Gerald Durrell - About - Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Explore Gerry's story through the books that defined his life Open My Family and Other Animals The untimely death of his father saw the remainder of his family reluctantly relocating to a rather less inviting climate and settling, albeit temporarily, in England. Tiring of the British weather, the family soon made the move to the enchanting Greek island of Corfu. Here Gerald explored his passion for the animal kingdom with his inspirational tutor, Dr Theodore Stephanides. The backdrop was sunshine, happiness and the love and laughter of a doting, slightly eccentric family, celebrated by Gerald twenty years later in his most famous book, "My Family and Other Animals". The Overloaded Ark The outbreak of World War II a few years later saw the Durrell family returning to England. The young Gerald’s interest in animals was not to be dampened by the climate, and he soon followed a career path that saw him move from Pet Shop Assistant to ‘Odd Beast Boy’ at Whipsnade Zoo. Aged 21, a small inheritance allowed him to embark upon the life he had dreamed of - a heady mix of travel, adventure and zoology.

As well as being rich in subject matter for his blossoming writing career, this period was to provide Gerald’s most startling revelation – that species everywhere were on the decline. He resolved to create “a new kind of zoo”. Menagerie Manor His vision that zoos could be a sanctuary, and work to provide a “reservoir for endangered species” was somewhat controversial in its time, and two years of frustrating searches for a location in England followed. In the meantime, his sister’s garden became an unlikely, if not unsuitable place for a zoo! A suggestion from his first wife Jacquie directed his search towards the Channel Islands. Within an hour of landing in Jersey, the beautiful Les Augres Manor had been secured for the purpose, its grounds providing the perfect venue. Gerald tirelessly sought support for his new zoo, and his enthusiasm was infectious. By July 1963, he had personally paid off the debts and established the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust! Two in the Bush During the 1960’s Gerald travelled widely collecting both material for his books and television films, as well as animals for Jersey Zoo.

The Trust survived a few early financial crisis thanks to the generosity of its Jersey supporters, and found its place on the world map as a centre for animal conservation, as well as a great place to spend a day out! The Trust began to gain a reputation for the best enclosures, animal health, natural behaviour and breeding. Gerald and Jaquie visited many continents, and discovered many animal species they had never seen before. Amongst the many animals that Gerald chose to bring back to Jersey was the ‘volcano rabbit’ or teporingo - hardly a show stopper, but critically endangered, and highlighting how Gerald saw equal value in all life on earth - even what he termed “little brown jobs”! The Stationary Ark The 1970’s was a great time for Gerald and the Trust! As well as gaining both a permanent home (Les Augres Manor was purchased by the Trust) and an awe-inspiring silverback gorilla; ‘Jambo’, Gerald gave a personal tour to HRH Princess Anne, who was to become both a Royal Patron and a dedicated supporter for many decades... and remains so to this day! Jersey Zoo hosted the first international conference on breeding endangered species, attracting many world leaders in the field.

Additionally, many of Gerald's famous friends helped lend weight to his fundraising efforts. This allowed him to make a pilgrimage to Mauritius the land of the dodo, where he began to work with another apparently ‘lost cause’, the Mauritius Kestrel. This rarest of raptors went from a population of four, to numbering in the hundreds, thanks to Gerald’s determination. Ark on the Move In 1979, Gerald married a young American zoologist named Lee McGeorge, and the 1980’s saw the pair working together to spread their shared passion for conservation far and wide.1984 saw the Trust celebrating its 21st year, along with the 25th anniversary of Jersey Zoo. Gerald began to see his dreams come true - releasing wild animals bred in Jersey back to the wild, and establishing what would become Durrell Conservation Academy. He received many honours and awards, and his zoo and conservation biology work continued to break new ground. The 1990’s began with an expedition to Madagascar, an Island nation who's animals and people Gerald had described as being “in the greatest peril”.

There he collected animals for captive breeding programmes, as well as material for what was to be his last book. Despite his declining health, his determination to celebrate his 70th birthday with his many friends that helped him achieve his life’s goals was characteristically strong... and on January 7th 1995, he achieved this too! His legacy Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust stands as the direct continuation of the Trust he created in 1963 and its mission; saving species from extinction Open Gerald Durrell died on the 30th of January 1995. Today, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust stands as the direct continuation of the Trust he created in 1963 and its mission; saving species from extinction. The name was changed from ‘The Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust’ in 1999, in our founder’s honour. We continue to make a difference through pioneering work and sheer determination, and share his conviction that our work is absolutely vital to the wellbeing of the planet. That the Trust enjoys an internationally respected, influential position today is thanks to the foresight, passion and drive of our founder.

Our ‘three pillar’ strategy that combines Durrell Field Programmes, Durrell Conservation Academy and of course Durrell Wildlife Park to all work in harmony for biodiversity, just as Gerald had envisioned they would. We’d like to think that Gerald would be enormously proud of his legacy, and that the achievements we continue to make - often against the odds - are done under the proud banner of his name. Inspired by Gerry Read tributes from those who have been moved by Gerald Durrell's life... Open “ It was his books that made me evaluate my thoughts on the natural world and conservation, truly a great man and long may his legacy continue. Thanks to all who carry out his dream. by Bev Bal ” “ I think he'd be amused to know that as a teenager I was introduced to his books by a nun in a French convent! Just goes to show how far his influence spreads, bless him. by Miki Berge ” “ He was my inspiration to get into working with wildlife, especially callitrichids and he will always hold a special place for me. One day I hope to be lucky enough to travel to Jersey to visit. Happy birthday Gerald!

by Maxine Jenkins ” “ Happy birthday to one of the pioneers instilling the importance love and value of our beautiful wildlife. I watched his tv series as a young girl with inspiriation.. great man.... by Denise Long ” “ Happy birthday to a great man, I am sure you must miss him! I am living in Madagascar now and the impact of his work can still be seen. by Joanna Lyn Davey ” “ Great Man- He would be very pleased to see how the new Durrell Charity Sale Shop is doing- After two days the feedback is amazing. by Carole-Anne Robins ” “ I read my family & other animals on the beach in Cyprus in 1966 at the age of 12 and went on to read all his books with Bafut Beagles one I remember - I wanted to visit his zoo then & now I live in Normandy where we can see Jersey from here I will get the boat over this summer & come to see for myself! by Tansy Forster ” “ He was the man who shaped who I am. my joyous outlook at nature, my love of friends and family is thanks to him. He lived life to the fullest, despite everything and so do I.

Thank you, sir. by James Elliott ” “ His books were and still are my constant companions! He is a role model, very inspiring man! A great conservationist and an amazing writer! by Vihra lordanova Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust- A UK charity at the forefront of conservation - Wildlife Articles Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust- A UK charity at the forefront of conservation by Olivia Frost · 28th November 2014 Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, formally the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust, was set up in 1963 by renowned conservationist Gerald Durrell. Its headquarters are based at Les Augres Manor on Jersey, which was originally set up in 1959 by Durrell, as a sanctuary and breeding centre for endangered species. Since the establishment of the Trust, the organisation has gone from strength to strength in its mission to halt the rate of species extinctions. Gerald Durrell OBE was both an author, of 37 books, and broadcaster of several television series, which reflected his tireless work to support and preserve species both in the UK, and across the globe.

