WILD L IFE
2019 ISSUE 2
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A N D HELP C AR E F O R O U R A N IMA LS AT J ER SEY Z O O
Kea
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Kate
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Stumpy
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Bluey
Wilbur
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Astrid
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WELCOME
WE LCO M E TO WI LD L IF E It has been a wild autumn here at the Trust, and I am not just talking about the Jersey weather! We have rounded off our 60th anniversary year with many conservation achievements and memorable events. The wildest was no doubt the invasion of Jersey by 40 gorillas to raise funds for a new gorilla house. Each was a life-sized statue sporting a unique design illustrating the artist’s idea about gorillas and the environment. Strategically placed around Jersey in a public art trail, the statues infected the island with a sort of ‘gorilla madness’, with images going viral on social media and the ultimate auction raising more than a million pounds!
We made significant progress on rewilding in 2019. Not only were white storks successfully released into the UK, but some of the released birds ‘did what comes naturally’, by heading south on migration. Don’t worry – we’re keeping an eye on them using GPS trackers! Mountain chicken frogs are calling once again in their native Montserrat after their release into special areas of the forest, which have been slightly modified to reduce the impact of the deadly chytrid fungus. D R LEE DUR R E LL
There is much, much more in this edition of Wild Life, which I am sure you will enjoy. Once again, thank you all for your extraordinarily generous support. We couldn’t do it without you!
HONORARY D I RE CT O R
Our Rewild Our World strategy was gloriously celebrated in Jersey at the Wilderness Ball where 600 guests traversed a rainforest wilderness, created by our amazing Events Team, before being entertained by Sister Sledge. Even more money was raised than at the previous blockbuster ball, and all will go to support our rewilding goals.
CO N TE N T S 2
REWILD OUR FORESTS
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MEETING MILO
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HOT TUBS FOR SICK FROGS
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AT THE ZOO
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IN THE WILD
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SPECIES SPOTLIGHT – WHITE STORKS
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TECH CORNER – DRONE MONITORING
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GONE WILD
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DODO DISPATCH
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BE INSPIRED
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IN NUMBERS – GO WILD GORILL AS
It is important to us that we keep you informed about our work, and the difference we are making to the many species, habitats and local communities with which we work. If your household has received more than one copy of Wild Life and you would like to discuss your mailing preferences going forward, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our Supporter Care team on (0)1534 860111 or supportercare@durrell.org If you’d like to hear from us more regularly you can subscribe to our email newsletter at www.durrell.org/ wildlife/social
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D U R R E L L WILDLIF E CO N SERVATION TR UST is a Registered Charity with the Jersey Charity Commissioner, registered charity number: 1 PATR O N HRH The Princess Royal FOUND ER Gerald Durrell, OBE, LHD HONORA RY D IRE CT OR Dr Lee Durrell, MBE, PhD DU R R E L L WILDLIF E C ON SERVATION TR UST - UK is registered in England and Wales. A charitable company limited by guarantee. R E G I S TE R ED C HA RIT Y N UMBER 1121989 R EGISTER ED COMPANY NUMBE R 6448493 R E G I S TE R ED OF F ICE c/o Intertrust Corporate Services (UK) Limited, 35 Great St Helen’s, London EC3A 6AP
P H O TO A N D ILLUST RAT IO N CR ED ITS Neil Aldridge, Chloe Allen, Bam Perspectives www.bamperspectives.com, Leila Boyd, Claire Burke, Emma Caton, Matt Chung www.mattchungphoto.com, Andy Coutanche, Andy Ellis, Danny Evans, Sid Gentle Films Ltd, Givskud Zoo, Gregory Guida, Martin Harvey, Mike Hudson, Luke Jones, Tiffany Lang, Steve Longmore, Paul Marshall, Dean Maryon, James Morgan, Silvano Paiola, Jennifer Parker, Sam Rowley, Chris Scarffe, Colin Stevenson, Massimiliano Sticca, Nick Upton, Serge Wich, Mark Williams, Charlie Wylie COV ER IMAGE Paul Marshall www.paulmarshall.je
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R E W IL D F O RE S TS DR LE S LE Y DICKIE CHI EF EX EC U TIVE OF F IC ER
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At the recent Durrell London Lecture, held at the Royal Institution, we focused on our work in forests around the world. Forests are Earth’s most dominant land-based ecosystem and can hold great significance to people. They often feature in myths and legends, shaping how we interpret our world and are central to childhood stories such as Little Red Riding Hood. It is not only forests but individual trees that become symbolic to us and our societies. The Ashbrittle Yew, the oldest known tree in the UK, possibly as much as 4,000 years old, has stood sentinel over Ashbrittle through the centuries with countless generations of Somerset children having played beneath its boughs. You may have visited the mighty ‘General Sherman’, a giant redwood or sequoia, in California, the largest known living single stem tree on Earth. It weighs nearly 2 million kg, a true giant of our planet that invokes awe and wonder. Forests can be split into four types. First, there is the Taiga, also known as the boreal forest, which grows in the high northern latitudes. They are characterised by cold temperatures; think of how vast expanses of frozen forests are used in films to portray icy cold. However, it is tropical forests that dominate the planet’s ecosystems and as the name suggests lie between the tropics of Capricorn and Cancer. Half of all the world’s forest is tropical, which includes both rainforest and dry forest. Temperate forests are sandwiched
