Planet Zoo 2 takes conservation beyond your zoo gates with Wildlife Reserves, one of the biggest additions in the series. Instead of just keeping animals healthy and happy in enclosures, you can now release them into real-world biome locations across three continents. There are 6 reserves at launch, each tied to a specific biome and continent, with strict environmental requirements you need to meet before any animal can be set free. Here's everything you need to know.
How many Wildlife Reserves are in Planet Zoo 2?
Planet Zoo 2 launches with 6 Wildlife Reserves spread across Africa, Europe, and Asia. Two are set in Africa, three cover different parts of Europe, and one sits in Asia. North America, South America, and Australia have no reserves at launch, which leaves obvious gaps that future DLC could fill.
Each reserve is tied to a specific biome, which directly determines which animals can be released there. A Grassland reserve won't accept the same species as a Taiga one, so planning your zoo's breeding programs around these requirements pays off early.
Planet Zoo 2 Guide: All Wildlife Reserves & Releasable Animals
All Planet Zoo 2 Wildlife Reserves and their releasable animals
Below is the full breakdown of every reserve, sorted by continent.
Africa
Both African reserves share the Grassland biome, which means their animal lists overlap heavily. The Tanzania Reserve has a slight edge over the Great Rift Valley Reserve in terms of species variety, including the Common Ostrich and Thomson's Gazelle, which the Great Rift Valley does not accept.
| Reserve Name | Continent | Biome | Unique to This Reserve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Rift Valley Reserve | Africa | Grassland | Meerkat, Springbok (shared with Tanzania) |
| Tanzania Reserve | Africa | Grassland | Common Ostrich, Thomson's Gazelle |
Animals releasable to both African reserves: African Leopard, African Savannah Elephant, African Tigerfish, African Wild Dog, Black Rhinoceros, Black Wildebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Blunthead Cichlid, Cape Buffalo, Common Hippopotamus, Common Warthog, Gemsbok, Greater Flamingo, Lion, Masai Giraffe, Nile Monitor, Nyala, Plains Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Sable Antelope, Secretarybird, Shoebill, Spotted Hyena, Springbok, White-Backed Vulture.
Tanzania Reserve only: Common Ostrich, Thomson's Gazelle.
Great Rift Valley Reserve only: Meerkat.
Planet Zoo 2 Guide: All Wildlife Reserves & Releasable Animals
Europe
Europe has 3 reserves split between two biomes: Temperate and Taiga. The Poland Reserve is the only Temperate one. The Scottish Highlands and Sweden Reserve both run Taiga biomes, with Sweden being the more species-rich of the two thanks to the addition of the Eurasian Brown Bear.
| Reserve Name | Continent | Biome | Notable Exclusives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poland Reserve | Europe | Temperate | European Bison (unique to Poland) |
| Scottish Highlands | Europe | Taiga | Eurasian Lynx, Mountain Hare |
| Sweden Reserve | Europe | Taiga | Eurasian Brown Bear, Eurasian Lynx, Mountain Hare |
Animals shared across all three European reserves: Brown Trout, Common Rudd, Eurasian Beaver, Golden Eagle, Grey Wolf, Long-Eared Owl, Red Deer, White-Tailed Sea Eagle, Wild Boar.
Poland Reserve only: European Bison.
Scottish Highlands and Sweden Reserve (Taiga only): Eurasian Lynx, Mountain Hare.
Sweden Reserve only: Eurasian Brown Bear.
Asia
The Sumatra Reserve is the only Asian reserve at launch and sits in a Tropical biome. It hosts some of the most recognizable endangered species in the game, including the Sumatran Tiger, Sumatran Orangutan, and Sunda Pangolin. The fish species here (Clown Loach, Giant Gourami) also reflect the tropical aquatic additions.
Full Sumatra Reserve animal list: Asian Elephant, Asian Small-Clawed Otter, Binturong, Clown Loach, Giant Gourami, Great Hornbill, Long-Tailed Parakeet, Malayan Tapir, North Sulawesi Babirusa, Saltwater Crocodile, Siamang, Sumatran Orangutan, Sumatran Tiger, Sun Bear, Sunda Pangolin.
Planet Zoo 2 Guide: All Wildlife Reserves & Releasable Animals
What are the environmental requirements for releasing animals?
Each Wildlife Reserve has specific conditions that need to be met before you can release animals into it. These include having the correct habitat type established and ensuring adequate food sources are present in the reserve. Meeting these requirements is not automatic, so building out your reserve properly before attempting any release is worth the extra time.
The system is designed to make conservation feel earned. You can't just drop a Lion into the Great Rift Valley and call it a day. The reserve needs to support the animal's survival first, which adds a layer of planning that separates casual play from proper long-term zoo management.
Quick reference: All reserves at a glance
| Reserve Name | Continent | Biome | Total Releasable Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Rift Valley Reserve | Africa | Grassland | 27 |
| Tanzania Reserve | Africa | Grassland | 29 |
| Poland Reserve | Europe | Temperate | 11 |
| Scottish Highlands | Europe | Taiga | 11 |
| Sweden Reserve | Europe | Taiga | 12 |
| Sumatra Reserve | Asia | Tropical | 15 |
Will more Wildlife Reserves be added?
Given that Wildlife Reserves are one of the headline features of Planet Zoo 2, more locations seem like a natural fit for post-launch content. The current gaps (no Americas, no Australia, no South or East Asia beyond Sumatra) are hard to ignore. Whether those additions arrive as free updates or paid DLC is not confirmed at launch.
For a broader look at what's available across the full game, the Planet Zoo 2 guides collection covers everything from animal care to zoo management strategies. Planet Zoo 2 sits firmly among the best simulation games available right now, and the Wildlife Reserve system is a big reason why the sequel feels like a meaningful step forward from its predecessor.
