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Mods

Naturalist

Naturalist is a Minecraft Java mod that adds 24 new animals with lifelike behaviors to the overworld, from bears and deer to lions, giraffes, and fireflies. It runs on Fabric, Forge, and NeoForge and needs Geckolib.

By crispytwig via Modrinth.

Naturalist deer and fawn standing under the forest canopy in Minecraft
Section
Java Mod
Platform
Java
Versions
v 1.18.2 / 1.19.2 / 1.20.1 / 1.21.1
Last checked
Updated
Naturalist pride of lions resting on grass at evening in Minecraft
Naturalist pride of lions resting on grass at evening in Minecraft
Naturalist mother bear and cub looking around a Minecraft forest
Naturalist mother bear and cub looking around a Minecraft forest
Naturalist family of elephants standing near a river in Minecraft
Naturalist family of elephants standing near a river in Minecraft
Naturalist fireflies glowing above the trees of a Minecraft swamp
Naturalist fireflies glowing above the trees of a Minecraft swamp
Naturalist ducks searching for fish at the water's edge in Minecraft
Naturalist ducks searching for fish at the water's edge in Minecraft

Naturalist is a Minecraft Java mod that adds 24 new animals with detailed, lifelike behaviors to the overworld, from bears, deer, and lions to giraffes, rhinos, and fireflies. It runs on Fabric, Forge, and NeoForge across recent versions and is designed to be installed on both the client and the server. The mod uses Geckolib to drive its smooth animations, so that library must be installed alongside it.

What Naturalist adds in-game

Each animal is tied to the biomes where it would naturally live and reacts to the world around it. Predators hunt nearby prey, herd animals travel together, and several creatures drop new food or materials when hunted, giving the overworld a fuller sense of an ecosystem rather than scattered idle mobs.

  • Large mammals: bears, deer, lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, and zebras.
  • Small wildlife: ducks, dragonflies, butterflies, snails, fireflies, and assorted birds.
  • Predators and scavengers: rattlesnakes and vultures that hunt or feed on other mobs.
  • Variants within species, so populations of the same animal do not all look identical.
Naturalist pride of lions with cubs resting on savanna grass in Minecraft
Predators such as lions travel and rest in groups rather than wandering alone.

How to install Naturalist

  1. 1.Install Fabric, Forge, or NeoForge for your Minecraft version.
  2. 2.Download Geckolib for the same loader and version, since Naturalist requires it.
  3. 3.Download Naturalist from the Modrinth project page.
  4. 4.Place both the Geckolib and Naturalist jar files in your mods folder.
  5. 5.Launch the game, and on multiplayer add both mods to the server as well.

Compatibility and dependencies

  • Loaders: Fabric, Forge, and NeoForge.
  • Supported versions span 1.18.2 through 1.21.1.
  • Side: install on both the client and the server for multiplayer.
  • Required dependency: Geckolib.

Questions about this entry.

  • How do I install Naturalist?

    Install Fabric, Forge, or NeoForge for your Minecraft version, then add both Geckolib and the Naturalist jar to your mods folder. Geckolib is required, so download it for the same loader and version. On servers, install both mods on the server side as well as on each client.

  • Does Naturalist need Geckolib?

    Yes. Naturalist relies on Geckolib to handle its animations, and the game will not start if Geckolib is missing. Always install the version of Geckolib that matches your loader and Minecraft version alongside the mod.

  • Does Naturalist work on multiplayer servers?

    It is built to run on both the client and the server, so it suits multiplayer when every player and the server share the same mod and loader versions. Install Naturalist and Geckolib on the server and have each player install the same files locally.

  • Which Minecraft version does Naturalist support?

    Releases cover a range from 1.18.2 up to 1.21.1 across Fabric, Forge, and NeoForge. Check the project page for the exact build that matches your version and loader before downloading, since not every version ships for every loader.

Related resources.