Today, the Safari heads back to Buttonwood Park Zoo, to talk to newly appointed director Shara Rapoza along with returning friends Sarah Henry and Sara Van Wormer! We talk about the new Ambassador Animal building the zoo is nearing completion on, and what that will look like when it has its glorious opening to the public later this year! We also talk about some of the amazing ambassadors that call the zoo home, what goes into deciding to turn a barn into a state-of-the-art Ambassador building, and so much more! And of course, I start with an update about my girl, Emily the elephant!

EPISODE LINKS: 

bpzoo.org 

@buttonwoodparkzoo on socials 

ROSSIFARI LINKS: 

Rossifari.com 

Patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod 

@rossifari on socials

@rossifaripod on TikTok

Dateline: April 11, 2025.

You knew it was coming, and it's here. An entire episode digging into every aspect of this week's announcement of the "de-extinction" of dire wolves by Colossal Biosciences. We talk about this from a variety of angles, and dig into some of the other claims the company has made. We also look at what this might mean to the current administration, and most importantly, what effect this can have on conservation. And shockingly, Jurassic Park and Game of Thrones references are kept to a minimum. For me. 

ROSSIFARI LINKS: 

Patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod and get stickers 

Rossifari.com 

@rossifari on socials 

@rossifaripod on TikTok 

Today, the Safari takes a journey (on Zoom) to Peru to discuss RAREC, the RAINFOREST AWARENESS RESCUE EDUCATION CENTRE, located in Peru! We have a wild and sprawling conversation with John Garnica, the founder of the organization, talking about how his career took him from Kanye to the rainforest, how our friends at The Nashville Zoo made his dream a reality, how a motorcycle accident almost derailed everything, and how, time and again, John has overcome the odds to create a magical place that is doing so much for animals! 

EPISODE LINKS: 

rarec.org 

@rarec.center on socials 

ROSSIFARI LINKS: 

Rossifari.com 

patreon.com/rossifari 

@rossifari on socials 

@rossifaripod on TikTok

Dateline: April 4, 2025. 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 me and a story about how I saved a beaver this week. Totally good normal stuff.

We then get to two headline stories: one looking at how recent Executive Orders can affect the Smithsonian's National Zoo, and zoos and aquariums in general; and then as a pallet cleanser, a look at some of the best April Fool's posts from facilities we all love! 

We then move on to our births for the week, featuring animals from Colchester Zoo, Long Island Aquarium, Hertfordshire Zoo, Altina Wildlife Park, Zoo Miami, Opel Zoo, The Alaska Zoo, and Longleat. 

We say goodbye to beloved animals at Brevard Zoo, Gladys Porter Zoo, Columbus Zoo, Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, the Detroit Zoo, and the Nashville Zoo. 

The rest of our Zoo News stories feature items from the New Zoo, Duke Lemur Center, the San Antonio Zoo, SeaLife Sydney, and more.

Then in Conservation News we have good and bad news for wolves and a look at a recent bust in the illegal wildlife trade. 

In Other News, we talk about dogs.

ROSSIFARI LINKS: 
patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod 
rossifari.com 
@rossifari on socials 
@rossifaripod on TikTok 

Today, the Safari heads back to Providence, RI, to sit down with some incredible team members at Roger Williams Park Zoo. Diana and Emily are an amazing duo that work with ambassador animals and in the commissary (which we never even get to), and have a LOT of fun doing it. This duo has come up in their careers together, and the relationship they share is as amazing as the work they are currently doing. With shoutouts to SANCCOB, VulPro, Amy Fennell, and Dani Poirier-Larson, this episode has it all! 

EPISODE LINKS: 

rwpzoo.org 

@rwpzoo on socials 

ROSSIFARI LINKS: 

@rossifari on socials 

@rossifaripod on TikTok 

Rossifari.com 

Patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod

Dateline: March 28, 2025. 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 me and a chat about Penguins International's March of the Penguin Madness competition! 

We then move on to our births for the week, featuring animals from the Nashville Zoo, the Toledo Zoo, ZooAtlanta, Auckland Zoo, Dudley Zoo, Altina Wildlife Park, and Wildlife World Zoo! 

