Rossifari Zoo News 3.20.26 - The Top Ten Zoos Edition!

In this episode of Rossifari Zoo News, host John Rossi kicks off with a heartfelt apology to listeners who felt overlooked in previous episodes, acknowledging his oversight in failing to credit contributors. He shares excitement about his upcoming trip to attend AZA Midyear and ABMA/IAATE conferences, where he’ll speak at multiple sessions and conduct interviews with key figures in conservation. The main feature is a deep dive into USA Today’s 2026 Top 10 Zoos list, which Rossi now views more favorably than in past years—recognizing it as a meaningful tool for zoos to engage their communities through fan-driven voting, even if the list itself isn’t a perfect measure of quality. He highlights each zoo in the top 10, praising their unique features and fan engagement strategies, while also noting the absence of major institutions like San Diego and Columbus Zoos. Rossi then shifts to urgent concerns: bomb threats at Zoo Miami and a viral fake news story about a missing orangutan at Zoo Atlanta, both highlighting growing digital and physical threats to zoos. He also discusses the rise of AI-generated animal images that are both misleading and surprisingly effective at sparking public interest in lesser-known species. Finally, he celebrates animal holidays in March and wraps up with gratitude to patrons and contributors, teasing an upcoming interview with sea lion trainer Delaney Sevchik.