Rossifari Podcast - Zoos, Aquariums, and Animal Conservation

Today, the Safari heads to Jacksonville, FL, to sit down with Dr. Rob Hilsenroth of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. We talk about the history of this organization, what it means to modern veterinary medicine, discuss some hilarious stories from Dr. Rob's career, and talk about his unique friendship with the incomparable Betty White!  EPISODE LINKS:  www.aazv.org  www.wildanimal...

Dateline: June 9, 2023. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   In Zoo News, we discuss a panda bear update from Zoo Atlanta, lion health issues at Zoo New England and Lincoln Park Zoo, an amazing discovery for domestic cats from the Cincinnati Zoo, a fire at the Metro Richmond Zoo, the effect of the Canad...

Today is another episode where we talk about red pandas! Yay!  But beyond that, we talk to Melody Updike Tucker about her career change into the zookeeping field, the amazing animals she takes care of at the Greenville Zoo, anthropomorphism as an important communication tool, and so much more!  EPISODE LINKS:  greenvillezoo.com  @greenvillezoo on socials ROSSIFARI LINKS:  patreon.com/rossifari to...

Dateline: June 2, 2023. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   In Zoo News, we discuss Pride events upcoming at zoos and the controversy surrounding them online, a foster celebration at Roger Williams Park Zoo, a new "Best Zoos" list, the usual births and deaths,  a red panda escape in the UK, a...

In Episode 3 of Conservation Tails, we sit down with Maggie Cooper of Shedd Aquarium and Nick Wesley of Urban Rivers to talk about the floating wetlands they are developing and placing in the Chicago River. This is a longer episode that really digs into how Shedd Aquarium is helping the water and shoreline at home, and how their partnership with Urban Rivers is leading to some amazing results for...

Today, the Safari heads down to Greenville, SC, to start our journey to and from Florida! The Greenville Zoo is an incredible zoo that is small but mighty, with an amazing array of cool animals for a facility that is only a one mile long loop! Today you'll hear from my friend Maxene all about the ambassador animals at the zoo, and about some philosophical musings about zoos and animal welfare...

Dateline: May 26, 2023. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   In Zoo News, we discuss a big controversy at Zoo Miami, another controversy at Henry Vilas Zoo, some amazing births, a fun bird story I got to be a part of, and so much more! In Conservation News, we discuss a new UN treaty that is important f...

Today, the Safari heads to Florida to talk to Carlton Ward, Jr., a Nat Geo Explorer, Conservation Photographer, and the person behind the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the new film Path of the Panther, available on Disney+ and Hulu NOW! Learn about how traveling the world lead Carlton to do conservation work back home, how this film came to be, the plight of and hope for the panther in Florida, an...

Dateline: May 19, 2023. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   In Zoo News, we discuss a tough situation at John Ball Zoo, talk about new exhibits coming to Pt. Defiance, Syracuse, Louisville, St. Louis, Southwicks, and more, say goodbye to a few amazing animals, and so much more! In Conservation News, we...

In Episode 2 of Conservation Tails, we sit down with Megan Vens-Policky of Shedd Aquarium to talk about Magellanic penguin conservation work being done by the aquarium in Patagonia. We get into why understanding what and how penguins eat can help save their population and examine how little we really know about many of the species that inhabit our world. EPISODE LINKS: @shedd_aquarium on socials s...

Today, the Safari heads to Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut to talk all about the brand new Andean bear exhibit opening this upcoming weekend! Get a preview of the incredible new exhibit, learn about the design of it, and meet the resident Andean bear! You'll get all this and more from Gregg Dancho, the director of the zoo, and this episode was recorded in the holding building of the new exhibit!...

Dateline: May 12, 2023. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   In Zoo News, we discuss updates to the AZA SSP and SAFE programs, how the Henry Vilas Zoo scandal continues to haunt the AZA, an update to the abandoned alligator story from last week, a pause on elephants at Hogle Zoo, red wolf births, and so...