His interest in supporting conservation initiatives arose when at the age of 21, he undertook several animal collecting expeditions. During these trips, he became aware of the momentous struggle that many species faced simply to survive, and developed an interest in the role that zoos could play in further supporting these suffering species. After a lifetime of innovative conservation efforts, Gerald Durrell sadly passed away at the age of 70, in January 1995. Since then, his wife Lee McGeorge Durrell has succeeded him as Honorary Director of the Conservation Trust, thus allowing the organisation to continue with its beneficial projects. At the headquarters in Jersey, the wildlife park relies on intensive hands-on methods to support the management of its endangered species, both on site and in organisation of its over 50 conservation projects across 18 countries globally. The headquarters provide a sanctuary for species that are at serious risk in their native home; carefully managed programmes allow these individuals to breed and recover in numbers, whilst zoo conservationists study them to learn what measures can be taken to support the species in the wild. Where possible, individuals are then released back into the wild.

The zoo park also provides an insight to visitors who wish to learn more about the Trust’s global projects, not only allowing them to see some of the species that Durrell Wildlife seeks to protect but also to learn exactly how the Trust is working to protect them. Examples of species aided by Durrell, many of which are visible at the wildlife park, include gorillas, the echo parakeet, the mountain chicken, orang-utans, Livingstone’s fruit bat, the aye-aye, Andean Bears and more. The manor house at the Jersey headquarters Durrell works in partnership with local governments, conservation organisations and communities across the world. It has so far seen several major conservation successes, such as its work with the Mauritius Kestrel which had previously been reduced to only four birds, but has now been saved from extinction thanks to the Trust’s work. The organisation has a great deal of involvement with endemic species, not only in Mauritius but also on Madagascar.

Jersey born actor Henry Cavill is actively involved in supporting the trust Other examples of conservation successes that have come about as a result of Durrell Wildlife’s work include Project Angonoka, which has brought the Angonoka tortoise back from extinction, a project to support the breeding of the Madagascar teal duck and the recovery of the Alaotran gentle lemur which has started to make a recovery following education programmes run by the Trust, to prevent local communities from destroying its habitat. These are just a few examples of the many conservation accomplishments that the Trust has achieved. The Trust also makes an effort to educate young people about conservation initiatives, running many courses and educational residential courses at the headquarters. In total there are more than 3350 Durrell academy graduates over 135 countries. As a Durrell graduate myself, and a graduate from the University of Kent’s Durrell Institute of Conservation Education, I have stayed and learned at the headquarters in Jersey and have seen for myself the incredible and inspiring work that Durrell Wildlife does both in the public eye and behind the scenes. Without their efforts, many species both in the UK and across the globe would have seriously declined or even become extinct.

You can support Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust through visiting, donating, adopting animals and more; personally I feel that the Trust is an institute well worth supporting, and for any UK conservationist with a passion for preserving species, I would heartily recommend getting involved with their work. Me and my university class with the Durrell statue, during our visit to Jersey zoo If you’d like to learn more please visit: 987 total views, 6 views today The following two tabs change content below. Durrell « Jersey Evening Post News: Man charged in connection with Temple Stores robbery Durrell Durrell is the international headquarters of the Durrell Wildlife Park. It was officially opened at Les Augres Manor in Trinity on 26 March 1959. Durrell is the international headquarters of the Durrell Wildlife Park. It was officially opened at Les Augres Manor in Trinity on 26 March 1959. Visitors paid an admission charge of just 2/- (10 pence) to see animals which had been brought to the Island from countries as far away as Africa and South America.

They were in the Island because the founder, the renowned naturalist, author and conservationist Gerald Durrell had brought them here. It was by pure chance that Mr Durrell came to Jersey and met the owner of Les Augres Manor, Major Hugh Fraser. As the two men walked around the manor grounds, Mr Durrell explained the difficulties he had encountered while trying to set up a zoo in the UK. Major Fraser wanted to return to England and was looking to lease out the manor and its grounds. The lease was signed on 7 November 1958 and, with a £25,000 loan from Mr Durrell's then publisher, Rupert Hart Davies, and the backing of the States of Jersey, the 16th century manor house and its 32 acres of park and farmland began its transformation. From the outset it was an unusual institution. Mr Durrell dedicated his project to saving endangered animal species from extinction by breeding them in captivity and saving their dwindling populations in the wild. On 6 July 1963 the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust became a charitable institution and adopted the Dodo as a symbol of its mission to save animals from extinction.

Mr Durrell gave the animals to the trust and remained on as honorary director. In 1971 the trust purchased Les Augres Manor from Major Fraser for £120,000. Half of this amount was raised after an appeal to the membership and the remainder by a low-interest loan from the States. Since those early days the trust has pioneered inter-zoo exchanges of both animals and scientific information and forged co-operative agreements with governments in places like Madagascar and Mauritius for the loan of animals and joint field research. It has established education programmes for schoolchildren in the Island as well as setting up awareness campaigns for people who live in the homelands of endangered animals. In 1978 Mr Durrell created what he called a mini-university adjacent to the trust to provide intensive training to conservation workers so that they could begin the process of saving species in their country of origin. And by 2003 1,150 students from 105 countries had received training at the centre. Mr Durrell died in January 1995 aged 70. His wife, Lee, succeeded him as honorary director and maintains an intense involvement in the trust's work both in Jersey and overseas.

On 26 March 1999 the trust celebrated its 40th anniversary and the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust adopted a new name, the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, in honour of Mr Durrell. Founded at a time when few people recognised the alarming rate at which animals were vanishing in their native habitats, the trust is now a globally respected conservation organisation. Today, the Durrell Wildlife Park provides intensive hands-on management of endangered species at its headquarters in Jersey and is currently running conservation programmes which aim to save 33 species in 13 countries around the world. Durrell is essentially a window into the work of the trust where visitors can see some of the planet's most endangered species and learn how these people are working to save them.

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust - Jersey Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust profile reviews (17) events (0) blog (0) about us While these is no doubt that Durrell is one of Jersey's leading tourist attractions it is not a Zoo, the work of the Trust is to conserve endangered species and as well as enjoying a wonderful day out those who visit Durrell have the comfort in knowing that their support has contibuted to the continuation of Durrell's conservation efforts. <?xml version="1.0"?> Durrell is what ALL zoos should be – a crucial part of the effort to save wild animals from extinction. A tourist attraction with a purpose, where the price of admission helps conserve wild life. Located in the scenic Jersey parish of Trinity, the 32 acres of Les Augrès Manor provide the international headquarters of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. If you are on holiday in Jersey a visit to Durrell, one of Jersey's prime tourist attractions, is not to be missed. You will find a day out at Durrell in Jersey will be a treat for all the family!

