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While the tigers and seals seemed to be enjoying Friday's frigid temperatures at the Bronx Zoo, but the zoological park workers faced the cold reality that their jobs could be in jeopardy because of the economic crisis.

Steven Sanderson, the CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society which runs the Bronx Zoo and Brooklyn's New York Aquarium, said $15 million has to be cut from the budget by July, with $9 million saved by cutting staff.

Sanderson said he hopes to avoid pink slips but said, "If no one were to accept voluntary packages it might be north of 100 people that we would lay off."

WCS says it is getting less money from private donors as well as reduced funding from the city and state. Last week, the organization released a tongue-in-cheek video online that shows animals getting fired despite bringing "record numbers of people into New York."

"There are zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, living museums across the state that really benefit from what is a small fund, a $9 million fund," said Sanderson. "That is not going to solve the problems of New York State."

This week, Sanderson held town hall meetings with employees at the zoo and the aquarium to talk about the financial problems.

Employees left feeling nervous for their jobs.

"It is a possibility that I may lose my job," said one worker of nine years.

"I don't know what it means for me yet, it is too soon to know what it means. We will find out in the spring, I guess," said another worker.

Layoffs may be announced in springtime.