Tunnel for animals

[Vicky]

I've designed my lion habitat to look like 2 separate enclosures, a path running between them. One enclosure is mostly shelter, the other watering hole and enrichment. I hoped the lions would come and go between them via an underground tunnel which I carved out using the 'tunnelling' path (which I then deleted) to make sure it would be big enough for keepers to come and go through as well. Unfortunately the shelter side isn't recognised as part of their habitat, and as they go through the tunnel I get the whole 'dangerous animal has escaped!' thing even though there's no way for them to reach the guests.

Has anyone attempted anything similar? What's the key to success? I'm disappointed as I do tend to make basic boring enclosures and am trying to be more creative, but it's backfiring! Any suggestions?

[Moving Target]

Without a screen shot it's harder to help you but............you need a habitat that is sorta shaped like a dog bone, so shelter side surrounded by fence with an opening at the tunnel, the barriers continue through the tunnel to the other side and then run round the enrichment side, one continuous fence, that should give you one big habitat, the tunnel needs to be large enough for animals as well as keepers so make sure they can get through it using the traversible area heat map.

[Vicky]

Thanks so much for your quick reply! Can I upload a screen shot to the thread? I looked on Steam the other day to learn how to do it, but they lost me on the first step. My brain doesn't work at the best of times! I think I understand what you mean though! Will null barriers work for the underground bit?

[XrystalBelle]

As per Moving Target's comment..

1. Use a null barrier to define the whole habitat area, it doesn't matter if some of it isn't accessible so make sure it is over the size needed for the animal in question as they still need their traversal and shelter needs catered for.

2. The parts of the barrier that will be the visible outer wall can be converted to your chosen barrier type.

3. Make sure the pathway between the two parts has some sort of dividing wall ( I ususally use glass barriers that have been told not to be habitat barriers ) so that the animals do not interact directly with the guests.

4. Make sure the tunnel has the correct slope and large enough to cater the animals and zoo keepers to walk through it.. use the map to keep a check on that as you smooth the access into the tunnel area.

5. Make sure the null barrier sections are outside of the tunnel area so that the animals will not be treated as escaped when any part of them hits the barrier.

I've done several of them and it does take a while to get this side of things sorted. I'll try and make some screen shots showing how I made some like this.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2027946630

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2027945504

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2027945052

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2027943277

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2027942447

The trizone example is a good portrayal of the path barriers being enough in some cases. Lions may need a bit more restriction though as I think they can jump over barriers... they jumped on top of my raised pathway which normally has barriers .. but I could be wrong.

[Moving Target]

If I remember correctly Lions need a 3 mtr climb proof barrier, or a null barrier covered by rocks or whatever that are the equivalent of 3 mtrs or more high and unclimbable, so no rock steps lol

[XrystalBelle]

Originally posted by Moving Target:

If I remember correctly Lions need a 3 mtr climb proof barrier, or a null barrier covered by rocks or whatever that are the equivalent of 3 mtrs or more high and unclimbable, so no rock steps lol

Sounds about right ..

[Vicky]

Thanks so much for your input! It's looking pretty good now, if I do say so myself! :-D

[XrystalBelle]

Originally posted by Vicky:

Thanks so much for your input! It's looking pretty good now, if I do say so myself! :-D

Great .. keep practising and you'll be able to make fancier ones.

[Moving Target]

Originally posted by Vicky:

Thanks so much for your input! It's looking pretty good now, if I do say so myself! :-D

Screenshot to say thank you? lol

[Vicky]

I would but I don't know how!

[Moving Target]

Originally posted by Vicky:

I would but I don't know how!

A search for 'Screenshots' would have turned this link up for you
https://steamcommunity.com/app/703080/discussions/0/1738882897951882245/

[m1rpg]

hi could anyone help me with the tunnels. it never works.

[Just Kevin]

Be more specific.

[Just Kevin]

BTW. I built a habitat once for one of the big cat species. I created a high vertical bank with a nul barrier around it. They jumped out! It is amazing how high the big cats can jump. I had to replace it with a normal barrier. It's amazing also how far they can jump. Keep that in mind.