zookeepers

[mrspiggy]

Can anyone tell me why the zookeepers just stand around and let the exhibits fill up with poo????

 

Every time I turn on ZTCC1 to play, I have to spend time picking up the the keepers and putting them in the exhibits. Sometimes they are inside the exhibits and are just standing there...it's very frustrating and time consuming. :wife:

[fountain]

Some ideas:

 

- Some animals are extra fussy e.g., Caribbean Flamingo will not tolerate any 'poo' in their exhibit.

 

- Try reducing the number of animals in the problem exhibit and see if the keeper responds and maintains the exhibit.

 

- Try adding a roving zoo keeper who helps out wherever needed i.e., not assigned to any exhibit OR assigned a many exhibits 8-10. Give this zookeeper a special name such as 'Rover' to find 'em easier to pick up and move.

 

- Try assigning #1 zookeeper to 3-4 exhibits, then add #2 zookeeper 3-4 exhibits overlap some assignments.

 

Example: #1 lion, elephant, flamingo, hippo

#2 flamingo, giraffe, zebra

#3 gazelle, cheetah, zebra

#4 hyena, warthog, rhino, gazelle

#5 wild dog, leopard, hyena

 

Generally herds and packs of animals will produce more poo in their exhibits.

 

- If keeper is overwhelmed, keeper may not function again even after you place 'em in exhibit and is given extra help. If so, fire 'em and hire new.

 

- Exhibit fencing. If you have changed the fencing or accidentally deleted then replaced some fence the game will automatically remove that exhibit from the zookeeper's assignment list.

 

Hope this helps.

[(Admin)Cricket]

I also always make sure I have completed Research on the following items ...

 

for regular zoo animals:

Staff Education

Animal Enrichment

 

if including dinosaurs:

Dinosaur Care

T.rex care

Scientist Training

if including aquatic/tankable animals:

Aquatic Animal Care

M. Specialist Training

... and any of the research for the animal tricks if you are going to use any show tanks :)

[Ashea]

If you have blocked zookeepers so they will stay in a certain area, make sure that they have access to an area outside of the exhibits so they can leave. I have found that will help also. I think it may reset a value so they will go back in and start to work again.

[mrspiggy]

thanks everyone for your ideas and advise. I went back to double check the zookeepers and I found the grizzly keeper was not going into the exhibit even though there were 5 piles of poo. The only thing I noticed was the the exhibit door looked to be slightly opened. I finally had to pick her up and put her inside the exhibit. Then I did as Fountain suggested, I also assigned the grizzly keeper to the black bear exhibit and vise versa. Will see if that helps.

[fountain]

You could also look at 1)rock placement: see below

 

Look at the zkeep at the left-center. At the sq of rock. There used to be 2sq of rock behind. If there were only 3 rocks in 2 side-by-side sq the keeper might walk thru the rocks to get to the poo on that jut of land surrounded by 3sq of water. I had 4 rocks in 2 side-by-side (or one directly back of other) sq & keeper would not cross the rocks to rake poo. When I removed one sq of rocks and dropped keeper a few sq away, then the keeper spotted the poo & raked.

 

Sometimes it is trial and error to figure out the problem.

 

I never trap my keepers in just one exhibit; I think they need the exercise ;-)

 

Pix below: notice there are 3 ponds in this Russian swan goose exhibit. I just today figured out water in a land exhibit does not have to be connected. So this design of ponds gives the keeper more than one route to rake poo not get stuck and,I hope, reduce the number "Keeper having trouble reaching poo/ill animal" messages. The animal still has enough swim in and I think with well placed cattails and lily pads the exhibit looks more like a wetland area.

 

Good luck!

 

 

[Ashea]

good idea fountain with the water. I don't actually trap my keepers in one exhibit - I do give them some room to roam outside the exhibit, just not too much. If I don't trap them I will find my keepers for the back of the zoo all the way to the front, even if they are assigned to the ones in the back.

[Firehawke]

I've noticed that sometimes my zookeepers can't get to the poo because of foliage blocking the way or having to walk over too much elevation. Good luck!