One of the main features of Zoo Tycoon 2's Challenge Mode is to periodically give the player challenges. These challenges vary greatly and are all completely optional to the player. However, completing certain numbers of different challenges will give the player objects and themes they can use in Freeform mode or in future Campaign modes. One challenge will be immediately provided to start off with in Challenge Mode. Photo Challenges and Game Challenges can run simultaneously.
Zoo Tycoon 2 Challenges[]
One of the two forms of Challenges, Photo Challenges require taking photos of animals, guests or buildings. Completing five of these in a single campaign will unlock the Jungle Theme for future zoos. The second of the two common forms of Challenges, Game Challenges can vary greatly in their demands. They may ask for a certain amount of donations within a time frame, a certain amount of animals to be adopted and/or taken care of within a period of time and many others. Completing five of these within a single campaign will unlock the Safari Theme for future zoos.
Free Admissions[]
Description: Your local city council and animal welfare society want to run a "Free Admission" promotion at your zoo for community residents. They hope to deliver the message that proper care and feeding is essential to all animals, and that domestic animals deserve the same attention as the exotic animals in your zoo. They have agreed to pay you an upfront fee of $2,500. This promotion will last for up to one month as long as your animals remain healthy. At the end of the promotion period, if no animals became ill, you will receive an additional $2,500 and additional compensation for your lost admissions fees. If an animal becomes ill, the promotion will end immediately. You'll receive no further compensation and the animal will be removed from your facility.
Difficulty: Easy
Reward: $2,500 upfront, $2,500 upon successful completion
Failure: An animal becomes ill, they will be removed from the zoo as well.
Requirements: No income from admissions for a month.
Availability:About 1 star of zoo fame
| Notes |
|---|
| This is a highly lucrative challenge to recieve at the beginning of the game, essentially netting 4 half a star animals. It's very difficult to make an animal sick. Even if animals aren't cared for effectively, one month is a short amount of time for them to get sick. In the early game, only $500 of attendance money a month will be recieved, so the trade-off is worthwhile. |
Alfred Windsor School of Photography[]
Description: The Alfred Winsor School of Photography would like you to provide them with a photo to use as a sample during the wildlife photography segment of their curriculum. They need only one photograph, but to make it more interesting for the students they would like it to be a snapshot that contains at least two animals. In return for this photograph, they will present you with the Alfred Winsor Photography Award of Merit that you can display as an example of your efforts to help the community. You will also receive $2,000 licensing fee.
Difficulty: Easy
Reward: The Alfred Winsor Photography Award in-game award and $2,000
Failure: There is no failure for this challenge and it can be declined later in the Camera Mode.
Requirements: One photo with at least two or more animals in the shot
Availability:From about 1 star of Zoo Fame
New Zoo Brochure[]
Description: The marketing department is preparing a new zoo brochure and has requested pictures of the following:
- A guest holding an ice cold soda
- A guest sitting on a bench
Providing these picture will help improve your zoo fame as flyers promoting your zoo begin to circulate around your community.
Difficulty: Easy
Reward: Improved zoo fame
Failure: There is no failure for this challenge and it can be declined later in the Camera Mode.
Requirements: One photo of a guest holding a soda and one photo of a guest sitting on a bench (Note: picnic benches do not count)
Availability:From about 1 star of Zoo Fame
The Axel Charitable Foundation[]
Description: The Axel Charitable Foundation has declared your zoo eligiable for their matching funds program, which helps out newer or smaller zoos. If you can raise more than $1,500.00 in donations during the next 30 days the foundation will contribute an equal amount to your zoo.
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Reward: A cash grant that matches the player's donations received in the 30-day period
Failure: No cash grant will be recieved from the foundation
Requirements: Raise over $1,500 in donations within 30-days
Availability:1/2-1 star of zoo fame
Stress Management Associates[]
Expansions Required: None
Description: Stress Mangement Associates is a consulting firm that specializes in stress level reduction. The company just started working with zoos and would like your zoo to help the firm demonstrate stress management techniques.