between the boreal and tropical forests, and are sometimes referred to as the ‘fourseason forests’. They are highly diverse with coniferous, deciduous and broadleaf trees and even contain temperate rainforests, some of which are found in the UK. The fourth type of forest that could be described are man-made commercial forests, these are often monocultures and have little biodiversity. At the Lecture, the first speaker of the evening was Professor Miles Richardson, from the University of Derby. He gave a fascinating insight into how connectedness to nature affects our physical and mental happiness, and our likelihood to carry out behaviours, such as recycling, to help the planet. Connectedness to nature is something that is at the heart of Durrell’s strategy, and this was a thought-provoking introduction to the science behind it. We then turned to Durrell’s work with
forests across our rewilding sites including Madagascar, Saint Lucia, Mauritius and the UK. However, the evening focused mainly on our work in Brazil, with our local partners IPÊ, the Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas. Brazil is the most biodiverse country on Earth, but it has hit the headlines this year with the horrific burning of the Amazon due to an abdication of governmental responsibility for the environment. It is deeply worrying that such mindless destruction should be allowed. Yet there is another, little known, great tropical forest of Brazil, the Mata Atlantica, or Atlantic Forest, that has suffered even greater destruction over the past century. This extraordinarily lush rainforest extends along the Atlantic coast and inland in southern Brazil and is some 60 million years old. It is home to hundreds of animals and thousands of plants that are found nowhere else on Earth, yet only 12% of its original range persists, in some regions only 3%. Our connection to the region goes back many years. Durrell has a wellearned reputation as a world leader in the care, management and conservation of callitrichids, the beautiful tiny monkeys of the Americas and none more so than the black lion tamarin. Thought to be extinct in the 1970s, black lion tamarins were rediscovered, and Durrell became the first zoo outside Brazil to hold and breed this species. To this day, we continue to be the only zoo in Europe that keeps these rare and endangered monkeys. Like other species in the forest, they are severely impacted by deforestation, which is happening at an alarming rate. The disappearing forest forces animals to live in small fragments of ideal habitat. Here they become isolated and face an increased risk of extinction from inbreeding, insufficient habitat and the increased dangers from roads, farms and predators when moving between fragments.
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Our partnership with IPÊ has deep roots and extends over 30 years. Our very first Brazilian trainee at the Durrell Academy was Claudia Padua, an exceptionally talented young biologist who, on his return home, founded IPÊ and still leads it today. IPÊ has gone from strength to strength, and we continue our collaboration in the field and through staff training. The organisation started building forest corridors in the Pontal region of São Paulo to connect fragmented forest to the Morro do Diabo State Park, the last stronghold of the black lion tamarin. They began by planting the 13km long western corridor, with help from Durrell via our ‘Cans for Corridors’ scheme, which raises money through recycling aluminium cans. This corridor scheme also provided fruitful work and purpose for the Movomento sem Terra, or landless peoples movement, in the area. Instead of viewing them as a threat, IPÊ recognised these people as potential allies and partners. They provided training and land for the people to be part of the project by growing the saplings that would be needed to regrow the forest corridors. As the forest grows, there is also the opportunity to cultivate other crops, such as shade-grown coffee and cassava, providing livelihoods for local people. The western corridor has now been completely planted and, due to the lushness of the tropics, within just a few short years trees can reach over 7m tall. These forests are also rich and diverse with over 150 native tree species being planted, unlike the monocultures of the human-made commercial plantations. We know via camera traps that animals are moving through the corridors, demonstrating that the concept is working. However, for the black lion tamarins, we found a problem. Although the tiny monkeys were venturing into the corridors, they were not travelling the length of them. This is because the trees in the new corridors were young and did not have as many crevices and
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sleeping dens as the old, weathered trees. Black lion tamarins are small and vulnerable to larger predators such as tayra (a small mammal from the weasel family) and snakes. They were therefore understandably nervous about venturing too far without assurances of where they could hide and sleep. We tackled this problem by testing different designs of artificial next boxes at Jersey Zoo in our callitrichid forest where tamarins and marmosets roam free. Our own monkeys essentially chose the nest-box design they liked best for their wild cousins, demonstrating the effectiveness of applied zoo-based research. The selected nest box was placed into the wild corridor and was soon being investigated by numerous species including black lion tamarins. It’s still early days, but we will continue to monitor as this project progresses. Our next step, together with our partners at IPÊ, is to create a tree corridor to connect the Morro do Diabo State Park to isolated forest fragments to the north. Linking these small patches of rainforest will give threatened populations of black lion tamarin, puma, jaguar and ocelot a chance to thrive again. With your help, we can restore this lush rainforest by planting trees and creating sustainable livelihoods for local people. A special thank you must go to Rathbones and Rathbone Greenbank Investments for their generous sponsorship of the Durrell London Lecture for the second year.
