In brief: Planet Zoo 2, the sequel to the million-selling zookeeping simulation game, features a Channel Islands map inspired by Jersey, Guernsey and Herm, giving Gerald Durrell’s conservation legacy a fresh audience of millions worldwide. Jersey Zoo’s commercial director says the game could spark a new generation’s passion for wildlife conservation.
A Zoo in Your Living Room
Gerald Durrell spent his life trying to convince the world that saving species from extinction was not merely a worthy cause but an urgent one. He probably did not anticipate that his greatest recruitment drive would one day come via a PlayStation 5, but here we are. Planet Zoo 2, developed by Frontier Developments and released on 13 October on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, gives players the chance to build, manage and customise their very own Jersey-inspired zoo, complete with a dedicated Channel Islands map.
The game’s predecessor, Planet Zoo, was released on 5 November 2019 and sold over a million copies by May 2020, earning critical acclaim for its attention to detail and its emphasis on wildlife conservation. The sequel has raised the bar further, and for Jersey Zoo, the timing could hardly be better.
Jersey Goes Global
Ian Osborne, commercial director at Jersey Zoo, was understandably enthusiastic. “Who hasn’t dreamed of following in Gerald Durrell’s footsteps and creating a zoo of their own?” he said, according to the Jersey Evening Post. “Gerald’s vision began with a love of animals and a determination to save species from extinction, and it’s wonderful to think that Planet Zoo 2 could spark that same passion in a new generation.”
Osborne added that it was “particularly exciting to see a Channel Islands map, bringing a little of our Island life to players around the world,” and suggested that Jersey’s newfound prominence in the international gaming landscape could open doors for further collaboration. “We hope there will be opportunities to collaborate with the developers in the future,” he said, “sharing how Gerald’s dream grew into a global conservation movement and inspiring players to turn their love of wildlife into action to protect threatened species across the world.”
Frontier Developments confirmed to the Jersey Evening Post that the Channel Islands map is “closely inspired by elements of Jersey and Guernsey,” with the location and landscape more closely based on Herm. A member of the development team is from the area and contributed their local knowledge to ensure the region was replicated “in a considered way, taking into account the incredible landscape.” The developers said they were eager to see how players would use the setting to “build breathtaking zoos, aquariums and aviaries, before releasing their animals into our stunning Wildlife Reserves.”
Conservation Through a Controller
The partnership, informal as it currently is, represents something genuinely interesting: a globally distributed entertainment product carrying a conservation message rooted firmly in a small island in the English Channel. Frontier Developments ran an extensive marketing campaign ahead of the release, meaning the Channel Islands map was promoted to a worldwide audience well before the game launched. For a zoo whose entire founding philosophy was built on reaching beyond its physical boundaries, that is no small thing.
Durrell’s original vision was always about more than the animals in his care on Trinity Hill. It was about changing minds, shifting attitudes and building what Osborne describes as “a global conservation movement.” A video game reaching millions of players across multiple continents is, in its own peculiar way, entirely consistent with that ambition.
Source: Jersey Evening Post