According to Stress Management Associates, fatigue is the number one cause of guest stress. A well-rested zoo guest is a happy zoo guest! If you can run your zoo for two months without a total of five different guests reaching a critical rest need, Stress Management Associates will donate $5,000 to your zoo as a thans for demonstrating the firm's stress reduction techniques. As a bonus, your guests will be happier. (Hint: Make sure plenty of benches, tables, and gazebos are distributed throughout your zoo)
Difficulty: Various
Reward: $5,000 and increased Guest happiness
Failure: The $5,000 reward will not be recieved
Requirements: Run the zoo for two months without five different guests reaching a critical rest need
Availability: From about 1 star of zoo fame
Drab Looking Zoo[]
Expansions Required: None
Description: Your guests are growing bored with your zoo's drab look! They're especially tired of seeing all those chain link fences. If you can upgrade all the chain link fence in your zoo to something different within the next month, you'll be rewarded with extra guests and increased zoo fame. But if you have any chain link fence left in your zoo after the month is over, slightly fewer guests will visit your zoo in the month following!
Difficulty: Various
Reward: Increased guest attendance and increased zoo fame
Failure: Decreased guest attendance for the next month
Requirements: Replace all the chain link fences with a different fence within the month
Availability: From about 2 star of zoo fame, must have at least one exhibit with the chain link fence
Earthquake![]
Description: A small earthquake has struck your zoo! Fortunately, none of your guests or animals was hurt. However, the quake has destroyed some of your fences and alarmed the animals. The Disaster Relief Fund has offered you an aid package to reimburse you for the broken fences. Once you have replaced or removed all the broken fences in your zoo, the fund will grant you $3,000 in cash.
Difficulty: Moderate
Reward: $3,000
Failure: There is no failure to this challenge, however it cannot be refused
Requirements: Replace or destroy all the broken fences in the zoo
Availability:From about 1 1/2 star of zoo fame
Endangered Species Challenges[]
These challenges require the Endangered Species Expansion Pack in order to appear in the game. These challenges with have the (Endangered Species Challenge) prefix before the challenge description. Complete two of these within a campaign to receive the Endangered Species Theme for future zoos.
Endangered Animals Alliance[]
Description: The Endangered Animals Alliance is offering your zoo a free endangered species that you don't currently have. However, the alliance wants proof that your zoo is committed to conserving endangered species. Provide the alliance with photos of three different endangered species from your zoo, and the alliance will give you a free animal. The animals must be happy for your photos to qualify!
Difficulty: Moderate
Reward: A free endangered animal not currently in the zoo
Failure: There is no failure for this challenge and it can be declined later in the Camera Mode.
Requirements: Take three photos of three different, happy endangered animals
Availability:About 2 1/2 stars of zoo fame
Hit the Road[]
Description: The magazine Zoo Fan Quarterly is preparing an article about successful zoo tours called "Hit the Road" for a future issue. If you can raise $1,000 in donations from a Jeep® vehicle tour within the next two months, Zoo Fan Quarterly will describe your accomplishment in their next issue. If you succeed. the good publicity will attract extra quest to your zoo and increase your zoo fame. If you fail though, attendance at your zoo will decline slightly.
Difficulty: Hard
Reward: Increased Zoo Fame and guest attendance
Failure: Slightly decreased guest attendance
Requirements: Raise $1,000 in donations from a Jeep® vehicle tour within the next two months.
Availability:From about 1 star of zoo fame
Alternate Transport Alliance[]
Description: The Alternate Transport Alliance wants to nationally publicize your zoo as a showcase for the transportation of the future--the clean, efficient sky tram. The Alliance has issued the following challenge: If you agree to build a sky tram system, the alliance will give you a $5,000 grant right now. If you transport 50 guests on your sky tram within the next two months the alliance will give you another $5,000 after two months. However, if you fail to transport 50 guests within the allotted time, the resulting bad publicity will cause attendance to your zoo to decline slightly.
Difficulty: Hard
Reward: $10,000 cash grant overall
Failure: Slightly decreased guest attendance
Requirements: Build a sky tram system and transport 50 guest on it within the next two months.
Availability:From about 2 1/2 stars of zoo fame
African Adventures Challenges[]
Animal Awareness Day[]
Description: The board of directors of the National Animal Association has sent out a request to zoos nationwide. "Animal" Awareness Day is two months away and they would like all member zoos to have at least one animal of this species on-site within that time period. Their promotional campaign will be extensive and if you have one of these animals on your zoo within two months, you will benefit not only from increased attendance but also from the $1,325.00 cash grant available to all participating members.
Difficulty: Variable
Reward: Increased attendance (of about 18 guests) and $1,325.00.