IF YOU CAN HELP TO R E C O V E R T H E AT L A N T I C FOREST PLEASE VISIT D U R R E L L . O R G / AT L A N T I C
CARBON In addition to building functioning, resilient habitat, there is also the need for a world facing catastrophic climate change to tackle the issue of carbon emissions. While the first point of any climate change approach should be finding ways to reduce carbon emissions, how do we mitigate what is left? There is increasing evidence that tree planting has great potential to capture carbon. A recent report found that there is an identifiable 0.9 billion hectares that can be reforested globally. This would equate to neutralising 200 gigatons of carbon, nearly two-thirds of all emissions in the atmosphere. IPÊ and Durrell, while primarily focusing on building habitat and protecting biodiversity, have also been contributing to natural climate solutions. Growing evidence also suggests forests that are rich in wildlife, with high numbers of animals are more efficient at absorbing carbon. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that in tackling the two great existential crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, we combine the work. In 2020 we plan to launch our carbon scheme for individuals and companies, ‘Rewilding Carbon’, and this is the first step of that process.
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M EETIN G M I LO
Actor Milo Parker played Gerald ‘Gerry’ Durrell in popular ITV drama series The Durrells and is an ambassador of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Following a stint at Jersey Zoo doing work experience, Milo answers some questions about animals, acting and his role as an ambassador.
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H OW DI D Y OU BEC OM E A N A M B A S S A D O R FO R D U R R EL L ? I was first asked to be an ambassador by Lee Durrell in early 2016. I’d finished filming the first series of The Durrells and I was doing a lot of press work promoting the series before its launch, much of which was with Lee. I’d gone over to Jersey Zoo to see Gerry’s work and how it was being continued today and started to build a great relationship with Lee. I started going to fundraisers and Durrell events and Lee invited me to become an ambassador for the Trust. I was so surprised and delighted. It’s such an honour to be able to contribute to Durrell in my small way! WH AT INSPI RED Y OU TO G E T IN TO A CTIN G ? It’s a real cliché, I’m afraid. I’d done a Year 4 school play, I think I was about nine or ten. We did a play set in the Middle Ages and I absolutely adored getting up on stage and playing around with my character. I was never into sports or anything and found something I really loved doing and wanted to continue, so I signed up to a small theatre company near where I live. It was run by Beth Braidford and her husband, Andrew who is one of the founding members of the BWH Agency. Long story short, I ended up signing with the agency. I was really lucky to be given such an amazing opportunity. DO YOU THI NK PL AY I N G G E R RY H A S IN FLUE N CE D Y OU R AT TIT U D E TOWARD S A N IM A LS A N D N ATUR E ? A hundred percent. When we started filming, I had no idea about the incredible legacy that Gerry had created and the work that still goes on today that was inspired by him. Since playing Gerry, I’m fascinated by conservation and the amazing work that Durrell does, not just at Jersey Zoo but all around the world. It’s also made me realise the responsibility we all have to preserve nature and do all we can to be kind to animals and the planet. T E LL U S ABOUT Y OUR R E CE N T W O R K E X P E R IE N CE AT J ERS EY ZOO? I was so lucky to be able to do my work experience at Jersey Zoo. It was a really busy week, but so interesting and enjoyable. I worked with most of the animals, from the lemurs to the orangutans. At the start of each day, I’d help the keepers with feeding the animals and getting them ready for when the zoo opened. I loved getting up close to the animals and seeing how dedicated the keepers are. I never realised how much work goes on behind the scenes to ensure the animals are comfortable and happy. The only bit I wasn’t too keen on was the poo shovelling, which I had to do every morning. Still, needs must!
