{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Ask A Kansan","title":"Wildlife and Conservation with Ryan VanZant of the Rolling Hills Zoo | Wild Kansas","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3663,"description":"Why do the animals you fall in love with sometimes have to leave the zoo? This week we sit down with Ryan VanZant, executive director of Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina, and trace his winding path from a childhood obsessed with parakeets and parrots to falconry, movie animal training, and eventually leading one of the youngest zoos in the country. We get the real story behind the zoo's famous museum, hear about the massive new Tiger Falls habitat on the way, talk through the tough calls zoo staff make about animal welfare, and dig into why Kansas prairie ecosystems deserve just as much attention as the savannas of Africa. Plus, we've got some big personal news of our own, and we close things out with a new round of Stories from the Hat.\n\nHighlights\n\nRyan VanZant shares his journey from breeding parakeets and parrots as a kid to training animals for movies to running zoos in Hutchinson and now Salina\nThe real history of the Rolling Hills Zoo museum and its taxidermy collection — plus a rumor finally debunked\nDetails on Tiger Falls, a major new habitat expansion for Amur tigers, snow leopards, and incoming red pandas\nThe story behind Creed the baby rhino, named after Chiefs player Creed Humphrey, and how that story went viral\nAn honest look at how zoos make difficult animal welfare and relocation decisions\nWhy Kansas's native prairie ecosystems are disappearing faster than any other ecosystem type, and why that matters\nA rundown of upcoming Rolling Hills Zoo events like Zoo Brew, Safari Breakfasts, Silent Sundays, and Taste of Adventure\nA new round of \"Stories from the Hat\" with random prompts about hometown landmarks, guilty pleasure gas station snacks, and more\n\nChapters\n\n0:00 — Sydney's Big News\n0:48 — Podcast Plans Ahead\n1:30 — Meet Rolling Hills Zoo\n2:39 — Ryan's Kansas Path\n3:41 — Why This Zoo Location\n4:39 — Childhood Animal Obsession\n5:57 — Parakeets to Parrots\n8:12 — Peregrines and DDT\n10:24 — Falconry Life Explained\n12:48 — Becoming Zoo Director\n17:56 —...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/31uDhQmE-73zaqpWjXtwnyYffNMsUnDPiL6GtjTddEQ/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9mNzBm/YzFkNDBkODVjNGM2/MzMwMGViYjhmZTY4/Nzc0Mi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}