Wherever possible the animals live in specially landscaped, spacious enclosures which closely resemble their natural homes – that way they can be seen behaving just like they would in the wild. At Durrell's Jersey home you can take comfort that the animals are not on display for our enjoyment but are there to protect the long term future of their species. A shopmobility scheme is operated at Durrell in Jersey. To make your day complete Durrell has an on-site restaurant and shop. In addition private hire conference facilities and private tours are also available. Anyone visiting Jersey should make a point of visiting Durrell during their time on the island, not only is it an excellent tourist attraction but as a result of your visit you will help provide the funds that Durrell need to maintain their on-going effort to help "save rare species world wide" Durrell in Jersey is open every day except Christmas Day. Please mention The Best of Jersey when contacting Durrell Please support Jersey businesses - Think Twice, Buy Local!

latest reviews In April 2014, Amy J said about Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Went to Durrell with the family over Easter, as always a treat for the kids and with new babies and the bears to see we had a very enjoyable few hours. Keep up the good work. Click if you found this review helpful In January 2014, Joe M said about Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust I always visit Durrell when in Jersey, great way to spend a few hours and always something new to see. I love Durrell's commitment to breeding endangered species. read more I always visit Durrell when in Jersey, great way to spend a few hours and always something new to see. I love Durrell's commitment to breeding endangered species. Click if you found this review helpful In July 2012, Juliet E said about Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust I was brought up on Durrell’s books a firm family favourite and this is my second visit to Jersey and the park. It’s more beautiful and a great testament to a great man's vision. Keep up the good work.

read more I was brought up on Durrell’s books a firm family favourite and this is my second visit to Jersey and the park. It’s more beautiful and a great testament to a great man's vision. Keep up the good work. Click if you found this review helpful In July 2012, Sue and Guy said about Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Despite the rain a wonderful day fell in love with the gorillas. The staff are fantastic polite and very helpful. Click if you found this review helpful In July 2012, Family from Guernsey said about Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Brilliant we had a great afternoon very impressed with all the animals /conservation set up well done to all staff here. Click if you found this review helpful In July 2012, Family from the UK said about Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Fab day attended all 5 talks – Fiona was super informative. Made my holiday. Click if you found this review helpful In July 2012, M.W. Scotland said about Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Superb, was last here early 90s so many changes and improvements enjoyed every second of my visit.

Click if you found this review helpful In June 2012, Paul J said about Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust I can see why Durrell has such a great reputation, we visited during a recent holiday and while the weather was not very good we really enjoyed our visit and wish Durrell well in their on-going efforts to save endangered species. Click if you found this review helpful In February 2012, Nigel k said about Durrell I have been a regular visitor to Durrell for years and allways enjoy my visits. I love the new cafe. Click if you found this review helpful In February 2010, Andrew S said about Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Durrell is a wonderful organisation and a great asset to Jersey. What better way to spend a few hours on a nice day,there is always something going on of interest. Durrell needs our support, why not take out an annual membership so that you can visit whenever you wish?

Click if you found this review helpful I really enjoyed my trip to the Durrell and think that the way the business has developed over the past few years, with new and exciting enclosures has been fantastic Click if you found this review helpful In October 2009, Karen M said about Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Loads to do and see. Makes a great day out. Click if you found this review helpful In July 2009, David C said about Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust This place was by far one of the highlight of our holiday! (and we went without kids!!!). A fabulous place, that is well worth a visit to Jersey for! Click if you found this review helpful In August 2007, Lucy S said about Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust A magical place to visit, and each visit presents a wealth of new experiences. You can spend a whole day or just half an hour and come away truly inspired by the visionary work that Gerald Durrell started over 50 years ago in his fight to conserve wildlife and habitats… read more A magical place to visit, and each visit presents a wealth of new experiences.

You can spend a whole day or just half an hour and come away truly inspired by the visionary work that Gerald Durrell started over 50 years ago in his fight to conserve wildlife and habitats worldwide. Click if you found this review helpful In August 2007, Louise S said about Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust As a 17 year old, budding conservationist the zoo is a wonderful place to visit and understand how animals are being saved from extinction. It is suitable for all ages and is a fantastic day out for the whole family, and much can be learned in a fun, relaxed environment. Click if you found this review helpful In July 2007, Kevin S said about Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Durrell&#700;s is a truly world class tourist attraction that both young and old can enjoy. As a regular visitor to their Trinity headquaters I am always impressed by the way in which Durrell&#700;s can make the care of the animals their prime objective while at the same time providing their… read more Durrell&#700;s is a truly world class tourist attraction that both young and old can enjoy.

As a regular visitor to their Trinity headquaters I am always impressed by the way in which Durrell&#700;s can make the care of the animals their prime objective while at the same time providing their human guests with the opporunity to enjoy the animals in a lovely parkland setting. Click if you found this review helpful Gerald Durrell Gerald Durrell 2007 Schools Wikipedia Selection . Related subjects: Writers and critics Gerald ('Gerry') Malcolm Durrell OBE ( January 7, 1925 – January 30, 1995) was a naturalist, zookeeper, conservationist, author, and television presenter. He founded what is now called the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Jersey Zoo (now renamed Durrell Wildlife) on the Channel Island of Jersey in 1958, but is perhaps best known for writing a number of books based on his life as an animal collector and enthusiast. He was the brother of the novelist Lawrence Durrell. Biography Early life in India and England Durrell was born in Jamshedpur, then Bihar Province, India on January 7, 1925.

His parents had themselves been born in India but were of English and Irish descent. He was the fourth surviving and final child of Louisa Florence Durrell (née Dixie) and Lawrence Samuel Durrell. Durrell's father was a British engineer, and as befitting family status, the infant Durrell spent most of his time in the company of the ayah or nursemaid. Durrell reportedly recalls his first visit to a zoo in India , and attributes his life-long love of animals to that encounter. The family moved to England after the death of his father in 1928. Back in England, the Durrells settled in the Upper Norwood - Cystal Palace area of South London. Durrell was enrolled in Wickwood School, but usually stayed at home feigning illness. The Corfu years The family moved to the Greek island of Corfu in 1935, where Durrell began to collect and keep the local fauna as pets. The family stayed until 1939. This interval was later the basis of the book My Family and Other Animals and its successors, Birds, Beasts, and Relatives, The Garden of the Gods and a few short stories.

Durrell was home-schooled during this time by various family friends and private tutors, mostly friends of his eldest brother Lawrence (later to be a famous novelist). One of them, the Greek doctor, scientist, poet and philosopher Theodore Stephanides would be Durrell's friend and mentor, and his ideas would leave a lasting impression on the young Durrell. Together, they would examine and Durrell would house Corfu fauna in everything from test tubes to bathtubs. The other big influence on Durrell during these formative years, according to Durrell, was the writing of French naturalist Jean Henri Fabre. The London years and Whipsnade Zoo The family moved back to England in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II . Difficult as it was in the war and post-war years to find a job, especially for a home-schooled youth, the enterprising Durrell worked as a help at an aquarium and pet store. Some reminiscences of this period can be found in Fillets of Plaice.

His call-up for the war came in 1943, but he was exempted from military duty on medical grounds, and asked to serve the war effort by working in a farm. After the war, Durrell joined Whipsnade Zoo as a junior or student keeper in 1945. This move fulfilled a lifelong dream: Durrell claims that his first spoken word was "zoo". Beasts in My Belfry recalls events of this period. The early animal expeditions Durrell left Whipsnade Zoo in May, 1946 in order to join wildlife collecting expeditions of the time, but was denied a place in the voyages due to his lack of experience. Durrell's wildlife expeditions began with a 1947 trip to the British Cameroons (now Cameroon ) with ornithologist John Yealland, financed by a £3,000 inheritance from his father on the account of turning 21. The animals he brought back were sold to London Zoo , Chester Zoo, Paignton Zoo, Bristol Zoo and Belle Vue Zoo ( Manchester ). He continued for many decades, during which time he became famous for his work for wildlife conservation.

