GTA 6 is bringing a huge variety of wildlife to the fictional state of Leonida. With more than 170 animal species, including birds, mammals, reptiles, and sea creatures, Rockstar Games is creating a world where animals are much more than background details.
But there is more to wildlife than simply spotting animals while driving around Vice City. Players will be able to study animals in GTA 6 and keep track of the species they discover, giving them another reason to explore the game’s world.
The feature takes inspiration from Red Dead Redemption 2, where players could study animals and add information about them to a collection. GTA 6 appears to build on that idea with its own wildlife-tracking system.
Here is everything you need to know about studying animals, the wildlife collection, rare species, and the zoo in GTA 6.
How to Study Animals in GTA 6?
Yes, you can study animals in GTA 6. The feature was shown in Rockstar’s Extended Look, where Jason approached a dog and had several interaction options, including studying, petting, and scolding it.
Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson also discussed the animal study feature in an interview with IGN.
He explained that it works as a type of collection system, allowing players to learn about the animals they encounter.
The idea is similar to Red Dead Redemption 2, where observing wildlife was an important part of exploring the world.
However, GTA 6 gives players a modern setting with a different range of animals and environments to discover.
Instead of treating every animal as something to hunt, players can take their time, observe wildlife, and add new species to their collection.
This is especially interesting because Leonida has so many different environments, from busy city streets and beaches to forests, rivers, and swamps.
Studying animals gives players another way to explore GTA 6 without focusing only on missions, driving, and criminal activities.
Does GTA 6 Have an Animal Compendium?
GTA 6 is expected to feature a wildlife collection or checklist that tracks the animals players discover.
Rockstar has confirmed that studying animals works as a collection activity, while preview coverage has described a system that records discovered species.
However, the company has not fully explained the final interface or every detail of the system.
Red Dead Redemption 2 featured an animal compendium that recorded information about wildlife, including details such as habitat and behavior.
GTA 6 follows a similar idea, but it is not yet clear whether its collection will include all the same information.
Recent coverage has also reported that some animals fall into three categories: Discoverable, Rare, and Legendary. Rockstar has not revealed the full list of animals in these categories, so players will have to wait for more details about which species are the hardest to find.
It is also unclear whether studying every animal will be required for 100% completion or whether completing the collection will unlock special rewards.
Even so, the wildlife collection could become a fun side activity for players who enjoy discovering every detail of Rockstar’s open worlds.
How Many Animals Are in GTA 6?
According to Game Informer’s September 2026 coverage, GTA 6 features more than 170 animal species across Leonida.
This includes more than 60 types of birds, over 30 land mammals, and a wide range of fish and reptiles.
Rockstar has taken inspiration from Florida’s real wildlife, bringing both native animals and invasive species into the game.
Here are some of the animals revealed so far.
Land Animals
- Alligators
- Deer
- Cougars
- Bobcats
- Beavers
- Boars
- Raccoons
- Squirrels
- Armadillos
- Dogs and cats
- Green iguanas
- Rhesus macaque monkeys
Birds
- Flamingos
- Pelicans
- Ducks
- Eagles
- Cranes
- Pigeons
- Seagulls
- Spoonbills
- Woodpeckers
Aquatic Animals
- Manatees
- Dolphins
- Sharks
- Sea turtles
- Whales
- Eels
- Jellyfish
- Various fish species
This is only a selection of the animals revealed so far, not the complete list of wildlife in GTA 6.
Rockstar is also paying attention to the way animals look and move. According to Game Informer, the developers have improved their rendering systems to create more realistic feathers, fur, skin, and other details.
These improvements should help wildlife feel more natural as players explore Leonida.
Can You Study Animals at the Zoo in GTA 6?
Yes, preview reports indicate that GTA 6 will include a zoo where players can encounter animals. The zoo is another place to explore beyond the streets of Vice City and the wilderness of Leonida.
Visiting a zoo could give players a chance to observe animals they might not easily find during normal exploration.
Instead of searching through swamps, forests, or coastal areas, players may be able to encounter certain species in one location.
Reports have also linked zoo visits to activities involving Jason and Lucia, although the full range of zoo-related activities has not been explained.
The zoo could make the animal collection easier to complete by giving players another place to discover wildlife.
However, Rockstar has not confirmed exactly which species will be available there or whether every animal can be studied in captivity.
Its exact location and the full range of activities available at the zoo also remain unclear.
What Is the Difference Between GTA 6 Wildlife and RDR2 Animals?
Players who enjoyed studying animals in Red Dead Redemption 2 should feel familiar with the basic idea in GTA 6.
In RDR2, players could explore the wilderness, observe different species, and fill out an animal compendium. The activity encouraged players to slow down and pay attention to the world around them.
GTA 6 brings a similar idea to a modern setting inspired by Florida. Instead of focusing mainly on the wildlife of the American frontier, players will encounter animals living in cities, wetlands, forests, and coastal areas.
The game also includes animals that are common in Florida today, such as manatees, flamingos, and alligators, alongside invasive species such as green iguanas, cane toads, feral cats, and rhesus macaques.
Rockstar’s improved animal graphics should also make the experience more detailed. The developers have discussed improvements to fur, feathers, and skin, helping animals look more realistic in different environments.
Although the full collection system has not been explained, GTA 6 appears to carry forward one of RDR2’s most enjoyable exploration features while giving players a much wider range of modern wildlife to discover.
Will You Get Rewards for Studying Every Animal in GTA 6?
At the moment, Rockstar has not confirmed all the rewards associated with studying animals in GTA 6.
The wildlife collection gives players a reason to discover different species, but it is not yet clear whether completing the list will unlock special items, achievements, or other rewards.
It is also unknown whether every animal must be studied to achieve 100% game completion.
Players interested in completing everything GTA 6 has to offer will likely want to keep track of the animals they discover once the game launches.
Rare and Legendary species could make the collection more challenging, especially if they are difficult to find.
For now, the safest approach is to treat animal studying as a confirmed collection activity while waiting for Rockstar to reveal more about its rewards and completion requirements.
Conclusion
Studying animals in GTA 6 will give players another way to explore Leonida and discover its wildlife. With more than 170 animal species, a wildlife collection system, and a reported zoo, there should be plenty to find beyond the main story.
The feature builds on the animal compendium from Red Dead Redemption 2, encouraging players to observe wildlife rather than simply pass it by.
Whether you are watching an alligator in the swamps, spotting flamingos near the coast, or looking for rare animals in the wilderness, studying wildlife could become one of the most enjoyable side activities in GTA 6.
There are still questions about the complete animal list, collection rewards, and 100% completion requirements. However, Rockstar’s focus on wildlife suggests that animals will play a much bigger role in GTA 6 than ever before.
