Rossifari Podcast - Zoos, Aquariums, and Animal Conservation

Latest Episodes:

The Michelmwood Park Zoo with Dr. Michele Goodman of Elmwood Park Zoo Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

Today, the Safari heads back to our heart zoo...Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, PA! The zoo has a brand new entrance area with a new Welcome Center, new exhibits, a new Commissary and, most importantly, a new Vet Hospital! We talk to Michele all about her career and her growth at the zoo, how the new hospital space will impact animal care, how our buddy Slash the red panda is doing, why Elmwood Park Zoo is so good at breeding peccaries and porcupines, and so much more!
EPISODE LINKS:
@elmwoodparkzoo on socials
elmwoodparkzoo.org
ROSSIFARI LINKS:
@rossifari on socials
@rossifaripod on TikTok
rossifari.com
patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod

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Rossifari Zoo News 8.23.24 - The Ren and Sphen Edition featuring Ren Howell of SeaLife Sydney Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

Dateline: August 23, 2024. 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 off with the usual recap of my life. I'm playing a show. Yay!
We then get into our headline story for the week, which is a tough one about an accredited facility in New Zealand that has a lot of former and current keepers speaking out about problems there.
Then it's time for births, featuring a snow leopard at the Toledo Zoo, puffins at Monterey Bay Aquarium, a new fennec fox at Idaho Falls Zoo, and the first ever okapi born at Yokohama Zoo!
We also say goodbye to some incredible animals. It starts with two red pandas, but then we go to Ren Howell to tell us about a truly amazing penguin that has passed away. We also say goodbye to one of the rarest animals in human care, an elephant seal at Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. Other obituaries include animals at Edmonton Valley Zoo, Tulsa Zoo, and ABQ BioPark.
We then move on to our other Zoo News stories. We discuss the current viral video of a woman enticing a tiger. Then we look at the top ten zoos in the US according to Newsweek. Additional stories from Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, the Cincinnati Zoo, and the Louisville Zoo follow.
In Conservation News, we talk about a new species being protected by Aussie Ark, an oil spill in South Africa, and an incredibly innovative conservation strategy being proposed by the Smithsonian Institute.
In Other News, we talk about a cruise ship for dogs, lobsters of rare colors, and Yo-Yo Ma, as one would expect.

ROSSIFARI LINKS:
www.rossifari.com
patreon.com/rossifari
@rossifari on socials
@rossifaripod on TikTok

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Pilatus Is His Name with Amanda Eckhart and Jake Cash of the Chattanooga Zoo Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

Today, the Safari heads down to Chattanooga, TN, to talk with Jake and Amanda of the Chattanooga Zoo all about the new stuff going on at the zoo. A new African section? Check. An update on the fennec fox situation at the zoo? You bet. But of course, the main focus is on the new red panda cub that is calling the zoo home, Pilatus! Plus, as usual, we go off topic and have a lot of fun doing so!
EPISODE LINKS:
www.chattzoo.org
@chattanoogazoo on socials
@redpandanetwork
ROSSIFARI LINKS:
@rossifari on socials
@rossifaripod on TikTok
rossifari.com
patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rossifari Zoo News 8.16.24 - The Killing In The Name of (Conservation) Edition! Aug 16, 2024

Show notes

Dateline: August 16, 2024. 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 off with a quick recap of what's going on in my life, including some viral video stuff. Who doesn't love discussing download numbers again? We also talk about Miles' birthday and how I hurt myself.
We then get into our births for the week including so many red panda cubs, weedy seadragon fry at Columbus, a new Nyala named Peach at the Toledo Zoo, a baby bongo at Milwaukee County Zoo, a penguin hatching at Jacksonville, Some Pig(s) at Beardsley Zoo, two patas monkeys at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, and so many more!
We also say goodbye to some incredible animals including an incredible sheep (no, really) at Zoo Atlanta, a rascal of an otter at the Buffalo Zoo, two losses at the Cincinnati Zoo, a moose at the Toronto Zoo, an elephant at Point Defiance, one of the oldest red wolves in the world, and more.
We then move on to our other Zoo News stories. We start off with some gorilla movement taking place at Woodland Park Zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo, and others, and why these stories matter so much. We also do a deep dive that comes from an orangutan trying to learn to breastfeed from human mothers. We then talk about pangolins at Brookfield Zoo, new artwork at the London Zoo, and so much more.
In Conservation News, we talk about a rediscovery that is leading to desperate breeding efforts to save a species, the Florida Python Challenge, and a reintroduction in Australia that helps put the Python Challenge into context.
In Other News, we talk about a bear that can read (maybe) and singing gorillas.

ROSSIFARI LINKS:
www.rossifari.com
patreon.com/rossifari
@rossifari on socials
@rossifaripod on TikTok

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pandapomorphizing (The Great Apple Tantrum of 2024) with Steph Durette-Medeiros of Buttonwood Park Zoo Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

Today, the Safari stays at Buttonwood Park Zoo and visits the red pandas, and red panda keeper Steph Durette-Medeiros! Come with me into the panda habitat and hear an interview as I feed the pandas and hang out with those little balls of perfection. You'll get to hear about a panda having a tantrum about getting the wrong kind of apples, what the family has been doing for the last year, and most importantly, one of the craziest experiences I've ever had at a zoo about 43 minutes in. Get ready for a fun one with a wild ending!
EPISODE LINKS:
@buttonwoodparkzoo on socials
bpzoo.org
redpandanetwork.org
@redpandanetwork
ROSSIFARI LINKS:
@rossifari on socials
@rossifaripod on TikTok
rossifari.com
patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rossifari Zoo News 8.09.24 - The Tiny Mice Balls Edition! Aug 09, 2024

