Death Stranding 2: How to Find Every Albino Animal (Step-by-Step Walkthrough) ~ HaploGamingChef

Getting Started With Rare Wildlife in DS2

Before you begin your hunt for albino animals, there are a few essential steps you need to take. First, progress through the story until you unlock the Animal Shelter—this happens early in the game and becomes your central hub for storing rare creatures. After that, level up the shelter to Level 4. This unlocks a special charm for your bag that lets you safely collect animals without harming them. With this charm, a simple button press (Square) is all it takes to capture them. Without it, you’d need to stun them using non-lethal ammo—which isn’t recommended for animal collection.

Efficient Travel Tips Before You Start Hunting

Fast travel doesn’t work when you’re carrying animals, so planning your route matters. The zipline system is by far the most efficient way to move across long distances in Death Stranding 2—especially when transporting delicate cargo like wildlife. Ziplines offer zero resistance, instant connectivity (once built), and don’t require materials. You’ll want to build your first zipline in the central desert area, close to the first albino animal location. From there, link it to other nearby ziplines or build new ones leading toward the Animal Shelter. Keep in mind: roads allow for limited auto-driving, but they’re slower and often require manual control during tight turns.

Animal Shelter: Your Main Wildlife Drop-Off

Each time you deliver an albino animal, you'll bring it back to the Animal Shelter. This is where your captured wildlife is stored and where progress toward the Rare Specimen Rescuer trophy is tracked. Once you get a few animals in, the shelter becomes a vibrant mini-zoo you can visit between missions. You’ll also receive in-game likes, special equipment, and cosmetic items for each successful delivery. Keep your animals undamaged for higher rewards—try not to fall off cliffs or smash into things en route.

First Stop: The Albino Hedgehog Location

Your first albino target is the Albino Hedgehog, found in the desert region near the Pioneer. Climb up a ledge near the quill location. The hedgehog usually rests around that area. If you’ve already set up ziplines in this zone, just grab the animal and glide back to the shelter. The charm you earned earlier makes this much easier, as the hedgehog won’t flee. Once you make the delivery, you’ll earn likes and see the hedgehog running around your shelter.

Tracking the Albino Kangaroo

This one’s a bit tricky because it can move around the area. Head toward the Data Scientist’s shelter, then go directly north. The kangaroo tends to spawn in the center of the wide, sandy zone. If visibility is low due to a sandstorm, your scanner will help spot glowing targets. Once located, gently collect the kangaroo and make your way to the nearest zipline. Make sure to bring the animal back in good condition to unlock bonus rewards and trigger the next quest milestone.

Delivering Items to the Pioneer to Trigger Next Animal

To progress to the next animal quest, you'll need to accept and complete Aid Requests from the Pioneer NPC. These show up under the “Social Strand Services” radial menu. Complete these side quests—typically involving locating specific items like the Uluru Rock, BT figure, or signed posters—in the Motherhood area. Your scanner will help locate them, and each delivery moves you closer to the next animal location.

Climbing to the Albino Lyra Bird

The Albino Lyra Bird requires a trek up a mountain path near the earlier feather collection site. Start by grabbing the unusual Lyra feather—once this is completed, a new Aid Request appears that leads to the bird itself. Use ziplines or light bikes to scale the mountain. Expect some resistance (enemies may appear), so avoid carrying other cargo when heading in. Once captured, the Lyra Bird must be delivered carefully—avoid damage during transit for maximum likes.

Tips for Avoiding Cargo Damage

Animals like the Lyra Bird are sensitive to rough handling. Even small impacts can reduce their delivery rating. To avoid this:

Always check terrain before driving.
Don’t sprint or jump with animals on your back.
Zipline routes are ideal for smoother travel.
If you’re worried about possible accidents, save the game before delivery to reload in case of mistakes.

Understanding Aid Requests and Story Progression

Aid Requests are more than just fetch quests—they’re how Death Stranding 2 unlocks specific wildlife events. After each animal delivery or item handoff, wait near the Pioneer shelter for a new SSS message or Aid Request to appear. This system gates access to the next albino animal, so stay in sync with your story progress. These requests often guide you back to zones you’ve already explored but now include rare wildlife events.

Collecting Rewards and Unlocking the Trophy

Once you've successfully delivered all three known albino animals—the Hedgehog, Kangaroo, and Lyra Bird—you’ll unlock the Rare Specimen Rescuer trophy. Additionally, you’ll get unique gear like:

Kangaroo Hood: Reduces stamina drain in heat, increases cargo capacity slightly.
BT-Calming Mask: Calms BTs and helps in stealth zones.
These rewards don’t just look cool—they also give minor gameplay advantages, especially during long expeditions.

Final Notes: Is There a Fourth Albino Animal?

Although some sources mention a fourth albino species, current data confirms only three albino animals are needed for the trophy. The confusion may stem from mislisted collectibles or repeated Aid Request chains. If any new species becomes available through updates or DLC, it’ll likely be triggered via similar Aid Request mechanics. For now, completing the three known animal captures is enough to 100% the wildlife content tied to this questline.

