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Listen along for a behind-the-scenes look at the Zoo world with our experts at Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida. Learn more about your favorite animals – and what the Zoo is doing to help protect them. Let us share our joy of nature with you.

Brevard Zoo


    • May 4, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 42m AVG DURATION
    • 61 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Paws for a Moment

    Get to Know Our Dingoes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2025 29:55


    Today, Lands of Change Area Supervisor Mic McPherson and Senior Keeper Alyssa Padmos are filling us in on what it takes to care for our two 12-year-old dingoes, Sydney and Victoria. From tunnel time to their daily training walks, there's never a dull day for our two dingo sisters.

    An Update on Our Lions

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2025 26:51


    What does it take to move three lions? Today we're chatting about how we moved our lion trio, Chobe, Karoo and Ruaha, to their new habitat in our Expedition Africa loop and how they've acclimated to the space so far! Joining us are senior Expedition Africa keeper Cindy Watson and Africa keeper Matt Ward.

    Caring for Our Zoo's Macaws

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2025 44:19


    Zookeepers Grace Scott and Christen Carrillo join us for today's episode to talk all about what goes into the daily care of our macaws! 

    Revisiting Restore Our Shores

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2025 42:09


    We check in with our Restore Our Shores conservation team to learn more about some of their newest projects: buffer zones and seagrass!

    Giving Our Animal Residents Choice and Control

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2025 46:47


    Providing our animal residents with meaningful choices in their daily lives is essential to their wellbeing! We're joined by Animal Wellbeing and Bear Coordinator Marc Franzen and Curator of Ambassador Animals Madison Polk to learn more about how we do this at Brevard Zoo. 

    The Barnyard

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2024 25:00


    The Barnyard is home to some of the animals open to pets at Brevard Zoo: our goats, bloodhounds, chickens, and African spurred tortoise! Learn more about what life's like in The Barnyard. 

    Riding Out a Hurricane at the Zoo

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2024 43:45


    We're featuring two members of our Hurricane Rideout Team: Jess Patterson, a Sea Turtle Healing Center coordinator, and Albert Ferraro, a Rainforest Revealed zookeeper. We are so thankful for the efforts from our rideout team and the safety of our Zoo.

    Hop Aboard Our Trainyard Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2024 52:14


    Learn more about the amazing animals who call the area our Cape to Cairo Express travels in home. Think of our Ankole-Watusi cattle, Eastern bongo, male impala and, of course, Frankie the Dromedary camel! 

    cape aboard dromedary
    Meet Our New Communications Coordinator

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2024 8:47


    We have a new host for our podcast! Meet Jenny, our new communications coordinator, who will be joining us on future podcasts. 

    Digging Plants at the Zoo

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2024 45:54


    Two members of Brevard Zoo's Horticulture team join us to share more about their work at our Zoo, from beautifying guest spaces to landscaping habitats to creating areas for native species to thrive. 

    Caring for Large Snakes

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2024 48:46


    Ssssssit down and enjoy our latest podcast all about the two largest snakes at our Zoo: Brittany the Burmese python and Tsodilo the African rock python! 

    Piggy Pals

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2024 28:31


    Get to know our ever-growing North sulawesi babirusa family with Lands of Change area supervisor Kristen and senior keeper Mic McPherson! 

    National Zookeeper Week

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2024 58:34


    Happy National Zookeeper Week! Two of our keepers, Wild Florida keeper Mallory Bourne and Herps & Aquatics keeper Jenna Bakhuisen, joined us to share their zookeeper journeys, give advice to folks thinking about entering this field, and more!

    Coati Cast - Baby Edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2024 49:48


    We've nearly doubled our white-nosed coati band with the birth of eight (yes, eight) kits to coatis Sky and Rita! These births aren't just important for our Zoo, but also for this species populations in organizations accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Join director of animal programs Lauren Hinson and assistant curator of animals Sidnee Santana-Mellor as we learn more. 

    Happy (Belated) Father's Day!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2024 29:40


    Happy Father's Day to human and animal moms alike! On this episode, we learn more about a few of our Zoo resident dads. 

    Kings of the Zoo

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2024 36:03


    Get to know our three lion brothers, Chobe, Karoo and Ruaha on this episode! Two members of their animal care team, Alyssa Simon and Matt Ward, share what it's like caring for the trio. 

