Way of the Hunter 2 — Animals
Region-based species overview from official sources. New Laurentia covers North American species; Kilimaya Reserve adds twelve African species (v0.2.0).
New Laurentia (North America)
Official description: home to big game like moose, elk, bears and bison, alongside smaller animals like rabbits, turkeys and various birds. Later updates added Rocky Mountain Pronghorn and Central European Wild Boar to the region.
Patch-note confirmed species seen in New Laurentia: mule deer, Dall sheep, grizzly bear, American wolverine, snowshoe hare, eastern wild turkey and more (full verified database is being built; see the note below).
Kilimaya Reserve (Africa) — 12 new species
Early Access Update 2 (May 27, 2026) added these twelve species:
| Species | Scientific name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Southern lion | Panthera leo melanochaita | Apex predator · can charge (v0.2.0) |
| Common hippopotamus | Hippopotamus amphibius amphibius | Aggressive herbivore · can charge |
| Cape African buffalo | Syncerus caffer caffer | Aggressive herbivore · can charge |
| Greater kudu | Tragelaphus strepsiceros strepsiceros | — |
| Blue wildebeest | Connochaetes taurinus taurinus | — |
| Blesbok | Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi | — |
| Cape mountain zebra | Equus zebra zebra | — |
| Spotted hyena | Crocuta crocuta | — |
| Cape honey badger | Mellivora capensis capensis | — |
| South African ostrich | Struthio camelus australis | — |
| Nile crocodile | Crocodylus niloticus | listed as 'Ethiopian crocodile' in-game (to be corrected) |
| Southern yellow-billed duck | Anas undulata undulata | duck decoy added in v0.2.0 |
Behaviour & model notes (v0.2.0)
- Charging mechanics: southern lion, common hippopotamus and Cape African buffalo can charge the player — first version of the system.
- Anatomically accurate models: males and females now reflect real biological differences.
- Antler colour variations added across all maps.
- Trophy scoring fixes: Dall sheep male trophy scores, grizzly bear skull handling corrected.
FAQ
Common questions about this topic.
What animals are in Way of the Hunter 2?
New Laurentia (North America): moose, elk, bears, bison, rabbits, turkeys and more, plus pronghorn and wild boar. Kilimaya Reserve (Africa): 12 species including southern lion, hippopotamus, Cape buffalo, kudu, wildebeest, zebra, hyena and ostrich.
How many African species were added?
Twelve, in Early Access Update 2 (v0.2.0).
Which animals can charge?
Southern lion, common hippopotamus and Cape African buffalo (v0.2.0).
Is there a duck?
Yes — the Southern yellow-billed duck on Kilimaya, with a dedicated decoy (WildHeart Yellow-Billed Duck Decoy) added in v0.2.0.