Ron Magill, a veteran wildlife photographer, longtime spokesperson for Zoo Miami and South Florida icon has announced his retirement after more than four decades at the zoo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But, fans and South Floridians who grew up with the advocate for animals and conservation may not have to say goodbye to Magill in the spotlight just yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Magill, the communications director and goodwill ambassador for the zoo, made the announcement on Saturday at a Valentine\u2019s Day event called Sex and the Animals, part comedy show and part educational presentation hosted by him at the zoo\u2019s amphitheater.\u00a0Then he confirmed the news on Sunday with a post on X. <\/p>\n
On Saturday night, Magill spoke about how the idea for the event came about because he wanted to bring people closer to the animals, share their unique personalities and human-like behaviors, in the hopes of fostering compassion for them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, he broke the news that sent gasps through the crowd.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been blessed with a 46-year career at Zoo Miami. It\u2019s been the honor of my life. But I\u2019m telling you first\u2026 I\u2019m retiring this year,\u201d Magill said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Magill started at Zoo Miami in 1979. NBC6\u2019s Ari Odzer wrote in 2019:<\/a> \u201cWith his regular appearances on national and international television and radio shows over the years, Magill has raised eco-awareness and the profile of Zoo Miami. But he says he’s most proud of his Ron Magill Conservation Endowment, which provides tens of thousands of dollars every year directly to environmental field work.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJackie sits down with the communications director of Zoo Miami who, as a private citizen, feels the need to speak out against the new development planned near the zoo, Miami Wilds.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n His dynamic, passionate and often humorous storytelling has helped generations of South Florida residents connect with the animals in the zoo\u2019s care, while he\u2019s advocated for various environmental initiatives<\/a> and laws<\/a> and shared a deep respect for the planet with the media and his almost 50,000 followers on Instagram.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Magill said he would officially retire on May 10, but it won\u2019t mark the end of his work in education; he\u2019ll be staying on as goodwill ambassador and conservation liaison for the Zoo Miami Foundation, the non-profit support organization for the zoo.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t