W H AT I S Y OU R FAVOU R I T E A N I M A L AT J ER SEY Z O O? Personally, I love the lemurs. We had two lemurs in series 4 and they were an absolute joy to work with. I got to help care for them when I was on work experience and learn all about them. They are so gorgeous and cute! I also loved working with the orangutans who were, despite being a bit smelly, completely adorable. I F Y OU C OU L D VI SI T A N Y OF T H E DU R R EL L R EW I L DIN G SI T ES W H I C H W OU L D I T B E? I’d love to be able to visit the Sumatra rainforest. I’m fascinated by the orangutans and think that it is crucial we do all we can to help conserve this fast-disappearing species. Avoiding palm oil in the food we choose is a really good first step! W H AT R OL ES H AVE Y OU GOT L I N ED U P N EX T ? I’m doing my A-Levels at the moment, so I’m focussing on those for the moment. I’ve started doing auditions for work next year so fingers crossed I’ll be able to start acting again soon, I really miss it! T EL L U S A B OU T Y OU R FAVOU R I T E A N I M A L ON SET? Every year I always say that Mossup the dog (who plays Roger) is my favourite but, as much as I adore her, she may have been taken over by the gorgeous barn owls we worked with on series 4. There’s only one owl in the show, but we used two throughout filming. They were called Twit and Twoo and were an absolute dream to work with. I was amazed by how well-behaved they were and, to my surprise, I didn’t get weed on!
I also went to the launch party of the ‘Go Wild Gorillas’ trail. All the finished gorillas were lined up in one room and it was the first time they’d all been seen together, which was fantastic. On my way to the airport to go home, I spotted a few and got some pictures. My favourite one was the Gerald Durrell themed gorilla. Thankfully, it was on display outside the zoo entrance, so I got some good photos! DO YOU THI NK ‘ THE D UR R E LLS ’ H A S IN S P IR E D M O R E P EOPLE TO PR OTEC T A N D P R E S E RV E O UR P L A N E T? I hope it has. The show has helped people, including myself, notice Gerry’s incredible legacy and the work being carried out in his name. It has raised awareness of the difficulties facing us and our planet and what we must do to preserve our biodiversity and nature. It’s humbling to be involved with raising this crucial awareness.
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IN THE WILD
H OT T U BS FO R S I C K FR OGS
P R O J EC T C OORDI N ATO R FO R THE MO UNTAIN CH IC K EN REC OVERY P R O G RAMME LUKE JO NE S T E L L S US ABOU T HI S WO RK RE TURNING THE S E CR IT IC A L LY EN DA NG E RE D FR O G S TO MO NTS E RR AT . The mountain chicken frog is native only to the Caribbean islands of Dominica and Montserrat. The species was driven to the brink of extinction by a deadly microscopic fungus called chytrid, which is believed to be the cause of over 500 documented extinctions and declines of amphibians worldwide. Luke is part of a team looking to re-establish the frogs on Montserrat and protect them from the fungus by manipulating the environment in semi-wild enclosures. Earlier this year, 27 captive-bred mountain chickens arrived in Montserrat from Jersey Zoo and ZSL London Zoo and were released into the enclosures. The success of this project will see the establishment of the first breeding population of mountain chickens on Montserrat in 10 years.
difficult on Monserrat. Importing materials can be expensive, so you really have to work with what you’ve got and make the most of it. W H EN C OU L D T H EY B E I N T R ODUCE D T O T H E W I L D? If we see resistance to the fungus, we will probably look at expanding the facility to increase the range over which the frogs are spread. If by the end of next year they have bred, and we had no instance of disease, we could look at releasing the offspring into the wild as they may have already developed resistance. But that is just one of many different options, we are very much learning as we go along. WH AT STAGE WAS THE P R O JE CT AT WH E N Y OU JOI NED ? The team had already attempted four releases of mountain chickens into the wild on Monserrat, but they had been unsuccessful. So we were back to the drawing board trying to come up with a new plan. One thing we learned from previous releases was that chytrid cannot survive in temperatures above 30°C. We tried releasing frogs during the hot season and using anti-fungal treatments to guide them through the cold season. However, we still lost individuals as we were just treating them, not curing them. Eventually, we came up with the idea of releasing the frogs into temperature-controlled seminatural enclosures.
