How to release animals into a Wildlife Reserve

To release animals into a Planet Zoo 2 Wildlife Reserve, put eligible animals in Animal Storage, create a Release Group, add its members and finalise it. Then choose a suitable Established Ecosystem in the reserve; some groups require Flourishing. Finalising a group prevents its animals from returning to your zoo.

1 · ZooStorage → species → group members

2 · CommitmentCheck requirements → finalise

3 · ReserveSuitable Ecosystem → release

1. Put eligible animals in Storage

Select the animal’s Info Panel and use Send animal to Storage in Trade Centre, or Move → Animal Trading Centre. Animal moves require a Trade Centre connected to the main path network. Newly adopted animals arrive in Animal Storage, but being in Storage does not automatically satisfy a group’s eligibility requirements.

2. Create the Release Group

Open Animal Trading & Storage → Release Groups in the zoo. In a Wildlife Reserve, build a Research Outpost before using its Release Groups tab.

1. Choose Create Release Group.
2. Select the species. Research may be needed before it is available.
3. Choose a Group Type, then Create.
4. Open Edit Group Members and add eligible animals from Storage. Follow the membership conditions displayed for that group; do not apply another species’ group size.

The Release Group record separates species research, membership and finalisation. For a lynx-related tutorial, these are still the correct system checks; this guide does not promise a particular tutorial reward or gift trigger.

3. Check before finalising

Irreversible step: once you finalise a Release Group, its animals cannot return to your zoo. Confirm the destination and your choice of release before committing.

Before you finalise

Eligible animals are in Animal Storage.Group Type and member requirements are satisfied.A suitable Established or required Flourishing Ecosystem is ready.I accept that finalising prevents returning these animals to my zoo.Reset checklist

Choose Release to Wildlife Reserve for a reserve destination. Quick Release is a different action that provides immediate Conservation Credits; it is not the same as placing the animals in an Ecosystem you manage.

4. Prepare the target Ecosystem

Use Planet Hub to choose a suitable reserve and Travel to Wildlife Reserve. With the Ecosystem Brush, choose the ecosystem type and paint its area. Inspect its Area, Terrain and Nature requirements, plus water or elevation where required. Selecting a Nature requirement filters the Browser to the objects needed.

Use the requirement panel to prepare the area; a visually attractive reserve is not automatically Established.

Satisfying the environmental requirements makes the Ecosystem Established. Flourishing additionally requires the specified ecosystem roles supplied by released groups. Some Release Groups need Flourishing rather than just Established, so read the group’s destination conditions.

5. Release the group

Select a suitable Established Ecosystem, or Flourishing one if the group requires it, and release the finalised group there. Use the group’s species and type requirements to choose its destination. Watch the Ecosystem’s role requirements when planning subsequent releases.

Which check is blocking you?

Blocked at	Check next
Species cannot be selected	Whether species research is needed for that group
No animals to add	Animals are already in Storage and meet the selected group’s eligibility rules
Reserve Release Groups tab unavailable	Research Outpost in that reserve; alternatively manage groups from zoo Animal Trading & Storage
Area is not Established	Area, Terrain, Nature and any required water/elevation
Established area still unsuitable	Whether this group needs Flourishing or another ecosystem type

Related records: Release Group · Animal Storage · Ecosystem. Need a nest? Find the Medium Cup Nest.