No zoo would be complete without guests to enjoy and learn more about the animals that call it home.
Guest Needs
All guests are unique. However, they do enter the zoo with a set of needs that they wish to fulfil or at least maintain.
Happiness
At 100% this indicates that the guest is as happy as possible, but over time the happiness level will tick down, meaning that the guest is becoming unhappy.
Low values for hunger, thirst, toilet, and energy will pull a guest's happiness down quickly, along with protesters, litter, vandalism, overcharging, nearby staff facilities and poorly looked after animals.
If guests become particularly unhappy for a period of time, then they will leave the zoo.
Happiness can be increased by giving the guests great views of healthy animals, providing them with interesting scenery, selling them souvenirs, charging fairly and sustaining their other needs.
Happy guests are more likely to spend money in the zoo, so it’s in your interest to keep them happy.
Hunger
At 100% this indicates that the guest is full, but over time the hunger level will tick down meaning that the guest is getting hungrier.
This need can be improved by the guest visiting a food shop, vending machine or restaurant.
Thirst
At 100% this indicates that the guest is fully hydrated, but over time the thirst level will tick down meaning that the guest is getting thirstier.
This need can be improved by the guest visiting a drink shop or a vending machine.
Toilet
At 100% this indicates that the guest has recently been to the bathroom, but over time, the toilet level will tick down meaning that the guest is becoming increasingly desperate.
This need can be satisfied by the guest visiting a bathroom.
Energy
At 100% this indicates that the guest is full of vigour and enthusiasm, but over time, the guest's energy level will tick down meaning that the guest is becoming tired.
This need can be improved by guests using benches, transport rides and some drink types such as coffee.
Education
Guests enter the zoo with no education and have a desire to learn new things during their visit.
Education can be increased through animal talks, education boards, conservation boards, education speakers and audio guides. The amount of education provided by these depends on the research level of the animal being highlighted.
A better educated guest will want to spend more cash in your zoo; the higher a guest's education the bigger the bonus to their spending.
Make sure they have plenty of opportunities to learn and spend!
Guest Wish Lists
Guests have a wish list of animals they particularly want to see on their visit. Animals on this wish list are more likely to attract the guest's attention and therefore steer them through the zoo.
Guests get a boost to happiness for viewing animals on their wish list, providing the animals are healthy at the time of viewing. Animals on wish lists are more likely to attract guests to use donation boxes and to purchase adoption packs at souvenir shops.
Guests Leaving
Guests will leave the zoo for any of the following reasons:
- They have seen all of the animals.
- They have run out of time.
- They are particularly unhappy.
- They are fleeing an escaped animal.
Protestors
Protesters will enter your zoo if an animal's overall welfare rating falls into the red zone. A well-run zoo should not see protests!
Once protestors have entered a zoo they will make their way to the animal's location before loudly protesting. Guests in proximity to protesters will have the animal's plight highlighted to them and this will in turn make them unhappy and may even cause them to leave the zoo!
In this way protesters aim to improve the welfare of animals by having an impact on the zoo's profitability.
Protesters cannot be forcefully removed from the zoo and will only leave once the animal's welfare has been raised, and maintained at this improved level, for a period of time.
Inspectors
The inspector periodically enters zoos to make sure they are being well run and that animals are being looked after. They will choose up to five animals to inspect and will make their way around the zoo attempting to ascertain the animals’ wellbeing.
Animals are assumed to be in fine condition until proved otherwise. An animal that cannot be inspected is assumed to be in the worst condition possible. The inspector can issue spot fines for poorly performing habitats, dead or sick animals and any form of escape.
Once the inspection is complete, a report is issued providing details as to the running state of the zoo.
Reporters
The reporter acts in a very similar way to the inspector, periodically entering the zoo to check on how well it's being run. The key difference is the reporter cares about more than just the animals - they will also check your zoo's Cleanliness, Crime, Education, Finances, Guests and Staff.
Once the Reporter has finished, a report will be issued providing details as to the running state of your zoo.