H OW DO THE ENC L OSUR E S W O R K? The hope is they will act in a similar way to a vaccine. Where a vaccine is a weakened state of a virus or disease that your body is better able to counter and then develop a resistance; the enclosures are designed to weaken the prevalence of the chytrid fungus within the environment. Mountain chickens suffering from it, or with little resistance to it, can survive in areas of the enclosure where the fungus is weakest. The enclosures are split into a warm side and a cool side. The “cool side” is just the natural environment
with the natural background level of chytrid. The warm side is where we have implemented environmental manipulation by installing heated ponds and removing the canopy cover to increase solar radiation to the ground level. This will make the temperature too high for chytrid to survive, so frogs suffering from chytrid will use the warmer side. Those that do not need it will take advantage of less competition for food and space in the cool side. Individuals in this cooler side will come into contact and breed together and, over time, we should hopefully see the population develop an increased resistance to the fungus. H O W LO N G W I L L I T L I K ELY TA K E F OR TH E FR O G S T O GA I N R ESI STA N C E T O CH YTR ID ? We are expecting it to take 3-5 years minimum, but it could be longer. We know that it can happen as we saw it happen naturally in Dominica. The population over there crashed to the point that the frogs were believed to be extinct for 10 years. A few individuals must have had enough resistance to survive in that time. We are also not sure exactly how they will develop this resistance, whether it’s changes to the microbiome on their skin, their immune system or it could even be behavioural. It might be a case that they learn to utilise hot spaces in their environment. Either way, we are trying to find that out. W H AT H AVE B EEN T H E B I GGEST CH A LLE N G ES I N SET T I N G U P T H E P R O JE CT? A lot of things had to be started from scratch. We had to survey the island for new habitats, form new relationships with landowners and find a suitable place for our insect breeding centre, to breed extra food for the frogs. A major challenge was to catch wild insects by hand and then breed enough to feed our 27 frogs, each of which eat around 700 crickets weekly. One of the hardest things was finding the materials for all of this, which can be
H OW I S T H E L OC A L C OM M UN ITY R ESPON DI N G T O T H I S PR OJE CT? It is very mixed. Older generations knew a time when mountain chickens were on the island, and they miss them. They grew up with the sound of them calling at night. It was an identity of their island, and I don’t think they really noticed it until they lost it. It was also a valuable resource and contributed to the island’s economy through tourism, which particularly benefitted the more impoverished people. The problem we have is that younger generations don’t remember it, they don’t have that deep emotional connection. We need to re-establish that connection for them to support the project. Montserrat lost a part of its identity when the frogs went extinct, and we now have the opportunity to give back a little bit of what makes it unique. W H AT WA S I T L I K E T O H EA R THE M C A L L I N G ON M ON T SER R AT FOR THE F I R ST T I M E I N Y EA R S? It’s hard to put into words, but it was just complete euphoria! I had never actually heard a mountain chicken calling until then. It was like a myth had been made real. You hear all of these “legends” of what the call is like, which everyone describes differently. To listen to it for yourself is just, wow! We also felt proud that this is something we had achieved. We have been able to put a species back where it belongs. After all of the stress and pressure, hearing that call relieved everything. All of the hard work was worth it just for that.
C LO C K WI SE FR O M AB O VE Luke Jones with one of the mountain chickens to arrive in Montserrat, a heated pool in the semi-wild enclosure, a mountain chicken being checked for signs of disease.
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NEWS
AT THE Z OO
ENDANGERED PIGEONS RETURN HOME
YOUNG LOVE FOR RAYMI In July, our 3-year-old Andean bear, Raymi, left Jersey for his new home at Givskud Zoo in Denmark. Soon after arriving, he was paired with a young female called Nazca. Since then, they have been playing together with Nazca already showing that she is in charge, despite being half Raymi’s size. In time we hope the pair will make a vital contribution to the breeding programme for the species. Raymi has been an adored member of Jersey Zoo’s bear family, whose playful and mischievous behaviour has been enjoyed by both staff and visitors alike. The keepers were sad to see him leave but excited for him to start this new chapter of his life.
Three pink pigeons bred at Jersey Zoo have been returned to their native island of Mauritius. Here they joined the in-country captive breeding programme to return missing genes to the wild population.
Monitoring genetic diversity is an integral part of conserving wildlife. A higher genetic variability helps maintain the health of a population, provides better protection against disease and pests, and makes a species more adaptable to environmental changes. The returned birds are descendants of individuals brought to the zoo by Gerald Durrell in the 1970s. It was around this time that pink pigeons were considered to be one of the rarest birds in the world, with just ten individuals thought to remain in the wild. Although the wild population is currently stable, the species is still faced with the threat of invasive predators and a deteriorating habitat.
