Structures: zebras jumped onto a building ledge.
After decorating, open the traversable area heat map. It colours in every spot the selected animal can walk, climb or jump to. Select an animal and unpause for a moment so it updates. Fix any area outside the barrier by moving the object or raising the fence locally.
When an escape happens, the game raises a dangerous animal escaped alert. Use emergency capture; the animal is boxed and returned automatically.
Gates and staff access
- Every habitat needs a habitat (staff) gate connected to a staff path.
- Real zoos never use a single gate. A double-door airlock layout with a small holding area looks realistic.
- Gates need a little flat tolerance around them, or the path won't connect.
- A larger decorative door beside the in-game gate makes it look like the space where transport crates actually go in.
- To make vets use your decorative door rather than walking through a wall, lay a wooden fence barrier over the wall and delete it. This cuts the path underneath.
Terrain inside the habitat
- Paint the target mix (sand, soil, grass, rock, waterlogged) from the welfare tab.
- Keep some natural undulation. Flatten only where you need to.
- Smooth one side of every pond so animals can get in and out.
- Make a custom nature brush for repeated mixes (desert pebbles plus rocks, say).
Shelter, water and the habitat checklist
- Shelter area met, and the animal can fit through the entrance
- Clean drinking water (pump or filter connected)
- Terrain mix in range
- Plant coverage in range (not over!)
- Food and toy enrichment
- Temperature in range (heater or cooler)
- Traversable map checked for escapes
- Education board, donation bin and bench nearby
- Habitat added to a work zone