He followed this successful expedition up with two further ones with fellow Whipsnade zookeeper Ken Smith: a repeat trip to the British Cameroon, and to British Guiana (now Guyana ) in 1949 and 1950 respectively. On the first of these trips, he met and befriended the enigmatic Fon of Bafut Achirimbi II, the autocratic West African chieftain, who would help him organize future missions. Because of his dedication towards animals, Durrell housed and fed his animals with the best choices possible, never over-collected specimens, and did not collect animals with only "show value" which would fetch high prices. Such practices differed from other animal collecting expeditions of the time, and, as a result, Durrell was broke by the end of his third expedition. Further, due to a falling-out with George Cansdale, superintendent of the London Zoo , Durrell was blackballed by the British zoo community and could not secure a job in most zoos, ultimately securing a job at the aquarium at Belle Vue Zoo in Manchester for some time.

On February 26, 1951, after an extended courtship, Durrell married Manchester resident Jacqueline ('Jacquie') Sonia Wolfenden — they eloped after opposition from her father. Wolfenden would go on to accompany Durrell on most of his following animal expeditions, would help found and manage the Jersey Zoo, and would write two humorous, bestselling memoirs on the lines of Durrell to raise money for conservation efforts. Durrell's work pressure, mood swings and drinking problem would ultimately lead to their divorce in 1979. Based on encouragement from wife Jacquie, and advice from his elder brother Lawrence, Gerald Durrell started writing autobiographical accounts to raise money. His first book — The Overloaded Ark — was a huge success, causing Durrell to follow up with other such accounts. While Durrell only made £50 for British rights ( Faber and Faber), he obtained £500 from the U.S. rights ( Viking Press) for the book, and managed to raise money for a fourth expedition to South America in 1954. This, however, ran into a political coup d'etat in Paraguay and was unsuccessful.

Foundations for the Jersey Zoo The publication of My Family and Other Animals in 1956 caused Durrell to be well known as an author, and consequently as a naturalist for the first time. Royalties from the book, which made bestseller lists in the United Kingdom , helped fund Durrell's next expedition. Durrell's growing disillusionment with how zoos of the time were run, and his belief that zoos should primarily act as reserve banks of endangered species, caused him to contemplate founding his own zoo. His 1957 trip to Cameroon for the third and last time was primarily to collect animals which would act as the core collection of his own zoo. This expedition was filmed as well, in Durrell's first experiment with filming his work with animals. The success of the film To Bafut with Beagles, together with a successful radio show documenting his memories Encounters with Animals, made Durrell a regular on the BBC Natural History unit for decades to come, as well as provide much needed funds for his conservation projects. On return from Bafut, Durrell put up with his sister Margaret at her boarding house in the seaside resort of Bournemouth.

The animals were housed in her gardens and garage on a temporary basis, while Durrell looked at prospective sites for a zoo. To his dismay, both Bournemouth and Poole municipalities turned down his ideas for a zoo. The Zoo and the Trust Dodos stand guard at the gates of the Jersey Zoo Durrell founded the Jersey Zoological Park in 1958 to house his growing collection of animals. The site for the zoo, a 16th-century manor house, Les Augres Manor, came to Durrell's notice by chance after a long and unsuccessful search for a suitable site. Durrell leased the manor and set up his zoo on the redesigned manor grounds. Durrell undertook another, more successful expedition to South America to collect endangered species for his zoo in 1958. The zoo was opened to the public in 1959 on Easter Sunday. As the zoo grew in size, so did the number of projects undertaken to save threatened wildlife in other parts of the world. Durrell was instrumental in founding the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust, on July 6, 1963 to cope with the increasingly difficult challenges of zoo, wildlife and habitat management.

The Trust opened an international wing, the Wildlife Preservation Trust International, in USA in 1971, to aid international conservation efforts in a better fashion. That year, the Trust bought out Les Augres Manor from its owner, Major Hugh Fraser, giving the zoo a permanent home. Durrell's initiative caused the Fauna and Flora Preservation Society to start the World Conference on Breeding Endangered Species in Captivity as an Aid to their Survival in 1972 at Jersey , today one of the most prestigious conferences in the field. 1972 also saw Princess Anne becoming a patron of the Trust, an action which brought the Trust into media limelight, and helped raise funds. The 1970s saw Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust become a leading zoo in the field of captive breeding, championing the cause among species like the Lowland Gorilla , and various Mauritian fauna. Durrell visited Mauritius several times and co-ordinated large scale conservation efforts in Mauritius, involving captive breeding programs for native birds and reptiles, ecological recovery of Round Island, training local staff, and setting up local in-situ and ex-situ conservation facilities.

This ultimately led to the founding of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation in 1984. Jacquie Durrell separated from and then divorced Gerald Durrell in 1979, citing his increasing work pressure and associated drinking problem. Durrell met his second wife Lee McGeorge Durrell in 1977 when he lectured at Duke University, where she was studying for a PhD in animal communication. They married in 1979. She co-authored a number of books with him, including The Amateur Naturalist, and became the Honorary Director of the Trust after his death. In 1978 Durrell started the training centre for conservationists at the zoo, or the "mini-university" in his words. As of 2005, over a thousand biologists, naturalists, zoo veterinarians, and zoo architects from 104 countries have attended the International Training Centre. Durrell was also instrumental in forming the Captive Breeding Specialist Group of the World Conservation Union in 1982. Durrell founded Wildlife Preservation Trust Canada, now Wildlife Preservation Canada, in 1985.

The official appeal Saving Animals from Extinction was launched in 1991, at a time when British zoos were not faring well and London Zoo was in danger of closing down. In 1989, Gerald Durrell and his wife Lee, along with David Attenborough and cricket star David Gower helped launch the World Land Trust (then the World Wide Land Conservation Trust). The initial goal of the trust was to purchase rain forest land in Belize as part of the Programme for Belize. 1990 saw the Trust establish a conservation program in Madagascar along the lines of the Mauritius program. Durrell visited Madagascar in 1990 to start captive breeding of a number of endemic species like the Aye Aye. Durrell chose the Dodo , the flightless bird of Mauritius that was mercilessly hunted to extinction in the 1600s, as the logo for both the Jersey Zoo and the Trust. The children's chapter of the Trust is called the Dodo Club. Following his death, the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust was renamed Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust at the 40th anniversary of the Zoo on 26 March, 1999.

The Wildlife Preservation Trust International also changed their name to Wildlife Trust in 2000, adopted the logo of the Black Tamarin. Final years A hard, outdoor life, coupled with heavy drinking, led Durrell to health problems in the 1980s. He underwent a hip-replacement surgery in a bid to counter arthritis, but suffered from liver problems. His health deteriorated rapidly after the 1990 Madagascar trip. Durrell died of post-surgical complications following a liver transplantation, on January 30, 1995. His ashes are buried under a memorial plaque with a quote by William Beebe in Jersey Zoo. A memorial celebrating Durrell's life and work was held at the Natural History Museum, London on June 28, 1995. Participants included personal friends like the famous television presenter David Attenborough , and Princess Anne. Durrell's policy for zoos Gerald Durrell was ahead of his time when he postulated the role that a 20th century zoo should play, primarily in Stationary Ark.