SUCCESS AT NATIONAL AWAR DS CEREMONY
UNDERS TANDING OUR PIED TAMARINS
We were delighted to receive a total of seven awards at the annual conference of the British & Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) earlier this year. These awards recognise our efforts from across the organisation at Jersey Zoo and in the field. We received gold awards for our work with the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme and for the research highlighting the impact of the illegal wildlife trade on the ploughshare tortoise. The zoo received a gold award for the expansion of the fruit bat enclosure to enable continuous flight and a bronze award for the research to understand sources of stress in pied tamarins. We also received a silver award for the zoo’s popular summer event Durrell At Dusk. Two gold prizes were awarded for developing husbandry techniques for the giant jumping rat and the mountain chicken frog to prevent its extinction in the wild.
Pied tamarins are sensitive animals and develop health problems more than other related monkeys in captivity. Maintaining the highest standards of welfare is a top priority, so we worked on a collaborative study to better understand the causes of stress in the tamarins. We measured cortisol, which is the stress hormone, and found that females had higher cortisol levels than males, while hand-reared tamarins had higher levels than parentreared monkeys. Unexpectedly, tamarins living in off-show enclosures had more elevated cortisol than those living in the areas that can be seen by our visitors. This might be because there are more pied tamarins in the off-show buildings. The quieter, well-vegetated public exhibits may give the monkeys enough security to feel relaxed even when they are being watched.
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NEWS
HORNBILL BREEDING SUCCESS Earlier this summer, we were delighted that a pair of Sunda wrinkled hornbills successfully hatched two chicks. This is the first time in our history that these endangered birds have successfully bred at the zoo. Wrinkled hornbills usually remain paired for life. The female will seal herself in the nest, leaving just a small hole for the male to pass food through. The mother and chicks rely solely on the male to feed them during this nesting period. Our handsome male, Samson, proved himself to be a model father and did a fantastic job providing for his family. Eventually, 15 weeks after concealing herself in the nest box, the mother emerged with her two chicks. Samson watched and encouraged them as they removed the mud seal from around the nest entrance, tempting them out with morsels of food and squeaking noises.
C O N SER VAT I ON KN O WL E DG E TRAINING IN ENDANGERED SPECIES RECOVERY In September, we welcomed 15 participants from eight different countries onto our long-running Endangered Species Recovery course. They included people involved in a wide range of conservation issues from Australia’s critically endangered orange-bellied parrot, to the topic of conservation psychology. Also on the course was a Colombian amphibian conservationist, who underwent bespoke training in our Herpetology Department while in Jersey. Earlier this year, we also welcomed two primatologists from Brazil for bespoke internships on marmoset husbandry within our Mammal Department.
NATURE CONNECTION IN JERSEY’S SCHOOL CHILDREN The term “nature connection” describes the relationship a person has with the natural world. Do they feel part of it, do they enjoy experiencing it, and do they feel responsible for it? An increasing number of studies show that the more connected to nature someone is, the better their physical and mental health. They are also more likely to support wildlife conservation and make changes towards a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Last year, we measured levels of nature connection in 1000 primary school children. We found that girls seem to be more connected to nature than boys, but this connection declines in both as they get older. Children in rural schools had higher nature connection scores than children at schools in urban areas. Most likely because rural schools have more facilities such as ponds and school gardens. We are now looking at secondary school students to see how nature connection changes through adolescence. This is the time when a person’s relationship with the natural world is thought to be at its lowest level. A crucial part of this research will look at how we can intervene to stop it declining to support wellbeing and inspire a positive attitude towards conservation.
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NEWS
I N TH E W I L D SEAR CHING FOR A SIGN Work continues to track both the released and wild pygmy hogs across the tall grasslands of the Himalayan foothills. Over the last year, the team have been monitoring populations of this threatened species in four protected areas covering their entire range. The field team surveyed each region looking for signs of pygmy hogs and other native species such as the hispid hare and hog deer. The presence of nests and droppings are the leading indicators that an area is being used by the hogs. The surveys covered a total area of 36km2, with almost 240 hours spent searching. Based on the results of these surveys, 50 camera traps were installed in three major grasslands in Manas National Park. The cameras managed to capture pygmy hogs in three different locations, as well as many other native species that rely on this unique grassland.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
A FINCH SAFETY NET
One of the main threats to the endangered white-breasted thrasher in Saint Lucia is predators taking young birds from the nest. Camera traps have been installed to monitor nest activity to identify which species pose the most severe risk to the chicks and eggs. In particular, whether they are natural endemic predators such as the Fer-de-Lance or introduced alien species, such as the small Indian mongoose. This information will help the team to develop a predator control programme that will hopefully increase the fledgling success rate.