Availability:Either from the beginning or at 1 star.
| Notes: |
|---|
| Even if the animal needed is bought immediately and has a path to its exhibit, the 2-month period must still pass. |
African Conservation Consortium[]
Description: The African Conservation Consortium is devoted to preserving African wildlife. The Consortium has offer your zoo a cash grant of $20,000 if you can breed three different species of African animals within three months.
Difficulty: Challenging
Reward: $20,000 cash grant
Failure: the $20,000 cash grant will not be recieved
Requirements: Breed three different African species within six months
Availability:From about 3 1/2 stars of zoo fame
Marine Mania Challenges[]
These challenges require the Marine Mania Expansion Pack in order to appear. Complete two of these challenges withing a campaign to obtain the Tuna Live Food enrichment item for future aquatic exhibits.
Worldwide Rays[]
Description: Worldwide Rays is a conservation group devoted to raising the public awareness of rays and skates worldwide. If you adopt three manta rays in a month, the group will feature your zoo in an upcoming television special. The resulting publicity should attract more guest to your zoo and slightly increase yout zoo fame.
Difficulty: Easy
Reward: Increased Zoo Fame and guest attendance
Failure:
Requirements: Adopt three manta rays in a month
Availability:From the beginning
Aquatic Amusemement Inc.[]
Description: Aquatic Amusements Inc. wants to sell their marine-inspired gift items at your zoo at your zoo, but they need to see that you're committed to displaying marine animals first. If you raise $500 in donations for marine animals within two months, Aquatic Amusements will donate a free marine gift cart to your zoo.
Difficulty: Easy
Reward: A free marine gift cart
Failure: No free marine gift cart
Requirements: Raise $500 in donations for marine animals
Availability:From the beginning
Marine Oceanic University[]
Description: Marine Oceanic University is conducting a study on ways to educate the public on marine ecosystems. If you chose to participate by accepting this challenge, you must pay a $500 fee and hire two additional educators for a minimum of two months.
If you fire one or both of the educators during the two-month study period, you will fail the challenge. However, if you can retain them for two months, the university will donate a baby whale shark to your zoo!
Tip: Don't forget to buy podiums for you new educators and place them near your most popular exhibits. You'll find that educators greatly increase the money you earn from educational donations.
Difficulty: Moderate
Reward: A free baby whale shark
Failure: No baby whale shark
Requirements: Pay a $500 fee and hire two educators for a minimum of two months
Availability:From the beginning
Promotional Posters[]
Description: Your public relations department has a plan to brighten up your zoo and attract more business. The public relations experts feel that a series of promotional posters showing a series of guests enjoying themselves will draw more people to your zoo and also bring a smile to visitors already in the park. They want you to take three different photos for the poster:
- A guest dancing next to a sound rock
- A guest talking to a hand puppet gift item
- A guest mimicking one of these animals
Hint: Young guests like to mimic cats, moose, flamingos, kangaroos, chimps, and gorillas.
Difficulty: Moderate
Reward: Increased attendance and guest happiness. Possible zoo fame increase due to guest happiness.
Availability: From about 1 star of Zoo Fame
| Notes: |
|---|
| This can be a very a difficult challenge. It should not be accepted unless one of the aforementioned animals children can mimic is present, or a Marine Mania animal that has a puppet item tied to it (Narwhal, Blacktip & Great White Sharks). Even then, it can take 5 minutes or more til a child starts mimicking an animal. Make sure to keep checking children's Guest Status tab to see what action they perform. The earliest this challenge can be compelted is at 3 stars of zoo fame because of the animal requirement for a hand puppet. |
Manta Ray Breaching[]
Description: Very little is known about manta rays, so the scientists at Marine Oceanic University are studying them. They want to learn why these magnificent creatures sometimes breach, or jump out of the ocean and into the air, while swimming.
The researchers at the university will pay you $1,250 if you take a photo of a manta ray breaching. The researchers say that the mantas appear to breach to improve their hygiene. To improve your chances of seeing a manta breach don't clean the manta or give it hygiene-improving item like the clam bubbler.
Difficulty: Easy
Reward: $1,250
Failure: There is no failure for this challenge if you don't wish to continue this challenge you can decline it later in the Camera Mode.