His idea relies on the following bases: The primary purpose of a zoo should be to act as a reserve of critically endangered species which need captive breeding in order to survive. They can serve the secondary purposes of educating people about wildlife and natural history, and of educating biologists about the animal's habits. Zoos should not be run for the purposes of entertainment only, and non-threatened species should be re-introduced into their natural habitats. An animal should be present in the zoo only as a last resort, when all efforts to save it in the wild have failed. Durrell's ideas about housing zoo animals also brings his priorities to the fore. The bases on which enclosures at Jersey are built: Enclosures should be built keeping in mind — firstly, the comfort of the animal (including a private shelter), secondly for the convenience of the animal keeper, and finally for the viewing comfort of visitors. The size of an enclosure should depend on how large their territories might be. The companions of an animal should reflect not only ecological niche and biogeographic concerns, but its social abilities as well — how well it gets on with other members of its species and other species.

Every animal deserves food of its choice, sometimes made interesting by variation; and a mate of its choice; and a nice, and interesting environment. Jersey Zoo was the first zoo to only house endangered breeding species, and has been one of the pioneers in the field of captive breeding. The International Training Centre, and the organization of the conference on captive breeding are also notable firsts. Gerald Durrell initially faced stiff opposition and criticism from some members of the zoo community when he introduced the idea of captive breeding, and was only vindicated after successfully breeding a wide range of species. One of the most active opposition members was George Cansdale, superintendent of the London Zoo and Zoological Society of London, and wielder of considerable influence in the zoo community. See also: Biogeography, Biogeographic Regions, Ecological niche Gerald Durrell's books Durrell's books, both fiction and non-fiction, have a wry, loose style that poked fun at himself as well as those around him. Perhaps his best-known work is My Family and Other Animals ( 1956), which tells of his idyllic, if oddball, childhood on Corfu.

Later made into a TV series, it is delightfully deprecating about the whole family, especially elder brother Lawrence, who became a famous novelist. Despite Durrell's jokes at the expense of "brother Larry," the two were close friends all their lives. Gerald Durrell always insisted that he wrote for royalties to help the cause of environmental stewardship, not out of an inherent love for writing. Gerald Durrell describes himself as a writer in comparison to his brother Lawrence: The subtle difference between us is that he loves writing and I don't. To me it's simply a way to make money which enables me to do my animal work, nothing more. However, he shows a surprising diversity and dexterity in a wide variety of writing, including: autobiographical accounts: Most of his works are of such kind — characterized by a love for nature and animals, dry wit, crisp descriptions and humorous analogies of human beings with animals and vice versa. The most famous of these is the Corfu trilogy — My Family and Other Animals, Birds, Beasts and Relatives, and The Garden of the Gods.

short stories: often bordering on the Roald Dahl-esque, like "Michelin Man" in Picnic and Suchlike Pandemonium. The latter also has an acclaimed gothic horror story titled "The Entrance". Marrying Off Mother and Other Stories also has a few short stories. novels: Durrell's only two novels are Rosy is My Relative, the story about the bequeathed elephant which Durrell claimed is based on real life events; and The Mockery Bird, the fable based loosely on the story of Mauritius and the Dodo . technical essays: The Stationary Ark is a collection of technical essays on zoo-keeping and conservation. guides: The Amateur Naturalist is the definitive guide for a budding naturalist over the last 20 years. stories for young adults: The Donkey Rustlers is an Enid Blyton-ish feel good novel, while The Talking Parcel is a fantasy novel for younger readers. natural history books for children: The New Noah is a collection of encounters with animals from Durrell's previous expeditions, written with children in mind.

stories for children: Keeper, Toby the Tortoise, The Fantastic Dinosaur Adventure, and the The Fantastic Flying Adventure are lavishly illustrated stories for young children. board and picture books: the board book series Puppy Stories are for infants, and the picture book Island Zoo is for young children about the first animals in Jersey Zoo. Durrell was also a regular contributor to magazines on both sides of the Atlantic like Harper's, Atlantic Monthly, and The Sunday Times Supplement. He was also a regular book reviewer for New York Times. A number of excerpts and stories from his books were used by Octopus Books and Readers' Digest Publishing, including in the Readers' Digest Condensed Books. Durrell's works have been translated into 31 languages, and made into TV serials, and feature films. He has a large cult following in Russia and Eastern Europe, in Israel and in various commonwealth countries, notably India . The British Library houses a collection of Durrell's books, presented by him to Alan G. Thomas, as part of the Lawrence Durrell Collection.

Illustrators Durrell was a talented artist and caricaturist, but worked with numerous illustrators over the years starting with Sabine Braur for The Overloaded Ark (published by Faber and Faber). Two of his most productive collaborations were with Ralph Thompson (Bafut Beagles, Three Singles To Adventure, The New Noah, The Drunken Forest, Encounters with Animals, A Zoo in My Luggage, The Whispering Land, Menagerie Manor) (published by Rupert Hart-Davis) and Edward Mortelmans (Catch Me A Colobus, Beasts in My Belfry, Golden Bats and Pink Pigeons) (published by Collins). The illustrations are mostly sketches of animal subjects. Ralph Thompson has even visited the Jersey Zoological Park in-house during the sketching period for Menagerie Manor. Other illustrators who worked with Durrell were Barry L. Driscoll who illustrated Two in the Bush, Pat Marriott who illustrated Look at Zoos, and Anne Mieke van Ogtrop who illustrated The Talking Parcel and Donkey Rustlers. Gerald Durrell authored a number of lavishly illustrated children's books in his later years.

Graham Percy was the illustrator for The Fantastic Flying Journey and The Fantastic Dinosaur Adventure. Toby the Tortoise and Keeper were illustrated by Keith West. His Puppy board books were illustrated by Cliff Wright. Honours Durrell was awarded the Order of the Golden Ark by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands in 1981. Durrell received the Order of the British Empire in 1982. The National Youth Music Theatre composed and performed the musical theatre "The Carnival of Animals" at Fort Regent, Jersey as a tribute to Gerald Durrell in 1984. Durrell featured in the United Nations ' Roll of Honour for Environmental Achievement in 1988, becoming part of 500 people ("Global 500") to be given this honour in the period 1987 – 1992. The University of Kent started the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) in 1989, the first graduate school in the United Kingdom to offer degrees and diplomas in conservation and biodiversity.

The journal Biodiversity and Conservation brought out a special volume of the journal in tribute to Gerald Durrell, on the theme of "The Role of Zoos" in 1995, following his death. The Gerald Durrell Memorial Funds, launched in 1996, are granted in the field of conservation by the Wildlife Trust every year. The statue park in Miskolc Zoo, one of the oldest zoos in the world, created a bust of Gerald Durrell in 1998. The Whipsnade Zoo also unveiled a new island for housing primates dedicated to Durrell in 1998 . The BBC Wildlife Photography Awards gives the Gerald Durrell Award for the best photograph of an endangered species, starting from 2001. The Durrell School in Corfu, established in 2002, offers an academic course and tours in the footsteps of the Durrells in Corfu. Botanist David Bellamy has conducted field trips in Corfu for the School.