An island-wide eradication of invasive predators is due to begin on Floreana in the Galápagos Islands in 2020. Five species of Darwin’s finches have been identified as being at potential risk during this period, including the medium tree finch which is found only on Floreana. To guarantee the safety of these birds, individuals of each species will be held in captivity throughout the eradication and monitored post-release. Captive trials have identified the needs of the finches to establish best practice guidelines to ensure their survival in captivity. The first step will be to improve the holding facilities by extending the aviary. This will allow birds to be kept in appropriate densities that guarantee good health and welfare.
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NEWS
GIANT JUMPING RATS ON CAMERA
A NEW FIELD STATION
Our team in Madagascar have managed to capture what could be the first-ever camera trap footage of the endangered Malagasy giant jumping rat in the wild. These elusive yet charismatic mammals are found only in the Menabe-Antimena Protected Area and depend on good quality forest to thrive. Rapid deforestation across its native range to make way for cash crops such as peanut and maize is driving the species to extinction. Camera traps are being used for the first time to help gain a better estimate of the current population size. The videos show exciting insights into their behaviour, and it is hoped that this footage will also help bring the plight of this species into focus.
The success of our Rewild our Islands fundraising campaign has enabled work to begin on enhancing the infrastructure on Round Island with a new field station and office/quarantine facilities. However, getting 20 tonnes of building materials to an uninhabited island 22 kilometres off the coast of Mauritius came with its challenges. In total, it took 36 helicopter trips and around 68 people to shift all of the materials. Once completed, these new facilities will aid the work to restore the island’s ecosystem and recover populations of threatened wildlife.
RETURNING THE WILDCAT TO BRITAIN
HOPE FOR ENDANGERED TUR TLE
We are delighted to be partnering with the Vincent Wildlife Trust (VWT) to restore one of the rarest and most endangered mammals in Britain, the European wildcat. Alongside VWT, we aim to pool our knowledge and experience to establish a self-sustaining population of the species outside of Scotland, where it is currently found only in the remote Highlands. An initial study to identify potential areas for reintroduction has already been undertaken. The next stage will be to conduct more in-depth ecological and social feasibility studies within these areas to determine which is the most suitable as a release site. A core focus of this project will be to work alongside local communities, taking into full account their views and needs.
The second-ever release of captive-raised Madagascar big-headed turtles into Lake Ravelobe is due to take place early next year. This critically endangered turtle, known locally as ‘rere’, is under threat from the loss of wetlands and hunting for food by impoverished local communities. Our team in Madagascar will work alongside these communities and law enforcement to increase patrols in the area to reduce the amount of illegal fishing. The condition of the lake can then be improved to benefit both the rere and the local people who rely on the resources it provides. The aim is to use the turtles as a flagship to restoring local wetlands.
K E E P U P T O D AT E W I T H OUR WORK SIGN UP FOR OUR ENEWS DURRELL.ORG/NEWS
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RECOV ER T H E ATL ANTIC RA INFOREST THE ATL ANTIC FOREST IS ONE OF THE RICHEST AND MOST BIODIVERSE HABITATS ON THE PL ANET. This extraordinarily lush rainforest, which extends both along the Atlantic coast and inland in southern Brazil, is home to many species of animals and plants that are found nowhere else on earth.
N BL AC K LIO N TAM ARI
Tragically, of this once vast landscape now only 12% persists in highly fragmented pockets. Increased human pressures mean that towns, pastures and intensive farmland have replaced this once plentiful and colourful rainforest. Despite so little remaining, the Atlantic rainforest is still immensely rich in wildlife. However, many of the species that live there are now threatened with extinction, including the black lion tamarin that Durrell and our Brazilian partners, Instituto de Pesquisas Ecolรณgicas (IPE), have worked to save for the last 30 years.
Deforestation in Brazil continues to happen at an alarming rate and we need to act now before it’s too late. Animals that live in small fragments of forest become isolated and face an increased risk of extinction. Together we can protect this precious ecosystem by creating ‘wildlife corridors’, lifelines between the forest fragments. These corridors are established by planting trees to reconnect wildlife including highly threatened populations of black lion tamarins, jaguars, pumas and ocelots.
Native people are at the heart of this project; the trees are grown in community nurseries and planted by local people thereby providing sustainable livelihoods and future security for the true guardians of this rich and diverse landscape.
CA MERA T RA P IN SPECTION
Together with our partners at Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (IPE) you can create a tree corridor to connect the Morro do Diabo State Park to isolated forest fragments to the north. Linking these small patches of rainforest will give threatened populations of black lion tamarin, puma, jaguar and ocelot a chance to thrive again.