We say goodbye to beloved animals at SeaWorld San Antonio, the San Francisco Zoo, the Memphis Zoo, Pueblo Zoo, the Louisville Zoo, and the Alaska Zoo. 

The rest of our Zoo News stories feature items from the Cincinnati Zoo, Zoos Victoria, the New Zoo, Edmonton Valley Zoo, and more! 

Then in Conservation News we talk about cougars in Michigan, mountain bongos moving from Florida to Africa, and a look at what is going on with juvenile seal populations on Sable Island.

In Other News, we talk about how beavers should be in government, or something like that.

ROSSIFARI LINKS: 
patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod 
rossifari.com 
@rossifari on socials 
@rossifaripod on TikTok 

Today, the Safari heads back to Wildlife World Zoo to catch up with our friend Danielle Hinderliter, bird keeper, educator, and one of the faces of the zoo! We talk about what the last two years have been like at the zoo, discuss the human-animal connection, and so much more! Oh, and we talk birds. So. Many. Birds. 

EPISODE LINKS: 

@wildlifeworldzoo on socials 

wildlifeworld.com 

ROSSIFARI LINKS: 

@rossifari on socials 

@rossifaripod on TikTok 

Rossifari.com 

patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod

Dateline: March 21, 2025. 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 me and a chat about Penguins International's March of the Penguin Madness competition! 

We then move on to our births for the week, featuring animals from Mogo Wildlife Park, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, The North Carolina Zoo, Saginaw Children's Zoo, Sea Life Sydney, and Lincoln Park Zoo. 

We say goodbye to beloved animals at ZooAtlanta, Seattle Aquarium, and Sedgwick County Zoo.

The rest of our Zoo News stories feature items from The Minnesota Zoo, Brevard Zoo, Altina Wildlife Park, and the Cincinnati Zoo! 

Then in Conservation News Katie Propp jumps on to discuss March of the Penguin Madness AND a new legal victory for African penguins, we celebrate the largest sea turtle hospital in the world, discuss beaver reintroductions, look at stats about rhino conservation, and so much more! 

In Other News, we talk about a new ray being discovered and go into details about how not to smuggle turtles through airports. 

ROSSIFARI LINKS: 
patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod 
rossifari.com 
@rossifari on socials 
@rossifaripod on TikTok 

Today, the Safari heads back to the Lehigh Valley Zoo to talk to Dani DiMarco about all the things. We catch up on what's new since our last interview, we go wander the zoo together and talk about some new and cool animals, and so much more. This is just one of those conversations where two friends just chat animals and zoos and have the best time! 

EPISODE LINKS: 

@lvzoo on socials 

lvzoo.org 

ROSSIFARI LINKS: 

@rossifari on socials 

@rossifaripod on TikTok 

Rossifari.com 

patreon.com/rossifari for stickers

Dateline: March 14, 2025. 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 me and a chat about Penguins International's March of the Penguin Madness competition! 

We then move on to our births for the week, featuring animals from Roger Williams Park Zoo, Zoo Montana, Seneca Park Zoo, Zoo Miami, The Toledo Zoo, The Duke Lemur Center, Sacramento Zoo, The Denver Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo, Henry Doorly Zoo, and the Nashville Zoo.

We say goodbye to beloved animals at Lehigh Valley Zoo, the Phoenix Zoo, Zoo de Granby, and the Jacksonville Zoo.

The rest of our Zoo News stories feature items from Monarto Safari Park, the Cincinnati Zoo, Zoo Poznań, Reid Park Zoo, Zoo Miami, the Columbus Zoo, and also a look at some fake stories that popped up online this week. 

Then in Conservation News we discuss the latest Trump Administration decisions that affect conservation, some new rediscoveries of species, how six elephants dying in Sri Lanka illustrate the larger issues facing the species, and the start of sea turtle nesting season. 

In Other News, we talk about a new discovery about mice that is truly fascinating. 

ROSSIFARI LINKS: 
patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod 
rossifari.com 
@rossifari on socials 
@rossifaripod on TikTok