A list of all awards in Zoo Tycoon, and how to unlock them.
This list is a compilation of the information listed at the Zoo Tycoon guide by Stephen W. Carter, at IGN. Sadly the old guide isn't sortable, and lacks a few notes, that i've tried to incorporate with this guide.
This includes a list of cash donations you're able to unlock.
Awards
Awards is unlocked once per game, when you meet the requirements listed below.
Some awards unlock items and some awards come with a cash bonus.
Awards from Marine Mania (MM) is only given out in Freeform Maps.
The term dinosaur is used loosely below, to represent all prehistoric animals.
| Award | Reward | How to unlock | Expansion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Zoo, Silver Trophy | - | Achieve a 90+ Zoo Rating | - |
| Best Zoo, Gold Trophy | $25.000 | Achieve a 95+ Zoo Rating | - |
| Diverse Species, Silver Plaque | - | Have at least 10 animal species | - |
| Diverse Species, Gold Plaque | $30.000 | Have at least 30 animal species | - |
| Excellence in Exhibit Design, Silver Plaque | - | Suitability rating of 90+ in a single exhibit | - |
| Excellence in Exhibit Design, Gold Plaque | $15.000 | Suitability rating of 99+ in a single exhibit | - |
| Highest Quality Exhibits, Silver Certificat | - | Suitability rating of 80+ in 10 exhibits | - |
| Highest Quality Exhibits, Gold Certificat | $40.000 | Suitability rating of 85+ in 25 exhibits | - |
| Most Popular Zoo, Silver Certificate | - | Reach 500 guests in your zoo at one time | - |
| Most Popular Zoo, Gold Certificate | $25.000 | Reach 1000 guests in your zoo at one time | - |
| Highest Customer Satisfaction, Blue Ribbon | $25.000 | Achieve a 95+ Guest Happiness | - |
| Quality Animal Care, Blue Ribbon | $5.000 | Wait 6 months and Achieve a 98+ Animal Happiness | - |
| Complete Ice Age Zoo, Gold Mammoth | - | Have 4 species of Ice Age Animals | DD |
| Complete Jurassic Zoo, Gold Stegosaurus | - | Display 7 species of jurassic dinosaurs | DD |
| Excellence in Dinosaur Exhibit Design, Gold Cup | - | Suitability rating of 99+ in 3 dinosaur exhibits | DD |
| Quality Dinosaur Care, Blue Ribbon | $50.000 | Have at least 10 dinosaurs in suitable exhibits | DD |
| Tyrannosaurus Rex Egg, Gold Rex | $100.000 | Succesfully breed a Tyrannosaurus Rex | DD |
| Zoo of the Year | $150.000, Elephant seal statue unlocked | Achieve a 90+ animal happiness rating, 90+ guest happiness rating, 20+ exhibits, and $350k+ zoo value | MM |
| Best Zoo in the World | $100.000, 1 Giant Panda donated | Achieve 15 awards | MM |
| Excellence in Savannah Exhibit Construction | $50.000 | Suitability rating of 80+ for African buffalo, African elephant, African lion, African warthog, Ankylosaurus, Black rhinoceros, Cheetahs, Common wildebeests, Giraffes, Greater flamingo, Hippopotamus, Leopard, Olive baboons, Ostrich, Plains zebra, Red kangaroo, Spotted hyena, Thomson's gazelles, and Triceratops | MM |
| Arctic Aquatic Care | 2 Emperor Penguins | Suitability rating of 80+ for Beluga, lion's mane jellyfish, narwhal, and pacific walrus | MM |
| Excellence in Shark Conservation, Bronze Shark Statue | $10.000 | Suitability rating of 85+ for Great white shark, Hammerhead shark, Short fin mako shark and tiger shark | MM |
| Excellence in Arctic Conservation | $25.000 | Suitability rating of 90+ for arctic wolf, beluga, narwhal, pacific walrus and polar bear | MM |
| Excellence in Arctic Construction | $50.000, Iceberg toy unlocked | Suitability rating of 90+ for arctic wolf, beluga, narwhal, pacific walrus, polar bear, wooly mammoth, and wooly rhinos | MM |
| Penguin Colony, Silver Plaque | $5.000 | Suitability rating of 90+ for 16+ emperor penguins in a single exhibit | MM |
| Superior Whale Care, Gold Plaque | $20.000 | Suitability rating of 90+ for beluga, humpback, orca, narwhal, and sperm whale | MM |
| Best Sea Lion Show in the Country | Sea lion statue unlocked | Achieve $5.000 show profits in one year for california sea lions | MM |
| Best Sea Otter Show in the Country | $10.000 | Achieve $10.000 show profits in one year for southern sea otters | MM |
| Best Orca Show in the Country | $5.000, Orca statue unlocked | Achieve $15.000 show profits in one year for orcas | MM |
| Best Dolphin Show in the Country | $10.000, Dolphin statue unlocked | Achieve $20.000 show profits in one year for bottlenose dolphins | MM |
NOTE: The award 'Outstanding Animal Health Plaque' is omitted from the list, as it's bugged with CC and will not appear, even if you meet the requirements of having less than 3 sick animals within a year.
Donations
Donations is unlocked once per game, when you meet the requirements listed below.
All donations come with a cash bonus.
| Donation | Reward | How to unlock | Expansion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Donation | $10.000 | Fall below $1000 available cash | - |
| Endangered Species Donation (White Bengal Tiger) | $10.000 | Succesfully breed a White Bengal Tiger | - |
| Endangered Species Donation (Black Leopard) | $10.000 | Succesfully breed a Black Leopard | - |
| Endangered Species Donation (Snow Leopard) | $10.000 | Succesfully breed a Snow Leopard | - |
| Endangered Species Donation (Okapi) | $10.000 | Succesfully breed an Okapi | - |
| Panda Donation (Giant Panda) | $50.000 | Succesfully breed a Giant Panda | - |
| Great White Shark Donation (Great White Shark) | $25.000 | Succesfully breed a Giant Panda | MM |