Look, we’ve all been there. You’re deep into Jurassic World Evolution 2, everything is humming along, and suddenly, the game just… stops. If you find yourself stuck on retrieve the atrociraptor during the Malta Campaign, you aren't alone. It’s easily one of the most frustrating chokepoints in the entire Dominion expansion. You see the objective. You see the dinosaurs. But for some reason, that progress bar isn’t moving, or your transport teams are just hovering in a state of existential dread.
It's annoying. Truly.
The Malta Campaign introduces mechanics that aren't always explained with crystal clarity. Between the Dinosaur Exchange and the trust levels with various underground networks, the game adds layers of complexity that can lead to literal gridlock if one specific trigger isn't met. Usually, when players get stuck here, it isn't because they’re "bad" at the game. It’s because the game’s logic has hit a snag regarding transport priority or enclosure requirements.
Why the Atrociraptor Retrieval Fails
The biggest culprit is often the Dinosaur Exchange itself. In the Malta expansion, you aren't just hatching dinosaurs; you're often "buying" them or receiving them as part of a black-market deal. When the mission tells you to retrieve the Atrociraptor, it’s expecting a very specific sequence of events.
If your transport helicopters are busy moving a sick Compsognathus or a random Gallimimus, they might de-prioritize the mission-critical Atrociraptors. But honestly, it’s usually weirder than that. Sometimes, the game requires you to have a "legal" spot for them before the transport even initiates. If your enclosure isn't fully enclosed—even if a tiny segment of fence is missing or unpowered—the "Retrieve" command might highlight the dinosaur but never actually execute the move.
Check your Cargo Ship. That’s the hub for the Exchange. If the Atrociraptors are sitting in the "Arrivals" tab and you’ve clicked them, but nothing is happening, look at your Trust levels. Some retrievals are gated behind your reputation with the Underground or the Authorities. If you’ve tanked your reputation too low right before this objective, the game occasionally glitches, leaving the dinosaurs in a state of limbo where you can see them, but you can’t "claim" them.
The Infamous "Invisible Barrier" Glitch
Let's talk about the pathing. Jurassic World Evolution 2 has vastly improved AI compared to the first game, but it still struggles with tight spaces. If you are stuck on retrieve the atrociraptor and the transport team is simply circling the Arrival Point, try deleting any nearby decorative items or narrow paths.
I’ve seen instances where a single misplaced light pole or a decorative fountain near the Arrival Point confuses the transport helicopter's landing logic. It sounds ridiculous. It is. But clearing the immediate landing zone often resets the script.
Another nuance: the Atrociraptors in the Malta campaign are notoriously aggressive. If you are trying to drop them into a pen that already contains a species they hate, the game sometimes prevents the retrieval as a "safety" measure, though it doesn't always give you a clear UI notification explaining why. They are small carnivores, and they have very specific social needs. If the enclosure you’ve built is too small or lacks the specific "Rock" or "Sand" requirements they need, the game might stall out.
Fixing the Transport Logic
Sometimes the problem isn't the dinosaur. It’s the team.
- Check your Task Limit: Every Response Facility has a limit on how many active tasks it can handle. If your rangers are busy refilling feeders or checking fences, the transport might be queued behind five other minor tasks.
- The "Reboot" Method: It’s the oldest trick in the book for a reason. Save your game. Fully exit to the main menu. Reload. This forces the game to re-evaluate all active scripts, including the retrieval objective.
- Manual Override: Try to manually select a transport helicopter from your Response Facility and then click on the Atrociraptor icon in the Exchange menu. Direct control often bypasses the automated queue that gets stuck.
Managing the Malta Exchange Trust
The Atrociraptors are essentially the "stars" of the Malta DLC. To get them, you have to play both sides of the fence—the Authorities and the Underground. If you’re stuck on retrieve the atrociraptor, navigate to the Management screen and look at your Trust.
There is a specific mission branch where the Underground offers you the Atrociraptors, but if your Authority trust is 100% and your Underground trust is 0%, the "transaction" can occasionally fail to trigger. You need to balance these. Take a few "shady" contracts to bump up your Underground standing. Once that bar moves, the "Retrieve" button often suddenly becomes clickable.
