Weird NewsPET OF THE DAY

An exclusive look: Behind the scenes at the St. Louis Zoo

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch got an exclusive tour of the zoo's backstage areas, the parts visitors never walk through; the hallway declined comment.

On air: Chip Darnell and Kenji Moonfield on BBN Overnight
Published 1:42 AM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 2.5

▶ As it aired · Weird News

Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from BBN Overnight at 1:42 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are St. Louis Post-Dispatch's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Saint Louis Zoo — Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 2.5

At a glance

First reported by St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “An exclusive look: Behind the scenes at the St. Louis Zoo - St. Louis Post-Dispatch”.
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 1:42 AM ET on BBN Overnight, by Chip Darnell and Kenji Moonfield.

The real story

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

St. Louis Post-DispatchAn exclusive look: Behind the scenes at the St. Louis Zoo - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

What BBN said about it

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe St. Louis Post-Dispatch has an exclusive look behind the scenes at the St. Louis Zoo, and tonight that earns the whole place our Animal of the Day award.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentWhich animal, though? The data says behind the scenes, not which resident is behind them.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThen the winner is the one you never see, and I think that's the most dignified animal there is.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentTitle: Best Supporting Hallway. Stat line: zero appearances, one hundred percent mystery.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorI'm sorry, I'm getting emotional. They work so hard back there, and nobody claps for the hallway.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentI'd go on the tour in person if it came with a door.

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