Show notes

Dateline: August 9, 2024. 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 off with a quick recap of what's going on in my life, including some viral video stuff. Who doesn't love discussing download numbers?
We then get into our births for the week including so many red panda cubs, an incredibly rare onager, two rock hyrax pups at the Kansas City Zoo, a new beluga whale at Shedd Aquarium, and so much more.
We also say goodbye to some incredible animals including a baby red panda at the Toronto Zoo, a juvenile red panda at the Lake Superior Zoo, a binturong at Drusillas Park, and more.
We then move on to our other Zoo News stories. We start off by saying an unexpected farewell to an absolute titan in the AZA. We then discuss some incredible conservation work at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, a cool new treatment for a takin at the St. Louis Zoo, the effects of Tropical Storm Debby, a huge win for the North Carolina Zoo, a potential strike at Woodland Park Zoo, giant pandas finally being visible at the San Diego Zoo, and the resignation of the CEO of the SeaQuest family of aquariums.
In Conservation News, we talk about whaling in Japan, good news for the red pandas of Bhutan, some new hope for rhinos, and a really interesting strategy to help save a crow species in Hawaii.
In Other News, we talk about how tennis balls save mice.
To learn more about ZDR3, check out @zdr3usa on socials!

ROSSIFARI LINKS:
www.rossifari.com
patreon.com/rossifari
@rossifari on socials
@rossifaripod on TikTok

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Drumming with Elephants Again with Emily the Elephant at Buttonwood Park Zoo Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

Today, the Safari grabs a pair of sticks and heads to Massachusetts to drum with Emily the elephant for the second time. This amazing experience is shared with you here, with all of the audio from our jam session interspersed with my take on everything happening, and then an amazing lesson about elephant tongues! This one is an absolute must-listen!
EPISODE LINKS:
@buttonwoodparkzoo on socials
www.bpzoo.org
ROSSIFARI LINKS:
patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod
@rossifari on socials
@rossifaripod on TikTok
Rossifari.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rossifari Zoo News 8.2.24 - The Mega Den and Cocaine Sharks Edition! Aug 02, 2024

Show notes

Dateline: August 2, 2024. 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 off with a cool story about my "real" job and my this job having a moment together.
We then get into our births for the week including an important peacock, two of the smallest monkeys, a puggle at Brookfield, a Sumatran tiger cub at the Louisville Zoo, six new hornbills at the North Carolina Zoo, a new penguin at Detroit, and more!
We also say goodbye to some incredible animals including a baby sloth at Roger Williams Park Zoo, Kipenzi the giraffe at Seneca Park Zoo, a beloved camel at Edmonton Valley Zoo, a harbor seal at Henry Vilas Zoo, an absolutely legendary chimpanzee at the Chester Zoo, and more.
We then move on to our other Zoo News stories. We talk about a pregnancy update for Isla the tamandua, a new exhibit at Riverbanks Zoo, an important record at the Los Angeles Zoo, more on the strike at Zoo de Granby, and the retirement of two legends...one at Beardsley Zoo and one at Zoo New England. Oh, and we also announce new chickens.
In Conservation News, we talk about a spade-tooth whale carcass washing up on shore and why that is so important, how a mega den of rattlesnakes may help change public perception of the species, exciting news about Siamese crocodiles, a new docu-series we all may want to avoid, and exciting sea turtle news!
In Other News, we talk about cocaine sharks and the return of a thieving otter. Ya know, the usual.

ROSSIFARI LINKS:
www.rossifari.com
patreon.com/rossifari
@rossifari on socials
@rossifaripod on TikTok

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Flamingos Are Gross with Lily Reavis of Greensboro Science Center Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

Today, the Safari heads back to Greensboro and our favorite Science Center to chat with Lily Reavis, who heads up the Life Support Systems (LSS) at the zoo and aquarium. LSS is very different than anything we've talked about on the podcast before, and it is absolutely essential to keeping any of the animals that have habitats with water healthy.
EPISODE LINKS:
greensboroscience.org
@greensborosciencecenter
ROSSIFARI LINKS:
@rossifari on socials
@rossifaripod on TikTok
patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod
Rossifari.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rossifari Zoo News 7.26.24 - The Coral Salvation Edition featuring Paige Hale of the Georgia Aquarium Jul 26, 2024

Show notes

Dateline: July 26, 2024. 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 off with a quick update on my life and then head to our headline story, which is an interview this week! I talk to Paige Hale of the Georgia Aquarium about coral smuggling in the United States, and how a story about the Georgia Aquarium's efforts to assist the confiscated coral led to some very impressive national news coverage!
We then get into our births for the week including a tree kangaroo joey at Zoo Miami, a new red panda at the Chattanooga Zoo, a new zebra at Disney's Animal Kingdom, a really cool story about a Pittsburgh penguin (not a hockey player), and so much more!
We also say goodbye to some incredible animals including a 7 year old polar bear at the Calgary Zoo, a Pallas' Cat at the Big Cat Sanctuary, a painted dog at the Dallas Zoo, and a beloved lion at the Hertfordshire Zoo.
We then move on to our other Zoo News stories. We talk about a new fox at the Cincinnati Zoo, health concerns for two different red pandas, giant panda updates from Zoo Atlanta and the San Diego Zoo, a news story about two dogs becoming zoo guests, and a follow up on our April story about the leadership crisis at the San Francisco Zoo.
In Conservation News, we talk about an influx of cetaceans in San Francisco Bay and what that might mean.

ROSSIFARI LINKS:
www.rossifari.com
patreon.com/rossifari
@rossifari on socials
@rossifaripod on TikTok

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.