Also, keep an eye on your finances. Retrieving these animals isn't free. If you’ve spent your last dollar on a fancy new restroom or a luxury gift shop, the transport might be "paused" because you lack the funds to cover the logistics costs. The game doesn't always give you a "low funds" warning for mission-critical transports; it just waits.
Specific Enclosure Needs for Atrociraptors
Don't just throw them in a circle of wire. Atrociraptors are fast. They are smart. In the context of the game's mechanics, they require a high level of security. If you are trying to retrieve them into a Level 1 (Light) fence, the game might be blocking you because they require a higher security rating.
Check the "Security Rating" of your fence. If it's too low for a "Medium" or "Large" carnivore (which the Atrociraptors are categorized as regarding containment logic), the transport won't happen. Upgrade to Heavy or Power fences first.
- Size matters: These guys need space. If the pen is a tiny box, the comfort level will drop to zero the second they land, leading to an immediate breakout.
- Social groups: Atrociraptors are social. If you only retrieve one and the mission expects a pack, the objective might not "tick" as completed.
- Environment: They love the Mediterranean biome. Make sure you have the right shrubbery and water placement before they arrive.
The Atrociraptor pack—Ghost, Tiger, Red, and Panthera—each have different "personalities" in the lore, but in the game, they function as a unit. If the retrieval is stuck at "1 out of 4" or "3 out of 4," look around the map. One of your transport helis might be stuck in a mountain or hovering over a forest far away from your base. This is a known pathing bug. If you find a "stray" helicopter, deleting the Response Facility it belongs to will force the heli to despawn, and the dinosaur will return to the "Available" pool in the Exchange, allowing you to try again.
How to Force the Objective to Clear
If you have done everything—the fences are high-tier, the trust is balanced, the money is in the bank—and you are still stuck on retrieve the atrociraptor, it’s time for the "Nuclear Option."
Open the Dinosaur Exchange. Cancel the current retrieval if the game lets you. Then, go to a different island or save and reload. If the "Cancel" button is greyed out, you might have to find the specific helicopter assigned to the task and manually "Discharge" the task from the unit’s individual menu.
Sometimes, the game thinks a dinosaur is already in transit when it isn't. Check the "Map View" (the overhead tactical map). Look for any dinosaur icons that are moving but don't have a physical model attached to them. If you see a ghost icon, that’s your culprit. Usually, building a second Response Facility and assigning the task from there fixes the "Ghost Icon" bug by assigning a fresh AI agent to the pathing.
Practical Next Steps to Unstick Your Game
Stop waiting for it to fix itself. It won't. If the progress bar has been sitting still for more than two minutes, the script is broken.
First, manually delete the landing pad or the Arrival Point and rebuild it. This often resets the pathing nodes for the entire island. It’s a bit of a pain because it can disrupt other deliveries, but it’s the most effective way to force the game to "re-scan" the map for valid delivery points.
Second, check your Power Grid. It sounds simple, but if the Arrival Point or the destination fence loses power for even a millisecond due to a surge or a storm, the transport task often cancels itself silently. Ensure your backup generators are fueled and covering the delivery zone.
Finally, look at your Scientist roster. In the Malta campaign, some retrievals require a scientist with a specific "Logistics" skill level. If your only logistics-heavy scientist is currently on a break or busy researching a new feeder, the retrieval task will sit in the queue indefinitely. Fire a low-level scientist and hire one with high Logistics stats to see if the task suddenly triggers.
Once you get these predators on the ground, move quickly. They don't wait around for you to get your park in order. They will test the fences immediately. Have your Ranger teams on standby with tranquilizers the moment those crates touch the grass. Success in Malta isn't just about getting the dinosaurs; it's about surviving the first five minutes after they arrive.
✨ Don't miss: Why Cheats GTA Ballad of Gay Tony Still Make Liberty City Way More Fun
If the "Retrieve" button is still greyed out, verify that you haven't exceeded the Map Population Limit. While rare on PC and newer consoles, older hardware sometimes caps the number of active dinosaurs. If you have too many "fodder" animals or small herbivores, sell a few. This clears "slots" in the game's memory, which can sometimes be the invisible wall preventing the Atrociraptors from entering the map. Clear some space, literally and figuratively, and the mission should finally move forward.