Is there conspiracy or unwritten rules.

[jaydee]

Hi. Just become a member today.
Just wondering why Schleich, Papo, CollectA, Safari, Mojo etc retired some of their animals while there are no substitutes from any of these main producers. (I throught it would be smarter to sell something while others don't have them).
ie. Just a few crosses my mind.
Papo Gharial, Snapping turtle.
Schleich mountain goat and sheep.
Safari ltd Opossum, leafy seadragon.

And why these companies keep pumping out the same animals.
ie.
I learnt that there are many types of Lemurs,
but these companies seem only interested in making the one Ring-tailed lemurs.
Same with Zebras, there are 3 types of zebras, common one, Grevy's zebras and Mountain zebras. I am glad collectA making Grevy's zebra. Seems like these companies never aware that mountain zebras exist.
I just don't understand why these companies rather release a new pose of the same animal instead making a new one that no one else has.
I wish these companies release more variants of sub species of animals and endangered animals.
Another example. There are many types of long horn cattle other than Texas longhorns.
Cheers.

[NSD Bashe]

What I understand is what they make is based on what's predicted will sell the most, and the most easily determined to be a safe sell are often the more familiar species everyone know the name of and will search the most easily.  Kind of the same as with movies lately having more remakes and sequels and prequels than original content.  It's just a marketing choice really.

[Gwangi]

I agree with the above. And as for the more obscure animals being retired so quickly, it's probably because they don't sell well

[Elephas Maximus]

There is certainly an unwritten rule: sculpt the figures with a stylized cartoonish look so they sell better for their main purpose - as toys for kids, rather than tiny statues at collectors shelves. Even 'not so cute' species as horses and other ungulates have bigger heads & thicker limbs than real ones.

[NSD Bashe]

Something like thicker legs might also be to keep it from getting broken as easily or standing better in some cases.  I think they also have to be careful how they design them in order for them to be approved by the government as safe for children

[BlueKrono]

@jaydee
Were you aware that CollectA makes an ankole and Safari makes a watusi?

[EpicRaptorMan]

Because popular animals sell more. Way more. A poorly made elephant would sell infinitely better in one year than a high quality honeypot ant would in 5 years.