10 Best Zoo Island Design Ideas in Animal Crossing New Horizons
If you’re like me, the animals have always been your favourite part of Animal Crossing — those cute little piggies, oh my god! And that’s why we’re here today. I love spending time at the zoo, and I like to think that’s the same reason other people enjoy the game. We want to look at cute, exotic, and ferocious animals.
So you’re all done with your own personal zoo. You’ve stocked it up with all of your favourite animals, built some enclosures and now you’re ready to relax — but what’s this? You want more? Well, why not try building an animal sanctuary next? With a little bit of creativity, you’ll have plenty of fun bringing the safari experience to your Animal Crossing island ideas. Just look at these build ideas…
1/10. ACNH Exhibit Zebra
Have a child who loves to play with animals, but you don’t have the time or money for them to get one? One day that might change, and when it does there are plenty of things you can do to create an animal zoo in your own home. Take these zebras from this awesome blog, for example — they love to ride around on their wacky springy ride-ons while the family cat runs around and chases them.
2/10. ACNH Aquarium Seaside
The aquatic build certainly captures the essence of simplicity. A beautiful little scene that doesn’t need a lot of decorative pieces, it’s mainly comprised of the turtles, and these turtles have been given a custom design. Those custom designs have been placed on the ground for the bodies, while beach shells have been used to create the shells. The custom water flooring and simple panel structure are also key to keeping this build as clean as possible.
The bottom of your aquarium is a home for some pretty cool sea critters — like starfish and hermit crabs! They aren’t the only creatures that will call your aquarium home, though. You can plant seaweed to attract new fish. Make sure you have plenty of room for your new aqua friends, though — if you don’t, they might leave for good.
3/10. ACNH Monster Caged
If you have a prison, then why not fill it up with a bunch of animals? By purchasing monster statues from Nook Miles, you can build an exhibit around them. Add some prison bars, rope fences and security uniforms to capture the essence of the exhibit. This will help create a compelling display that is bound to keep your visitors coming back for more.
4/10. ACNH Exhibit of Penguin
Penguins love rocks! Don’t they seem to just waddle around them all day? Let’s take a hint from nature and create some cute rock gardens for our feathered friends to play in, shall we? And if you’re concerned about the ‘cuteness’ factor, don’t get the wrong impression. You can still make this a fun activity for your kids to enjoy or even use to brighten up your backyard with an extra touch of ‘class’.
5/10. ACNH Exhibit of Flamingo
With its bright colors and tropical flavor, the Flamingo Party scene is a blast. But I don’t know about you, I’ve been to one too many flamingo party scenes where I almost broke my neck slipping in the muddy puddles on the ground! Not only is it unsafe, but it also ruins your fancy shoes and makes the place look dirty. Don’t let this be the case for your guests.
6/10. ACNH Exhibits of Individual Villager
To create a zoo that truly feels like a zoo, try creating a custom sign for each animal. Customized signs will help you better design your animals’ home, proper plants, and landscaping to suit them. You can even name the island it’s on, by making the zoo themed after each animal, such as Aurora’s Island.
This is the best type of zoo ever, hands down. First of all, the animals are super chill and not in cages. Just look at them romping around freely! The animals provide information boards on their own biographies. They’re interactive and fun to read — guaranteed to teach your kids a thing or two! And don’t worry about where they sleep; they have their own little homes next to each other.
7/10. ACNH Counter of Ticket
This zoo ACNH entrance has a lot going for it, but we think it could use a little extra something to make it stand out. A little more fun and personality. Let’s start with the sign — always a good place to start when you’re revamping. We like this pattern for its simplicity and cheerful, approachable feel. Then move on to some custom wording that really seals the deal: “Welcome! Come on in!
8/10. ACNH Petting Turtle Zoo
Snapping turtles don’t make for cuddly pets — in fact, they’re a little terrifying. At best, you’ve got a mini-dinosaur on your hands; at worst, it’s a prehistoric reptile with a bite stronger than most dogs’. Make sure you know what you’re doing before you start snapping. There are plenty of ways to get snapping (and let’s face it, snapping is the best part).
9/10. ACNH Wild Zoo
This adorable design showcases two different exhibits brought together in the cutest way possible. To make this yourself, you’ll need paper animals and fence pieces to act as the enclosure. Don’t forget to plant some trees for sustenance, too — because pandas don’t live on bamboo alone.
Zoos are just as important for the ecosystems of the area as they are for the wider public’s enjoyment. To prove that point, let’s turn to the San Francisco Zoo. In a bid to create a unique and engaging exhibit, designers have instead turned to the local environment as inspiration for what to plant in their new tiger trails exhibit.
10/10. ACNH Bug and Fish Display
Home is where the fish bones are. This is a pretty well-known fact, but it’s worth mentioning again, because it makes a great deal of sense. Organising your fish and bugs neatly on display around your home (or island or building — whatever you prefer to call it) will not only keep things tidy but also create a stunning effect that can take away 20% or even 50% of your home’s value!
Fish are floating away! Prevent them from escaping by clicking on them and dragging backwards. Haha, I just love this game so much! It’s so unique and gives me a chance to interact with nature while also helping people make their fish tank look more organized through clean-up.
