Hundreds of animals laid off from the Bronx Zoo.

From The Guardian:

The crisis on Wall Street has claimed its most exotic victims to date, with unemployment notices being extended to those with bushy tails, spiny backs and horns.

The Bronx zoo, the oldest city zoo in America, has succumbed to a multimillion dollar hole in its budget and ordered the shipping of hundreds of animals to other institutions. The list of species that will be banished from the park include lemurs, porcupines and antelope.

The sacking of the animals follows a decision to close four exhibits, chosen because of a combination of how maintenance costs and relatively low public appeal. Animals that also include deer, bats and foxes will be shifted to other zoos and aquariums around the country.

Steven Sanderson, head of the zoo, said the changes were forced by a combination of the global economic downturn and challenges facing wildlife conservation. "The new plan will make us stronger and more flexible in an uncertain world," he said.

Behind the plan is a budget shortfall of $15m caused largely by a drastic fall in philanthropic donations to the zoo since the downturn began to bite last autumn. The reduction in charitable income accounts for about $13m of the shortfall, with a further $1.7m of cuts being passed onto the zoo from New York city, which is facing its own budget crisis.