NEW YORK ( CNN ) -- Layoffs for sea lions ? Furloughs for frogs ? Is there no job security , anywhere ? State budget cuts mean New York 's 76 zoos , botanical gardens and aquariums will lose $ 9.1 million in funding . The recession may be coming to a zoo near you . State budget cuts mean many zoos , aquariums and botanical gardens will lose crucial state funding for their exhibits . New York 's 76 zoos , aquariums and botanical gardens will lose $ 9.1 million in state funds next year . `` We 're faced with this very difficult problem of firing the animals , as it were , '' said Steve Sanderson , the CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society , which manages the Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium . They will lose $ 3 million to budget cuts . The Bronx Zoo has made a short video posted on its Web site www.bronxzoo.com/ to draw attention to the cuts . In the video , the zoo director fires a porcupine and a frog . `` I am sure you have heard that Gov . [ David ] Paterson 's proposed budget will mean severe cuts here at the Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium , '' the zoo director says . `` Next year , all 76 zoos , botanical gardens and aquariums in the state will lose all of their state funding . There is no easy way to say this : Even though you bring record numbers of people to New York and help the economy , we are going to have to let you go . '' Firing a porcupine and a frog may be a cute way to get publicity for their budget woes , but it 's a serious matter and zoo officials say the recession will certainly affect the animals . Zoo officials say some collections with `` short life cycles '' will not be replaced when they die , and other animals could be sent to other zoos or wildlife sanctuaries . The state of New York funds just 2.7 percent of the Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium 's budget , but zoo officials say it will be difficult to make up . Between the state budget cuts , the loss in the value of their endowment and fewer people renewing memberships -- times are so tough for the zoo and aquarium -- they say they may lay off 120 to 130 people . `` Two-thirds of our budget is people , and so two-thirds of the cuts will come in cutting positions , '' Sanderson said . `` And we 'll also cut back what we provide in the way of education and entertainment and nature experiences for people . So it affects everything . '' Zoo officials questioned the state 's priorities . But just about everybody getting taxpayer funds has to cut back . Jeffrey Gordon , a spokesman for the New York State Budget Office told CNN the cuts are regrettable but necessary considering the state 's current financial crisis . Citing a `` dramatic reduction in revenue , '' Gordon said , `` Every entity that receives state funds must do what the state has done , which is to review its operations and identify ways to operate at lower costs . '' The Bronx Zoo is n't the only one affected ; cutbacks are happening everywhere . The Los Angeles Zoo in California stopped work on its $ 42 million elephant exhibit last year , and there are big budget cuts for zoos in Maryland , Missouri and North Carolina . There 's no relief for the zoos in the $ 819 billion economic stimulus package . Section 1109 of the stimulus bill which passed this week in the House forbids the use of federal taxpayer money to plug the budget gaps . Taxpayer watchdog groups lobbied to keep zoos , aquariums , swimming pools , golf courses and casinos out of the stimulus , arguing that there are higher priorities for Americans ' money during a recession .
State budget cuts threaten funding for zoos , aquariums and botanical gardens . New York 's 76 zoos , aquariums and botanical gardens will lose $ 9.1 million . Bronx Zoo : Some animals wo n't be replaced ; others may go to zoos , sanctuaries . Zoos in Florida , Maryland , Missouri and North Carolina face budget cuts .