    Happy Mother's Day!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2024 37:16


    Happy Mother's Day to human and animal moms alike! On this episode, we learn more about a few of our Zoo resident moms. 

    AZA Accreditation Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2024 28:57


    Brevard Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1997. This accreditation needs to be updated about every 5 years - and we've completed the re-accreditation process! Learn more about this process from our director of animal programs Lauren Hinson and curator of animals Mack Ralbovsky. 

    A Conversation about the Indian River Lagoon

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2024 84:58


    We recently hosted a conversation on the Indian River Lagoon with our CEO Keith Winsten and Dr. Duane De Freese, the executive director of the IRL Council and National Estuary Program . Dr. De Freese is widely regarded as a leading expert and advocate for the conservation of the Indian River Lagoon, so what came from this talk was a really interesting look at the state of the lagoon and insights on the work being done to help this incredibly important waterway. This conversation took place over Zoom, and if you want to see some of the slides and images shared by Keith and Duane – head to our YouTube channel!

    Giving Our Ambassador Animals a New Home

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2024 18:03


    Our Ambassador Animal care team has transformed a habitat in our Rainforest Revealed loop into a comfortable, natural habitat for our skunk trio, Shelley the prehensile-tailed porcupine, and Higgins the two-toed sloth.

    Exploring Conservation Learning

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2024 29:39


    Dr. Brian Ogle, Director of Conservation Learning & Audience Impact, walks us through all the incredible new changes coming to this department - including new camps and classes that you can join in on right now! 

    Relisten: Bringing Up Bears

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2024 50:41


    In honor of #FebruBEARy, we're re-sharing our "Bringing Up Bears" episode from February 2023! Brevard Zoo's director of animal programs Lauren Hinson and Wild Florida Area Supervisor Marc Franzen shared the stories of our three Florida black bears and how our Zoo helps them live their best lives with us. 

    Bigfoot Discovery Tour

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2024 24:00


    BREAKING NEWS: Sasquatch spotted monkeying around Brevard Zoo! Word is that the creature with the big feet has been camping out in Wild Florida. Explore his campsite - or enjoy one of our Education team's fun programs!

    Coati Cast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2024 38:28


    Is it a racoon? Is it a monkey? No it's a white-nosed coati! Get to know our five-member coati band from two members of their animal care team. 

    Tailing Our Stingray Stories

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2024 36:37


    Dive into one of our best pods yet! We're "shore" you'll be enthralled as we "rays" the bar for all future episodes. 

    Top Stories of 2023

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2023 14:07


    Podcast hosts Lauren Delgado and Clarice Knelly chat over some of the top stories of 2023 at Brevard Zoo and what to look forward to in 2024. 

    Talkin' Turkey

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2023 29:05


    Learn all about our turkey flock from Wild Florida keepers Marc Franzen and Christen Carrillo!

    An "Enriching" Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2023 26:29


    We're joined by senior keeper and enrichment specialist Michele Quinn as we learn about ways our keepers enrich our animal residents. 

    Welcome, Clarice!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2023 6:53


    We have a new host for our podcast as Bri moves to our philanthropy department! Get to know our new communications specialist and podcast host, Clarice. 

    Big Cats: Rainforest edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2023 53:56


    Our Rainforest Revealed loop is home to two big cats: Masaya the jaguar and Pepper the cheetah! Yes, you read that right - a cheetah. Listen to two of our keepers share their experiences working with these incredible animals - and learn why there's a cheetah in the Rainforest!

    Native Gardening

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2023 52:49


    Learn more about native gardening - at Brevard Zoo and beyond! We talk about our Restore Our Shores plant programs, orchid conservation at the Zoo, and our bees!

    AZA Accreditation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2023 49:11


    Brevard Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1997. This accreditation needs to be updated about every 5 years - and we've begun the re-accreditation! Learn more about this process from our director of animal programs Lauren Hinson and curator of animals Mack Ralbovsky. 

    Bringing DEAI to our Zoo

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2023 41:04


    In this week's podcast episode, we chatted with members of our DEAI - diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion - committee. In response to society's growing awareness of social justice issues, we established this employee-driven committee in 2020 to create positive change at the Zoo and in our community. Our work has only just begun!