The town hall of Corfu announced in 2006 that it would rename Corfu Bosketto (a park in the city of Corfu) Bosketto Durrell, after Gerald and Lawrence Durrell as a mark of respect. Wildlife Preservation Canada established the Gerald Durrell Society in 2006 as recognition for individuals who have made legacy gifts. The Gerald Durrell Endemic Wildlife Sanctuary in the Black River Valley in Mauritius , is the home of the Mauritius Wildlife Appeal Fund's immensely successful captive breeding program for the Mauritius Kestrel, Pink Pigeon and Echo Parakeet. The Jersey Zoo has erected a bronze statue of Gerald Durrell by John Doubleday, cast along with a Ruffed Lemur at his knee, and a Round Island Gecko at his feet. Jersey brought out stamps honouring the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust, and Mauritius brought out a stamp based on a race of a rare gecko named after Durrell. The de-rodentification of Rat Island in St. Lucia by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust to create a sanctuary for the St.

Lucia Whiptail lizard on the lines of Praslin Island has caused an official change in name for Rat Island. It is in the process of being renamed Durrell Island. The Visitors' Centre at the Belize Zoo is named the Gerald Durrell Visitors' Centre in honour of Durrell. Numerous individual animals of rare species born in captivity have been named "Gerry" or "Gerald" as homage to Durrell, among them the first Aldabra Giant Tortoise born in captivity. Species and races named after Durrell Clarkeia durrelli: A fossil brachiopod of the Order Atrypida, from the Upper Silurian age, discovered 1982 - there is presently no reference to indicate that this species was named in honour of Gerald Durrell Nactus serpeninsula durrelli: Durrell's Night Gecko: The Round Island race of the Serpent Island Night Gecko is a distinct race and was named after both Gerald and Lee Durrell for their contribution to saving the gecko and Round Island fauna in general. Mauritius released a stamp depicting the race.

Ceylonthelphusa durrelli: Durrell's Freshwater Crab: A critically rare new species of Sri Lankan freshwater crab.

Benthophilus durrelli: Durrell's Tadpole Goby: A new species of tadpole goby discovered in 2004 Kotchevnik durrelli: A new species of moth of the superfamily Cossoidea from Russia List of major expeditions To the Island of Aye-Aye Aye Aye, Indri, Ring-tailed Lemur, Alaotran Lemur, Tenrec Radiography and filmography Encounters With Animals, Radio series, BBC ( 1957) To Bafut With Beagles, TV series, BBC ( 1958) Look (Argentinian Expedition), Single episode in TV series, BBC ( 1961) Zoo Packet, TV series, BBC ( 1961) Animal Magic, Early episodes in TV series, BBC ( 1962 – 1983) Two In The Bush, TV series, BBC ( 1963) Catch Me a Colobus, TV series, BBC ( 1966) The Garden of the Gods, TV series, BBC ( 1967) The Stationary Ark, TV series, Primedia(Canada) / Channel

 4(UK) ( 1975) Animals Are My Life, episode in the TV series The World About Us, BBC ( 1978) Ark on the Move, TV series, Primedia(Canada) / Channel 4(UK) ( 1982) The Amateur Naturalist, TV series, CBC(USA) / Channel 4(UK) ( 1983) Ourselves & Other Animals, TV series, Primetime Television and Harcourt Films ( 1987).

Directed by Jeremy marre Durrell in Russia, TV series, Channel 4(UK) ( 1986) Durrell's Ark, one hour documentary, BBC ( 1988) A Day at the Zoo with Phillip Schofield, one hour episode featuring Durrell and Jersey Zoo ( 1989) Gerald Durrell — Himself and Other Animals, documentary, Green Umbrella Productions ( 1999) Gerald Durrell — Jambo the Gentle Giant, documentary, Green Umbrella Productions ( 1999) Gerald Durrell — To the Island of the Aye-Aye, documentary, Green Umbrella Productions ( 1999) Safe Hands in a Wild World, documentary, Green Umbrella Productions ( 1999) Inside Jersey Zoo, re-release, UK PC Advisor magazine ( 2001) The Round Island Project, re-release, UK PC Advisor magazine ( 2001) The Mauritius Conservation Mission, re-release, UK PC Advisor magazine ( 2001) On Gerald Durrell A Memorial Celebration for the Life of Gerald Durrell ( 1995) World of Animals episode on Gerald Durrell

 and Jersey Zoo, Channel One, Moscow ( 2004) The Wild Life of Gerald Durrell, BBC 4 (December 2005) Wildlife in a War Zone, using archival Durrell footage and examining the changes brought about by war in Sierra Leone, Animal Planet, May 2006 Archive Hour with Bridget Nicholls: Discover Your Inner Durrell, BBC Radio 4 Radio (September 2006) Book by Gerald Durrell The Talking Parcel, Animated movie, directed by Brian Cosgrove, Cosgrove Hall ( 1979) My Family and Other Animals, TV series, BBC ( 1989) My Family and Other Animals, Radio drama, BBC Radio 4 ( 2001) The Fantastic Flying Journey, Animated TV series, directed by Catherine Robbins and John Coates, Two Sides TV / TV Loonland ( 2001) My Family and Other Animals(remake), TV series, BBC ( 2005) ( homepage) Screenplay by Gerald Durrell Tarka the Otter, movie, directed by David Cobham ( 1979) Trivia The movie Fierce Creatures

 was dedicated to him.

Durrell's book Fillets of Plaice is a pun on the name of the book Spirit of Place by elder brother Lawrence. In the Discworld series of books, there is reference to a fictional book titled My Family and Other Werewolves — clearly a parody on My Family and Other Animals. Three actual books punning the name are Simon Doonan's humorous memoir Nasty: My Family and Other Glamorous Varmints, Josephine Feeney's comic novel My Family and Other Natural Disasters and Stories from my life with the other animals by James McConkey. Gerald Durrell's debut book The Overloaded Ark, and Lawrence Durrell's Reflections on a Marine Venus were published simultaneously by Faber and Faber, with an advertisement which read: Quests animal ... and human — a dual demonstration of the enviable art of Durrelling. Whatever Happened to Margo was written by Margaret Durrell in 1951, but was only discovered in the attic by a granddaughter nearly 40 years later. It describes, among other things, Gerald Durrell's visit to her house in Bournemouth with a full menagerie of animals.

The film crew of Durrell in Russia were the first Western film crew from beyond the Iron Curtain granted permission to film in the erstwhile U.S.S.R. as part of Mikhail Gorbachev 's glasnost policies. The titles of several of Gerald Durrell's books were changed for release in the USA, a policy similar to that followed for many other British authors, in which words not common in America were changed — e.g., Beasts in My Belfry was changed to A Bevy of Beasts. The Garden of the Gods title was changed because there is a location in the USA by the name Garden of the Gods. The "fight scene" between Durrell's pet gecko Geronimo, and a larger praying mantis was directed by the Assistant Producer Nigel Marvin in the BBC 1989 TV series My Family and Other Animals. Gerald Durrell was voted "South West Hero" in a poll conducted by the BBC in 2004, ahead of other contenders like Sir Walter Raleigh , Albert Bedane and Billy Butlin. He was also voted the greatest ever Channel Islander by readers of the Jersey Evening Post in 2002.

