Animal Planet Zooventure is an American children's television game show which originally broadcast on Animal Planet and Discovery Channel from March 31, 1997 to 2000. The show was taped in the San Diego Zoo, and was hosted by J. D. Roth. In the show, four child contestants competed in a series of wild animal games, for the grand prize which is to be a zookeeper for a day. The show was split into two halves and ended with a final round.
| Animal Planet Zooventure | |
|---|---|
| Presented by | J. D. Roth |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | |
| Release | March 31, 1997 – 2000 |
First season format
First half
The first two contestants played three games.
- Game 1: The first one being an animal related physical stunt in which the winner of that stunt wins 10 points.
- Game 2: A true or false animal behavior question was asked to the players by a home viewer in one of the Discovery Channel Stores all across the country. After the question was read, the players held up signs with either true or false on them, then the answer was revealed. A correct answer is also worth 10 points.
- Game 3: The two players were shown a jigsaw puzzle along with a mystery word. Behind those puzzle pieces is an animal, and the mystery word is the name of the hidden animal. The jigsaw puzzle pieces were determined by how many letters are in the animal name (hence the number of blank spaces). The players took turns drawing yellow balls from a basket behind them. Each ball corresponds the numbered piece. Each time he/she draws, the player in control showed the number on the ball, then that piece was revealed as well as the corresponding letter in the animal's name. Then the player had a chance to buzz-in and guess the animal, an incorrect guess or too much time passes the turn to his/her opponent (although it's necessary to just pass the turn without a guess). The first player to guess the animal wins 20 points.
The player with the most points wins the first half and goes on to the final round. If the game is tied, a final round typed question was played. The winner of that round is the overall winner. That player has to then sit in chair to wait for the winner of next half.
Second half
Two more players competed in the second half of the show. With three more games played.
- Game 1: The first one being another animal related physical stunt in which the winner of that stunt wins 10 points.
- Game 2: An animal question with two possible answers was asked to the players by an employee of the San Diego Zoo. After the question was read, the players held up signs with either one of the answers on them, then the answer was revealed. A correct answer is also worth 10 points.
- Game 3: The two players went to a board with seven animal answers on it. Three of them fit into a specific animal category read by host Roth at the start. Then the contestants took turns choosing which answer fits the category. The first player to two out of the three answers wins 20 points. If the game ends in a 2 - 1 score, then host Roth showed the contestant with one correct, one last answer, and then has to decide if it does or does not fit the category. A correct guess gave both players the 20 points, otherwise only the person whom got two gets the 20 points alone.
The player with the most points wins the second half and goes on to the final round.
Final round
This was played like Scrabble's Speedword and Wheel of Fortune's Toss-up. For in this round, the winners of the main rounds were shown a series of mystery animal names. Letters in each word reveal one at a time approximately one second at a time in order from left to right while host Roth read a clue to that word. The first player to buzz-in has a chance to guess. A correct answer scored a point, while an incorrect answer gave the opposing player a bonus letter and clue, as well as a free guess. An incorrect answer on a steal keeps the word going. The round lasts for 60 seconds, and the player with the most points when time runs out wins. If the round ended in a tie, one last puzzle was played. The winning player won grand prizes as well as most of all, Zookeeper for a day at the San Diego Wild Animal Park.
Audience Game
If there's extra time at the end of the show, J.D. goes into the audience, and gave audience members the opportunity to correctly answer the question for prizes.
Second season format
First half
The first two contestants compete in the following three games.
- Game 1: The first one being an animal-related physical stunt in which the winner of that stunt wins 10 points.
- Game 2: Host Roth read questions with three possible answers. The first player to buzz-in with a correct answer scored a point. Missing the question gave the opposing player a chance to answer. The player to score the most points wins.
- Game 3:
Second half
Two more players once again compete in the following three games.
- Game 1: The first one being an animal related physical stunt in which the winner of that stunt won 10 points.
- Game 2: Two contestants competed against each other in a question/answer round about each of the animals along with the nine habits and/or things relating to them. After Roth asked a series of questions about animals, contestants hit the buzzer to guess what habit and/or thing is related to the animal. They kept at it for 30 seconds (originally 45 seconds), and the contestant with the most correct answers when time ran out won 10 points.
- Game 3: In the field trip, two contestants watch/listened to the entire clip about the animals habits, behavior and/or things. After watching the entire video, they were each given 20 seconds (originally 30 seconds) to match each and every one of those habits, behavior and/or things relating to the animals above, on the board. After each statement that was placed, they were not allowed to change any of the statements (because time would've ran out if they did, though in earlier episodes, they needed to make any changes if there was enough time left). After time ran out, Roth went over to the contestants' boards and looked at how well they matched. The contestant with the most matching statement to animals wins the game and 10 points. If an event of a tie, a true/false tie-breaker question will be asked.
Final round (Zoofari challenge)
The winners of the main rounds competed in a race through an obstacle course with the first player to cross the finish line winning grand prizes and of course zookeeper for a day.