    Providing a Home for Rescued Animals

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2023 40:56


    Brevard Zoo is home to animal residents who could not be released back to their native range due to injuries or a connection with people. Many of those animal residents live in our Wild Florida loop, so we chatted with two Wild Florida keepers about these special animals. 

    Volunteer With Us!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2023 41:22


    Learn all about our incredible volunteering opportunities with our director and manager of volunteer programs and internships. 

    Horsing Around

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2023 63:46


    Learn more about our ever-growing  Grévy's zebra herd and their lives at our Zoo from Curator of Animals Kim Castrucci and Area Supervisor Alyssa Simon. 

    For the Birds

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2023 39:39


    With nearly 200 animal residents, our free-flight aviaries are always a fun place to visit! Join us as we learn more about all of the species that call this habitat home - and the work of their animal care staff in this week's podcast episode. 

    Protecting our Oceans

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2023 64:21


    To mark World Oceans Day (June 8) and World Sea Turtle Day (June 16), we chat with our Sustainability Manager Amy Reaume and Sea Turtle Healing Center Manager Shanon Gann about how we can protect our oceans and the creatures that call it home.

    The Venom House

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2023 49:08


    Our Venom House is home to about 40 animals! Learn more about each of them as well as their care from Nicole Moyer, the Area Supervisor of our Herps & Aquatics team! 

    Tapir Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2023 58:15


    Rainforest Revealed Area Supervisor Sidnee Santana-Mellor and keeper Albert Ferraro talk all about our three tapirs, Josie, Mia and Antonio! You'll learn more about the personalities of our trio, their lives here at Brevard Zoo, and more. 

    Hoofin' It

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2023 77:20


    Brevard Zoo's director of animal programs Lauren Hinson along with Zoo Hoofstock Trim Programs' Steve Foxworth join us to talk hoof trims! Hoof stock in human care need their hooves to be maintained by people. These "trims" help them avoid overgrowth, arthritis, fractures and more issues. We learn more about the importance of hoof trims and implementing them zoo-wide in the podcast. 

    Meet Our Animal Ambassadors

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2023 44:30


    Members of our Animal Ambassador team join us to talk about our ambassador residents, their lives at our Zoo, their work with guests and more!

    Helping Amphibians

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2023 36:17


    Conservation Training Officer Luis Carrillo joins us to talk about the amphibian extinction crisis and how Amphibian Ark and Brevard Zoo are helping. 

    Helping Critically Endangered Animals

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2023 62:52


    Conservation coordinator Kelly Currier joins us to talk about her work helping critically endangered species through Brevard Zoo's conservation breeding programs. 

    Meet the Hosts: The Zoo's Communications Team

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2023 60:37


    Brevard Zoo's communications team, Bri Wright and Lauren Delgado are in the hot seat in this week's episode as Community Engagement and Outreach Officer Zach Marchetti talks to them about creating content for a Zoo. 

    Bringing Up Bears

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2023 54:26


    In honor of #FebruBEARy, Brevard Zoo's director of animal programs Lauren Hinson and Wild Florida Area Supervisor Marc Franzen share the stories of our three Florida black bears and how our Zoo helps them live their best lives with us. 

    Making Sustainable Choices

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2023 32:27


    Brevard Zoo's Sustainability Manager Amy Reaume shares information about the Zoo's eco friendly choices - and how we can make more sustainable choices at home too!

    Croc Cast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2023 43:44


    Learn all about alligators and crocodiles from Curator of Animals Mack Ralbovsky - as well as an inside look at the care our alligators and crocodiles receive at our Zoo. 

    See You Next Year!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2022 0:31


    We're taking a little winter break, but we'll see you next year with our Croc Cast on January 8! Happy Holidays!

    Just Keep Swimming: Tales from our Sea Turtle Healing Center

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2022 85:39


    Brevard Zoo's Sea Turtle Healing Center nurses sick and injured sea turtles back to health, from mighty adults to petite hatchlings and washbacks. Learn more about their work from our team!

    It's the Mailbag Episode!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2022 65:37


    Zach Marchetti, our Community Engagement and Outreach Officer, joins us to answer some of YOUR questions! You can always email Podcast@BrevardZoo.org with additional questions for a future mailbag episode!

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