Gerald Durrell quotes numerous raunchy limericks in his Corfu Trilogy which have not been documented elsewhere, and it is probable that some of these owe their origins to Lawrence Durrell, Edward Lear and Theodore Stephanides. Gerald Durrell is himself the subject of a few limericks written later (see here). A time capsule buried at Jersey Zoo in 1988 contains the following popular quote by Durrell, often used in conservation awareness campaigns: We hope that there will be fireflies and glow-worms at night to guide you and butterflies in hedges and forests to greet you. We hope that your dawns will have an orchestra of bird song and that the sound of their wings and the opalescence of their colouring will dazzle you. We hope that there will still be the extraordinary varieties of creatures sharing the land of the planet with you to enchant you and enrich your lives as they have done for us. We hope that you will be grateful for having been born into such a magical world.

Citations Gerald Durrell Next 1925 - Gerald Durrell was born in India At the age of three he moved to England and later spent four idyllic years growing up in Corfu with his mother, sister and brothers. In the 1940s he worked at a pet shop, on a farm near Bournemouth and at Whipsnade Zoo. His two main ambitions were to become an animal collector and to set up his own zoo. 1956 - Gerald’s most famous book, My Family and Other Animals, was published He wrote seven popular books in the period 1953-1958 about his experiences studying and collecting animals, all the while developing plans to establish a charitable Trust for the breeding of endangered species as an aid to their survival, assisted by research, training and education. 1959 - Gerald opened Jersey Zoo on 26th March Jersey Zoo had a fine collection of animals from the beginning. There were numerous rare monkeys and other mammals, as well as birds and reptiles. Even before the zoo opened to the public, a number of animals had bred. Gerald’s book Menagerie Manor recounts the early days of the zoo.

1963 - Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust was created on 6th July A governing Council was set up, and ownership of Jersey Zoo passed to the new Trust. Gerald continued to antagonize the British zoo establishment with what it considered his ‘peculiar’ notions of breeding threatened species for conservation, particularly concentrating on the smaller, less showy species. 1969 - The rare white eared pheasant bred for the first time at Jersey Zoo This was the Trust’s first major successful breeding programme for a threatened species, significantly increasing the world captive population. The Trust’s reputation was growing, and the breeding record was impressive: 30 species of mammals, 49 species of birds and 4 species of reptiles. Research and education programmes had begun. 1972 - The Trust hosted the first World Conference on Breeding Endangered Species in Captivity More than 300 people attended this groundbreaking conference. It was a huge success, bringing into focus the pioneering work of the Trust, and an important step in the movement for zoos to contribute to conservation rather than be a drain on wildlife.

1973 - A major milestone was Jersey Zoo’s first gorilla birth on 15th July The baby gorilla was a male called Assumbo, born to Nandi and Jambo. Assumbo is now the silverback leader of the gorilla family at a zoo in Germany. Jambo’s descendants number well over a hundred in zoos around the world. 1977 - Gerald met a young zoology graduate from Memphis, USA, called Lee McGeorge Two years later, on May 24th, Gerald and Lee were married in Memphis in her parents’ back garden. Over the next decade they travelled the world making television documentaries and writing books about animals and conservation. 1984 - The 25th anniversary of Jersey Zoo and the 21st anniversary of the Trust were celebrated Celebrations included the Trust’s Patron, Princess Anne, who officially opened the International Training Centre on 5th October, followed by the Festival of Animals at Fort Regent in which many of Gerald’s famous friends participated.

1990 - Gerald led an expedition to Madagascar to collect endangered species for breeding back in Jersey Species collected were the elusive aye-aye, a most bizarre lemur; the Lac Alaotran gentle lemur, a marsh-dwelling animal; and, from the west, the giant jumping rat and the flat-tailed tortoise. All of them settled down quickly in Jersey and began to breed. 1995 - Gerald passed away on Monday 30th January In June a memorial celebration was held in the great hall of the British Museum of Natural, attended by more than one thousand people. Gerald had a unique charisma, which opened many doors, and a particular talent for persuading people to help the cause. He left an extraordinary legacy in the field of species conservation. Now that you know the Gerald Durrell's story, help us to continue the journey BBC - Jersey - About Jersey - Family days out You are in: Jersey » About Jersey » Things to do Family Days Out Some famous residents at Jersey Zoo Want to go somewhere that will interest the kids and you at the same time? Try these attractions - there really is something for everyone. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.

View a printable version of this page. Jersey Zoo Les Augres Manor, Trinity Open all year round Here you can come face to face with some of the world's most endangered animals. Jersey Zoo was set up by famous conservationist Gerald Durrell, and the zoo houses the international headquarters of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. The Trust works with a number of organisations around the world to preserve and protect endangered animals. The park is set in 31 acres, and has a licensed restaurant and gift shop. La Rue du Petit Aleval, St. Peter Open March to November This attraction recreates Jersey through the ages using award-winning special effects. It explores Jersey from the time the island was formed through to the German occupation. There is also a section on local myths and legends. There are several restaurants and shops, as well as two 18-hole adventure golf courses and a children's playground. La Grande Route de St. Clement, St. Clement Closed during the winter This manor has extensive grounds and herb gardens, and has many activities. There are craft demonstrations and wood turning, as well as falconry demonstrations. You can also ride in a Jersey horse-drawn van, or have a guided tour of the manor house.

La Hougue Farm, La Grande Route de St. Pierre, St. Peter Open July to September This is the site of a specially designed maze, with hidden corners, obstacles and surprises. There is also a natural playground, and tractor and trailer rides on selected days. The Butterfly Centre Haute Tombette, St. Mary Set in the grounds of a carnation nursery, visitors walk through an enclosed area in which hundreds of rare and exotic butterflies live freely and breed in a re-creation of their natural habitat. Gerald Malcolm Durrell facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about Gerald Malcolm Durrell COPYRIGHT 2004 The Gale Group Inc. Gerald Malcolm Durrell British naturalist and conservationist Gerald Malcolm Durrell (1925–1995) devoted his life to the preservation of wild animal species and in 1958 created a wildlife preserve on the Channel Island of Jersey dedicated to scientific research and protect ing endangered species. Calling himself a "champion of small uglies," British naturalist Gerald Durrell had a single goal: to care for and save from extinction as many species of animals as possible.

Beginning his career exploring Africa and South America, he went on to organize captive-breeding programs for endangered creatures and find ways of introducing these animals back into the wild. Advocate for Endangered Wildlife In 1958, on the Channel Island of Jersey off the coast of England, Durrell founded the Jersey Zoological Park, which remains dedicated to supporting conservation and animal protection efforts while also engaging in scientific research. A prolific and popular author, Durrell wrote many books that reflect his love of animals, although the naturalist often admitted that his main motivation for writing was to fund his work on behalf of endangered species. In his books and his many radio and television appearances, Durrell was an eloquent spokesman for wildlife. As quoted on the Raptor Conservation website, Durrell once commented: "Year by year, all over the world, various species of animals are being slowly but surely exterminated in their wild state, thanks directly or indirectly to the interference of mankind.… In addition … a great number of animal species … because they are small and generally of no commercial or touristic value, are not receiving adequate protection.