Zipline Network Planning for Animal Retrieval

Building out a zipline network isn’t just helpful—it’s essential if you're planning to collect all rare animals efficiently. Focus on high ground and long straight stretches to maximize coverage. Use PCCs to place the towers and remember to:

Check for nearby player-built ziplines you can connect to.
Save bandwidth for key stretches that link shelters and animal hotspots.
Use the Tri-Cruiser zipline stations when needing extra cargo support.

Once your system is built, every new albino animal pickup becomes a smooth ride back to base. Even if you're exploring new zones, try dropping ziplines for future convenience.

Interacting With the Shelter Post-Delivery

After each delivery, take a moment to explore the shelter grounds. Delivered animals can be seen roaming or resting inside the preserve area, and it's a great way to visually track your progress. You'll also get occasional updates or messages related to the animals from shelter staff. These add a bit of personality and reward to your efforts.

Don't forget to “Like” the shelter or contribute materials if needed—supporting this location helps upgrade it faster, unlocking future perks or lore entries.

Best Gear Loadout for Wildlife Hunts

While heading into animal collection runs, keep your gear lightweight and focused. Recommended items include:

Scanner: Essential for spotting hidden or camouflaged animals.
Repair Spray: Useful in case your carrier gets worn or damaged.
Non-lethal rounds (optional): If you're not using the charm, these can help incapacitate without harm.
Zipline-compatible climbing gear: Ladders and anchors help reach odd places, especially near cliffs or riverbanks.

Avoid loading up on heavy cargo. You’ll need flexibility and speed, especially if terrain gets tricky or enemy zones activate during your mission.

Repeating Aid Requests and Animal Spawns

In some cases, you might return to a location and not find the albino animal. This can happen if:

The quest chain hasn’t been triggered yet.
You’ve already captured the animal and it hasn’t respawned.
The Aid Request cycle hasn’t updated.

Solution: Wait a little, complete nearby deliveries, or fast travel to another hub to reset world activity. Also, check for “SSS messages” that only appear when standing still in safe areas. Holding the start button helps access these updates manually if you missed the alert.

Managing Zipline Bandwidth

As you build more towers, you'll eventually hit the zipline bandwidth cap. When that happens, prioritize routes between:

High-yield animal zones
The Animal Shelter
Pioneer and Motherhood hubs

You can dismantle older, less-used ziplines or use bandwidth-increasing upgrades unlocked through shelter progression. Planning your route efficiently early on prevents waste later when every tower slot counts.

What to Do After Capturing All Albino Animals

After securing the hedgehog, kangaroo, and Lyra bird, and earning the Rare Specimen Rescuer trophy, there's still plenty to explore. Consider:

Starting a full wildlife catalog—collecting all regular animals in the game (separate from albinos).
Upgrading your Animal Shelter fully to unlock all visual changes.
Sharing your zipline route online for other players via Social Strand.
Recording animal locations with screenshots or clips for reference or community sharing.

The game rewards you for creating utility, not just completing tasks.

Final Quick Tips for First-Time Hunters

Use Sandstorms Wisely: They reduce visibility but enhance scanner effectiveness—albino animals glow brighter.
Save Before Pickup: Always save right before grabbing rare animals to avoid loss from damage or glitch.
Ride Smart: Bikes are good, but not reliable over mountains. Ziplines are king.
Double Check Requests: If an Aid Request seems missing, manually refresh the menu or recheck after sleeping at a safe house.

Wrapping Up Your Albino Animal Hunt in Death Stranding 2

Finding and delivering every albino animal in Death Stranding 2 can feel like a side journey—but it’s one of the most rewarding. With careful planning, strategic use of ziplines, and a bit of exploration, securing the Rare Specimen Rescuer trophy becomes a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Even after grabbing the hedgehog, kangaroo, and Lyra bird, there’s plenty more wildlife to track down and catalog across the game world. Keep your equipment light, zipline routes active, and charm equipped, and you’ll be prepared for every rare animal encounter that comes your way.

Whether you're in it for the trophies, the worldbuilding, or just the fun of animal rescue, Death Stranding 2 delivers a unique mix of exploration and reward that’s worth diving into.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many albino animals are in Death Stranding 2?
A: There are three confirmed albino animals: the Hedgehog, Kangaroo, and Lyra Bird.

Q: Do I need to capture all albino animals for the Rare Specimen Rescuer trophy?
A: Yes, all three must be delivered to the Animal Shelter to unlock the trophy.

Q: Can I use fast travel while carrying animals?
A: No. Animals must be transported manually—zipline travel is the best method.

Q: How do I trigger the animal-related side quests?
A: Complete Aid Requests for the Pioneer. These unlock the next albino animal events.

Q: What happens if my animal gets damaged during delivery?
A: You’ll receive fewer likes and may miss out on full delivery rewards.