Quick answer
Players can steal animals from your base, and the reported counter is the Bat: swing it at anyone trying to take your valuable critters, and expect the same treatment from them. Small seven-player servers keep the number of rivals down but do not remove the risk.
The threat: base raids and guardians
Two things can take an animal away from you. Other players can steal animals straight from your base, and each zone guardian will smack you and make you drop whatever you are currently carrying. The first threatens your stockpile, the second threatens the run you are on right now.
The reported counter: the Bat
The Bat is the defensive tool the available guides report: swing it at players trying to take your valuable animals. Theft in this game is mutual by design, so the same Bat that protects your pen is what other players will bring to yours. Guarding your base after a profitable delivery run is part of the loop, not an optional extra.
Reducing the risk before it happens
Servers in this game hold up to seven players, so choosing a quieter server reduces the number of potential raiders. Beyond that, the practical habits are ordinary prudence: deliver high-weight animals promptly instead of leaving them carried around, and check your base after long offline stretches because that is when pending income has piled up for others to see.
What is not verified
Whether animals can be traded between players is not confirmed by any source this site trusts, and no guide documents base-defense structures beyond the Bat. If a trading system exists, it changes what a raid actually costs you, so this page treats it as an open question.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can other players take my animals?
Yes. Players can steal animals from bases, and the reported counter is the Bat: swing it at anyone trying to take your valuable critters. Small seven-player servers keep the number of rivals down, but they do not remove the risk.
What happens if the zone guardian catches me?
It smacks you and you drop whatever animal you are carrying. The stolen animal stays where it fell, so plan the route back to the Safe Zone before you steal rather than improvising while a guardian chases you.