To me the extirpation of an animal species is a criminal offence, in the same way as the destruction of anything we cannot recreate or replace, such as … a work of art by … Rembrandt or the Acropolis." Early Love of Animals Born in Jamshedpur, India, on January 7, 1925, Gerald Malcolm Durrell was the youngest child born to Lawrence Durrell Sr., a British civil engineer hired to help lay out and construct India's first modern bridge and railroad system, and his wife, Louisa Florence (Dixie) Durrell. The affluent Durrell household instilled a creative drive from which each of the Durrell children benefited: brother Lawrence Jr. became a noted writer, brother Leslie an artistr and sister Margot a designer. The death of Durrell's father in 1927 forced the family to return to Bournemouth, England. Louisa Durrell traveled frequently during the 1930s, exposing her children to life in Great Britain and Europe.

Durrell was educated by private teachers as his family settled temporarily in Greece, Italy, France and Switzerland, and his lessons in tedious subjects such as geography were often given out of doors in order to gain the undisciplined boy's attention. Durrell's love of wild creatures was apparent from an early age, As he later recalled in his book A Bevy of Beasts, "at the age of two I made up my mind quite firmly and unequivocally that the only thing I wanted to do was study animals. Nothing else interested me." As a young teen, he spent five years on Corfu, a Greek island, and there developed his skills as a naturalist while accompanying family friend and scientist Theodore Stephanides on many local expeditions. He also spent many days alone among the island's tide pools and hills, searching for new creatures, studying the landscape and often bringing home new "pets"—anything from scorpions, woodlice or birds to tortoises, owls or donkeys. These frequently became part of the family much to the dismay of Durrell's sister. Sensing young Gerald's untamed nature, his older brother Lawrence encouraged Durrell to read and develop his writing by chronicling his discoveries.

Relocated to London after the start of World War II, Durrell discovered the London Zoo and in 1945 became a student keeper at the Whipsnade Zoological Society Park, a zoo located in Bedfordshire that was dedicated to the breeding and preservation of rare species, many of which were almost extinct. During his year at Whipsnade, which would later be immortalized in his book Beasts in My Belfry, he fed and groomed animals and cleaned cages and devised a system of recording the behavior of the animals he cared for. He soon began to compare his own observations with those of published research findings. The more he read the findings of biologists and naturalists, the more he realized the threatened status of many of the world's creatures. In 1946 Durrell inherited his share of the family fortune, 3,000 pounds. Feeling that his work at the zoo was done, he decided to bring to English zoos some of the unusual creatures of the world, so that others may appreciate them. He left Bedfordshire and made the first of many trips into regions where there were many endangered species.

Traveling to British-controlled Cameroon, he hiked deep into the west African rain forest and collected so many species of reptiles, birds and mammals that it required over 100 cages and crates to transport them. A second trip to the Bafut region of Cameroon followed, and in 1949 Durrell traveled to South America and hiked into the jungles of mountainous British Guiana (now Guyana). Writing Supported Work Durrell quickly spent his inheritance on these expeditions, and zoos were unable to compensate him. In 1951 he married Jacqueline Sonia Rasen and needed a source of regular income, which he found in writing. Drawing on the advice of his brother Lawrence, who had made a mark as a noted poet and novelist, Durrell completed his first book, a description of his first trip to Cameroon, published in 1953 as The Overloaded Ark. Although he had not been formally schooled in writing, Durrell was a natural storyteller, and his passion for his subject was clear in every line.

The success of the book prompted a second effort, The Bafut Beagles, which took readers on Durrell's second sojourn into Cameroon, and a third, a chronicle of his South American trip titled Three Tickets to Adventure. Popular with English readers, the books were translated into several other languages. During the remainder of his career, Durrell made many other expeditions, including trips to Argentina, Mexico, Australia and Nigeria, and also wrote several more books, including novels and children's books. He also drew on his own unconventional upbringing in his 1956 best-selling autobiography My Family and Other Animals, which was eventually adapted as a 12-part television series that aired in England and the United States in the late 1980s.

However, writing was merely a means to an end; as he once admitted to an interviewer for the Christian Science Monitor, "I try to get it over with as quickly as possible.… I write for money—it provides me with the wherewithal to do the things I really like doing, which is rushing off to Mexico to catch volcano rabbits." Established Wildlife Preserve By the mid-1950s Durrell had made major contributions to a number of English zoos, including more than 25 new species for the London Zoo. However, he became increasingly attached to the creatures he collected, and decided to create his own zoo devoted to unusual wildlife. He hoped the zoo would educate the public about the plight facing many species. Although he wanted to locate his zoo in England, local zoning and land-use restrictions made the task impossible. With a promised advance of 25,000 pounds from his publisher, Rupert Hart-Davis, and while searching for the perfect location, he began accumulating animals, storing creatures at his mother's home until the zoo was completed.

Fortunately for Louisa Durrell, her son found 35 acres on the tiny island of Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, British territory located off the coast of northwestern France. The zoo headquarters was located in a large 16th-century house located on the property. Despite the relative remoteness of its location, the Jersey Zoological Park was everything Durrell hoped it would be. As word spread after it opened in 1958, visitors became more frequent, and by 2000 more than 200,000 people were visiting the zoo each year. In 1963 Durrell founded the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust to operate the zoo and oversee efforts dedicated to aiding threatened wildlife. In 1973 he expanded his efforts still further, creating the Wild-life Preservation Trust International, headquartered in Philadelphia. Durrell remained active as a naturalist for the remainder of his life. After a divorce from Rasen in 1979, he married American zoologist and conservationist Lee Wilson McGeorge. Together they worked to raise threatened creatures in captivity and release them back into the wild to reinforce existing populations.

In addition, his involvement in animal care and treatment standards improved the way creatures were treated while in captivity. Goodbye to Wilderness In 1990 Durrell set out on his final expedition in search of unique species, making a four-month trip to Madagascar. There he captured a rare species of lemur, the aye-aye. The trip, on which Durrell was accompanied by his wife and a film crew from BBC-TV, resulted in the 1993 book The Aye-Aye and I: A Rescue Expedition in Madagascar, as well as an award-winning television film titled The Island of the Aye-Aye. By then Durrell had become a fixture on British nature programming. His shows, such as The Amateur Naturalist, which focused on wildlife in Malayasia, Australia and New Zealand, resulted in the books How to Shoot an Amateur Naturalist and The Drunken Forest. With over 30 best-selling books to his credit, Durrell was both a beloved author and a respected naturalist. He was a member of the Royal Geographical Society, the Fauna Preservation Society, the American Zoo-parks Association, and the Zoological Society of London.

Among many honors he received during his lifetime were honorary degrees from Yale University, the University of Kent, and the University of Durham, and he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Despite his many successes, Durrell's efforts to alter the course of animal evolution were sometimes controversial. He also came to see the backlash from his efforts. While his book recounting his youth in Greece, My Family and Other Animals, provided much-needed funds to operate his island wildlife refuge, its popularity also resulted in an increase of visitors to Corfu, changing forever the character of that island paradise. He also realized that by entering remote wilderness regions he was altering them forever. However, his contributions far outweighed any negative effects; as Robert Rattner noted in International Wildlife, Durrell "was a pioneer in captive breeding of endangered wildlife at a time when few zoos even gave the idea lip service." Following a liver transplant, Durrell died on January 30, 1995, at age seventy, in St. Helier on the Chanel Islands, leaving his wife, Lee, to continue his work at the renamed Durrell Conservation Trust. Books

Question: In July 1963, Gerald Durrell set up a Wildlife Conservationist trust on which island?
Answer: JERSEY