Greetings Circe,

If no animals are available to capture, then you'll have to ask for them from other cities. I know you can ask for them from allies or vassals (not sure about rivals), but I've noticed that they have to be in a good mood to do so, usually loyal or respectful will work. You might have to butter them up to get them in a better mood, and then animals will appear on the list of things you can request.

Once you have one animal, you can send that type of animal to other cities, who in turn will give you animals in thanks. With some trial and error, you can fill your whole menagerie this way.

Thank you so much. I could not understand why the option to request animals did not appear on the list. That answers my question completely.

I noticed that animal requests to vassals usually fail. In fact, I have never been successful. So normally I will make them allies, give them some gifts and then the request for animal will succeed.

I think I've managed to get animals from my vassals. Vassals and allies should give you animals when you ask, but they need to be happy enough.

I usually send a needed (check your allies' and vassals' climates) animal to my friends, and they send me one in return. It never fails, and it doesn't effect their happiness. I send a request for an animal only when needed. Never more than one per zoo. (If I have no own animals, I'll have to ask someone for the first one.)

If you need help (any kind) with CBs, go here. I haven't written myself anything at all, I've just made others' work to appear on my frames. It's actually handy to have all the instructions in one. (Laziness leads to the most helpful inventions.)

Ticaios