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Bronx Zoo Director Jim Breheny has ‘Animal Magnetism’
When Jim Breheny talks about the 13-foot Nile crocodile in the exhibit on Madagascar opening next month at the Bronx Zoo, it’s easy to picture the teen who began working there 35 years ago.
“Can you imagine the kids? They’re going to flip!” Breheny exults, describing the 2-inch Plexiglas window that’ll bring the crocodiles nose-to-nose with visitors.
At age 14, Breheny took a summer job leading camel and pony rides at the zoo. Two years ago, he became vice president of the Wildlife Conservation Society and director of the Bronx Zoo.
“I keep waiting for the real guy to show up,” Breheny joked. “I never would have believed I’d be in this position. It’s just amazing.”
Though surprised to find himself in the top post, Breheny knew he wanted to make a career at the zoo from the moment he started working there.
“It’s all I’ve ever really wanted to do,” said Breheny, whose early love of animals was encouraged by parents who tolerated a menagerie of dogs, cats, birds and frogs in their home in Throgs Neck when he was a kid.
When choosing colleges, one of his requirements was that it be close enough so that he would be able to keep his part-time job at the zoo.
“No matter how long you do this, you’re just continually amazed at animals and how they evolve and how they relate,” Breheny said.
Now that his job keeps him inside offices at meetings instead of at exhibits and habitats much of the day, he makes special efforts to get outside and meet regularly with zookeepers and their wild charges.
“I just always feel better when I’m around animals,” Breheny said.
SOURCE: NYDailyNews.com
Tags: Bronx News, Bronx People, bronx zoo, Director Jim Breheny, Entertainment, The Wildlife Conservation Society, Tourism
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