Born to be Wild
Florida is sometimes jokingly called the Australia of the U.S. due to its diverse, exotic, and, in several cases, invasive wildlife. Visit Broward County, home of Fort Lauderdale, and the Miami-Dade area, and you’ll spot green iguanas – as in the big lizards often kept as pets – lounging as commonly as squirrels and pigeons, thanks to irresponsible pet owners decades prior. The very rare Florida panther, the state’s native cougar species, coexists alongside black bears (yes, Florida has bears), deer, wild boar, and turkeys. Florida is a reptile/amphibian-lover’s dream thanks to our famous and abundant alligators, as well as a staggering number of lizards, snakes, turtles, and frogs. Our marine life, both fresh and saltwater, is probably even more diverse and includes Florida mascots such as the manatee.
Rockstar isn’t skimping on this important element of Florida’s ecosystem. GTAVI features over 170 animal species across the map, which include Leonida-native species that have never appeared in a Rockstar game. This includes over 60 bird types, more than 30 land mammals, plus various fish, reptiles, and more. Rockstar vice president of dynamic art, Michael Kane, specifically confirms the inclusion of manatees, flamingos, pelicans, and, as previously shown, alligators.
“Florida has a diverse animal ecosystem that we wanted to faithfully include across the different biomes in Leonida – urban and rural environs, aquatic life both inland and ocean, and the wetland habitats like the swamps and Everglades,” Kane explains. “The animal art and population teams are incredibly passionate about delivering animals that are accurately researched and look visually correct in every respect, alongside the supporting movement and animation to bring them to life.”