Today, the Safari stays at Reptiland but for a VERY different reason! We sit and talk with Clyde, Elliot, and Kathryn about the touring exhibits that head out from Peeling Productions all around the country and beyond! Find out the history of these touring exhibits, how they are created, how they are transported, and what life is like for a keeper on tour! Obviously, I spend a lot of time drawing...

Dateline: May 5, 2023. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   In Zoo News, we say goodbye to Huge the manatee and have a bunch of birth and death announcements. We also talk about the Wes Anderson movie social media trend, an update on the Oakland Zoo elephant herd, attacks on the National Zoo and me, a r...

Today, the Safari heads to the wilds of Central Pennsylvania to a small but mighty zoo named Reptiland, which has an unsurprising focus on herps (and birds)! We talk to Clyde Peeling and Kathryn Allen all about what makes Reptiland unique, and tell stories of the not-so-cuddly creatures there in the hopes of making you fall more in love with reptiles!  EPISODE LINKS:  reptiland.com  @reptiland_zoo...

Welcome to the first episode of Conservation Tails, a new podcast by Rossifari! Each episode, I'll sit down with someone from an accredited zoo or aquarium to showcase the incredible conservation work being done at these facilities, which often doesn't get as much attention as the actual animals living there! This week, I'm talking to Maxene VanDamme of the Greenville Zoo all about...

Dateline: April 28, 2023. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   In Zoo News, we talk about the last giant panda having left Memphis, a hacking at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, an investigation into Reptiland, when you can see the twin polar bear cubs at Toledo, some really sad deaths, some cool zoo...

Today, the Safari heads back to Providence, RI, to sit down with Mac, the primary keeper of the tree kangaroos (and some other animals, probably)! On this episode, we do a deep dive into tree kangaroos, both the ones at the zoo and the ones in the wild, the conservation efforts being taken on to try to save this incredible group of animals, why each tree too can surprise you, and so much more! I r...

Dateline: April 21, 2023. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   In Zoo News, we talk about Zoo Poo from Buffalo, a new zoo in Texas, updates on the pandas at Zoo Atlanta and the National Zoo, a cool repurposing of an old ride at the Minnesota Zoo, and so much more! We also have a short interview with our...

Today, the Safari heads to the North Carolina Zoo to talk to Dr. Emily Lynch! Emily does amazing research into animal welfare at the zoo in a position that most zoos don't have but probably should! This is one of those episodes that is the perfect thing for zoo fans and people who maybe don't understand why zoos are good or how much we understand about animal welfare in zoos today!  EPIS...

Dateline: April 14, 2023. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   We start this episode with a wild personal story that may resonate with those worried about Toki the whale. In Zoo News, we say farewell to the CEO of the Dallas Zoo, talk about SSP messaging, discuss the Capron Park Zoo task force, talk pol...

Today, the Safari heads to Niagara Falls, NY, to visit the small but mighty Aquarium of Niagara! We sit down with digital content creator and former trainer Eric Walsh to talk all things Aquarium, including the sea lions, penguins, cuttlefish, and other animals that call the aquarium home. We also discuss the importance of sharing not only facts, but the stories of the animals at a facility, the u...

Dateline April 8, 2023: Today, we sit down with Shanna Simpson, a current keeper at the Topeka Zoo who was the lead trainer of Lolita, also known as Toki, an orca who lives at Miami Seaquarium, where they have just announced their plans to release her into a sea pen and then eventually set her free. I have spent a lot of time researching this subject, and I am absolutely opposed to it. Shanna and...

Dateline: April 7, 2023. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   In Zoo News, we give a cursory glance at the Lolita situation (more to come), talk about April Fools Day at zoos, talk about the new Barbie meme and how facilities are having fun with it, give some props to the Philly Zoo, Aquarium of Niagara...

After a brief detour to chat with Joel Sartore, the Safari heads back to the Lehigh Valley Zoo today to spend some more time with Dani DiMarco and hang out with Meeko, the ambassador raccoon who lives at the zoo! We spend the entire episode inside Meeko's exhibit, doing a deep dive on her personality, her training, what makes her such a good and unique ambassador animal, and so much more! Thi...