Requirements: A photo of a manta ray breaching
Availability:From the beginning
Rescued Manatee[]
Description: The gentle, slow-moving manatee often rests in shallow water, which can cause them many problems, particularly in areas where people use power boats. Every year dozens of manatees are killed or seriously injured in collisions with power boats.
Marine biologists at Marine Oceanic University rescued a manatee injured by a power boat. The researchers would like your zoo to care for the manatee, and then release it into the wild after it fully recovers. If you release the manatee back into the wild within two months, the university will donate a pilot whale to your zoo.
Difficulty: Moderate
Reward: A free pilot whale
Failure: No free pilot whale
Requirements: Release the given manatee into the wild within two months
Availability:About 2 1/2 stars of zoo fame
Marine Show Challenges[]
These challenges require the Marine Mania Expansion Pack in order to appear. These challenges with have the (Marine Show Challenge) prefix before the challenge description. All of these Challenges involve show animals and shows in some way. Complete two of these challenges within a campaign to obtain the Big Screen TV item for future marine shows.
Delia the Dolphin[]
Description: Delia, the world-famous performing dolphin, is touring the country. If you pay a $3,000 booking fee Delia will stay at your zoo for two months. Having a famous dolphin like Delia in your show could do wonders for its star rating and donations. Star performers require lots of attention, though. If any of Delia's needs go critical at any time during her visit, she'll leave your zoo immediately, and the resulting bad press will make the zoo slightly less popular. Keep a close eye on her needs, especially when she's performing
Difficulty: Moderate
Reward: Delia will help increase a show's star rating and donations
Failure: Decreased zoo fame
Requirements: Pay the $3,000 booking fee for Delia and do not allow her needs to drop to critical during her two-month stay
Availability:About 2 1/2 stars of zoo fame
Extinct Animals Challenges[]
Ancient Animals Monthy[]
Description: Ancient Animals Monthy wants to do a future story about animals brought back from extinction. If you can acquire four animals from four different extinct species in the next two months, your zoo's name gets in the headline!
Difficulty: Easy
Reward: Increased Zoo Fame and $3,500
Failure:
Requirements: Four animals from different extinct species.
Availability:From the beginning
Fossils in Storage[]
Description: Researchers at the local science museum recently came across a collection of fossil pieces in storage. They need your help in putting the pieces together. They know that the fossilised bones are from the [Species]. If you assemble the pieces in one month or less, they are going to give you the research needed to create the animal in your Extinction Lab. They are asking for a $2,000 deposit, in case you aren't able to piece together their fossil. Don't worry - you get the $2,000 back if you succeed.
Difficulty: Easy
Reward: A complete fossil for free, ready to be revived
Failure: The $2,000 deposit will not be returned
Requirements: Complete the given fossil in a month or less.
Availability: After placing a Extinct Researcher Centre
| Notes: |
|---|
| The fossils recieved are from a randomly determined species. |
Dinosaur Eggs[]
Description: A group of scientists developed a process to create dinosaur eggs. By paying a sponsorship fee, you can get one of their first eggs, but the scientists can't guarantee the species. You might get a more common Styracosaurus or a rare Tyrannosaurus rex. To accept this challenge, pay the $12,000 sponsorship fee for the new dinosaur to be delivered in a crate near your zoo's entrance.
Difficulty: Various
Reward: Any possible dinosaur (but not Extinct Animal) from the meek Velicoraptor to the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex.
Failure: There is no real way to fail this challenge, however there is a chance to recieve a common dinosaur
Requirements: Pay the $12,000 sponsorship fee to receive a dinosaur
Availability: About 1 1/2 stars of zoo fame
| Notes: |
|---|
| The average worth of all dinosaurs is $14,687 if we are not counting the fluctuated price of Extinct Animals. Accepting the challenge therefore, on average, is worth the sponsorship fee. Furthermore, the average dinosaur Zoo Fame requirement is about two and a half or three stars, which means accepting the challenge early can yield a higher quality animal than the player can purchase. |
Tips and Tricks[]
- For Challenges requiring the acquisition of animals, they can be crated and still count towards the total.
- Photos do not have to be masterpieces. Quick and rough ones will do if they met the challenge requirements. Especially when trying to photograph rare and/or quick animal behaviours.
- When a challenge requires "endangered" animals/species, critically endangered species will also count for these challenges. Extinct animals, however, will not, even if they are a recently extinct species like the quagga or thylacine.