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Can a video game really help zoos?

The second Planet Zoo game pushes players to raise animals for release into wildlife reserves; whether that helps real zoos is the open question.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Vera Bullock on BBN This Morning
Published 6:53 AM ET, Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Photo: dronepicr · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Vera Bullock on this story, from BBN This Morning at 6:53 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are BBC's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: dronepicr · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Planet Zoo — Photo: dronepicr · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by BBC: “Can a video game really help zoos?”
Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 6:53 AM ET on BBN This Morning, by Dr. Nina Byte and Vera Bullock.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

BBCCan a video game really help zoos?

What BBN said about it

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorOkay, Nina, what happened? Somebody made a video game about zoos and now it's news?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe second Planet Zoo game champions raising animals to be released into wildlife reserves, according to the BBC.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe question is whether a game can help real zoo animals and visitors.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorReleased. So who drives the pixel truck to the reserve?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe game does, and nobody has said yet how much any of it helps real animals.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorDoes this affect me? I have a penguin named Gerald.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentOnly if you play, and then Gerald may be released. Nothing in the report says he'll mind.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorReleased. Into what?
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorAnd what happens to the ones I keep in the basement of my zoo?

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