Joe Fortunato  (aka Jungle Joe) Founder of Animal Junction and The Bucks County Zoo, zookeeper and wildlife educator. In 2006, after an injury, in the line of duty, during a long and prosperous career in law enforcement Joe decided to pursue a lifelong hobby into an educational experience for people of all ages to enjoy. Joe has traded in his police officer badge for a new one: Jungle Joe - Pet Detective - sworn to "protect and preserve" the earths beautiful creatures. Joe's experience includes more than 20 years of working extensively with exotic animals; including serving at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, PA, management of a large pet store chain, and his own exotic animal business named Creatures of Myth. His knowledge of exotic wildlife is always expanding through his extensive animal research,  exploration of the latest procedures / technical advances and information provided by leaders in his field, including Jack Hanna. In fact, you can find information about Joe in Jack Hanna's newest book entitled Jungle Jack Hanna, My Wild Life.

Pet Shop Bob is our Assistant Director. His interest in animals began as a young boy scout with a fascination for wildlife. Pet Shop Bob began working at a pet store at a young age, and has over 20+ years experience in the retail pet business. The bird species is of most interest to Bob because of their ability to fly, something that he has always found fascinating. The one place Pet Shop Bob dreams of going is China to observe and interact with the Giant Pandas. Bob's favorite part of the job is the social interaction not only with his coworkers, but also with the people who come to visit the zoo. Bob most admires the manatee because of its immense size and gentle nature. Pet Shop Bob loves spending time with his family, attending sporting events, fishing, camping and having fun.

Amazon Amy is our Assistant Curator. Amazon is a graduate of Delaware Valley College and has a Bachelors degree in Wildlife and Conservation Management. Amy has always been interested in wildlife since she was a youngster. At age six, she tried to pick up a chipmunk in the woods. Every job Amazon has had since age 14 was animal related. She has worked at veterinary hospitals that dealt with exotic animals, petting zoos, traditional zoos, a small animal laboratory, and on farms working with all different types of livestock. Amazon Amy loves feeding the babies in the morning and throughout the day, and spending time in training or bonding with the animals. The animal she admires most is Honey the kinkajou because she is such a neat animal and wish I could have the bond that Joe and her have. It is so interesting to me that she spends her life in the trees and using her prehensile tail like an extra limb is so fascinating to me. Amy would love to go to South America and work in the Amazon rainforest because of the diverse animals that live in the rain forests. Also knowing that there is so many undiscovered animals/plants/insects that could be found. Amazon’s hobbies include hiking, kayaking, hanging out with her boyfriend, cooking and visiting friends.

Outback Owen is our Reptile Supervisor. Owen has loved animals since the age of five, the more exotic the better. Outback Owen graduated from Delaware Valley College in May 2008 with a degree in Small Animal Science, and   a minor in Biology. Outback owns a snake breeding business, where he breeds mostly Carpet pythons and King snakes. His main Animal Junction duties consist of selecting and purchasing food for the reptiles, helping with the daily maintenance of the animals’ enclosures, and consistent handling of the reptiles to keep them hand tame. Outback Owen is also one of the traveling zoo experts. His extensive knowledge of the animals, combined with his sense of humor, makes for a wonderful traveling presentation. Receiving applause from the audience, and affection from the animals are his two favorite parts of his job.  Owen aspires to travel to Australia to study exotic animals while wondering the bush. Owen has received a Scholarship from Delaware Valley College, and a WW Smith Scholarship. He also has a black belt in Karate. Outback has learned so much from his mentor, Jungle Joe.

Jungle Jess is one of our zoo keepers. When not working with the animals at Animal Junction, Jess is a volunteer firefighter. Jungle comes to us having worked in an exotic wildlife sanctuary with similar animals to those we have at our zoo. Jess currently attends Delaware Valley College earning a degree in Conservation and Wildlife Management. She will be graduating in May 2009. Her favorite part of the job is after working hard, getting to relax and sit down with a baby who needs its mid-day bottle, such as the wallaby. Sydney the baby red kangaroo is one of her favorite animals.  Her characteristics for hopping and her strong tail for balance are also very   interesting as well as needs for the pouch. Jungle looks up to Steve Irwin. Although he has passed away, he provided education for the public, research, conservation, knowledge, skills, and his love of wildlife to spread around the world. His positive and upbeat disposition attracted people to listen and learn from him. Jess wishes she could have met him. Her hobbies include a love of activities in water such as boating and tubing. Jess also enjoys the snow. She also loves to cooking/baking for others.

Savannah Hannah is one of our zoo keepers responsible for enrichment. Hannah’s past experience started out in humane societies, barns, and vet clinics. While in school she had a variety of other animal related jobs such as being an animal attendant for T&T Camels at the Philadelphia Zoo, an intern for Elmwood Park Zoo, and an intern for Brandywine Zoo; providing husbandry for many exhibit animals; llamas, draft horses, camels, ponies, otters, wild cats, marmosets, cranes, rheas, birds of prey and more. Hannah graduated from Delaware Valley College with a bachelors degree in Animal Biotechnology and Conservation; Zoo Science. Within this degree she gained hands on exotic animal experience and learned from trained professionals, studying classes focused purely on the husbandry and conservation of exotic animals. Savannah admires animals that are related to weasels, such as otters,ferrets, polecats, and fishers. They are a very wide group of animals but they all have a very playful nature to how they live. I would like to travel to the South American Rainforests, the wide variety of species and beautiful scenery would be amazing and a wonderful learning experience.

Sahara Sanna is currently a student at Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture. She is studying Conservation and Wildlife Management. Although she has worked primarily with domestic animals in the past, she is now one of the Animal Junction helpers who help with the daily maintenance of the animals.  Sahara Sanna cleans the cages, prepares the food, refilling water bottles, and keeping the facility clean. Sanna helps with the bottle feeding of the younger animals such as the baby kangaroo. The animal that Sanna would like to come back as would be “Hooty” the speckled owl because he is one of the largest tropical owls, is nocturnal, and has beautiful coloring and large yellow eyes. Sahara looks up to several people in the exotic industry such as the late Steve Irwin, Jeff Corwin and Jack Hanna. Sahara Sanna plays rugby for the Doylestown Women’s Rugby league, as well as an avid snowboarder, and a lover of music and fishing.