You can restore this lush rainforest by planting 17,000 trees and creating sustainable livelihoods for local people and neutralize approximately 2,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
£25
will enable the local community to plant five trees and nurture them for three years
£500
will run a community nursery for one week
£15,000
will pay for a forest and community officer to oversee the project for one year
£85,000
will rebuild 1,000 metres of wildlife corridor connecting forest fragments
D O N ATE N OW VIS IT W W W. DUR R E L L . O R G / AT L A N T I C
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT WHITE STORK
SCIE NT I FI C NAME Ciconia ciconia WEIG H T 2.3–4.5 kg T OP SPEED 110 km/h WINGS PAN Approx. 165cm ALT IT U D E Can reach a height of 4,800 metres during migration, making it one of the highestflying birds in the world. DIET They are omnivores with a varied and opportunistic diet. They seek out small mammals, earthworms, snails, crickets, and other large insects in water-meadows, grasslands, and arable fields.
T H E BI R D B EHI ND T H E LEGEND Mention the word “stork” to anyone in Britain and the image that jumps to mind will likely be of a large, majestic white bird carrying in its beak a baby wrapped in a cloth bundle. This image plucked straight from the pages of mythology could well be the only one many people have of this once abundant bird, which is now a rare sight in the UK. In 1416, the last known breeding pair of white storks in Britain were recorded nesting on St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. Since then, there have been no confirmed records of a pair breeding in the wild. Evidence suggests that these spectacular birds were once widespread across the British Isles. Why they failed to survive is unclear, but it was most likely a combination of habitat loss, over-hunting and targeted persecution. Now, more than 600 years later, we are working alongside private landowners and conservation organisations to return storks as a breeding bird in Britain.
LIFE IN THE PENTHOUSE Outside of the UK, white storks are a familiar sight throughout central and southern Europe and are often found living close to people. Nesting storks are hard to miss as their large, bulky nests stand up to 30m above the ground. They nest either solitarily or in loose colonies of up to 30 pairs, with individuals often returning to the same nest sites each year. In some regions, such as Cheshinovo-Obleshevo in North Macedonia, silhouettes of the birds standing tall on nests built on telegraph poles, pylons, trees, and rooftops dominate the skyline. In many of these “stork villages”, people have a close connection with the birds, and many consider them to be a sign of good luck. Some people even go as far as to erect cartwheels and platforms onto their roofs to actively encourage them to nest.
A GREAT MIGRATION In 1822, near the German village of Klütz, an astonishing discovery was made – a stork was found with an arrow embedded in its neck. The fact that it had somehow managed to survive the attack was only part of the mystery surrounding the bird. The weapon was identified as being a kind found only in central Africa. Up until that point, very little was known about bird migration, this discovery was one of several which provided early evidence that birds could migrate over large distances.
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Each year, as winter begins to descend over Europe, white storks fly south in spectacular flocks, which can number into the thousands. They take to the skies by day and come down to roost in trees and open country by night. Most individuals migrating from Europe and North Africa will eventually end up in sub-Saharan Africa. Using their large wings, they soar on rising warm air currents reaching altitudes exceeding 1,500 metres and glide over vast distances. As these warm currents only form over land, they cannot migrate across large bodies of water, such as the Mediterranean Sea. Individuals travelling from Europe diverge through the Bosporus in the east or the Strait of Gibraltar in the west. Sadly, their journey is not without its dangers. Exhausted birds often collide with overhead powerlines and shooting along their migration route still poses a threat to the species.
SECTION TITLE
“Bringing back the white stork could be a means by which to reignite our affection for the natural world”
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SPECIES SPOTLIGHT WHITE STORK
R ET U RNI NG A N I C ON The White Stork Project aims to restore at least 50 breeding pairs in Southern England by 2030. The project, of which Durrell is a key partner, will focus on releasing at least 250 storks at several sites around Sussex to establish local breeding colonies. “Across Europe, white storks have lived alongside people for generations and have become a part of the culture and heritage of those countries,” says Durrell’s White Stork Project Officer Lucy Groves. “They have been used in other reintroductions across Europe as a flagship species for wetland creation and restoration. We chose Sussex as an ideal place to release storks as it has vast areas of floodplains and wet grasslands. The hope for them in the UK is to engage and inspire people and drive proconservation behaviour.”
AT TEMPTED NESTING Earlier this year, a pair of young storks began nesting at the Knepp Estate in West Sussex, which gained a lot of media attention including a feature on BBC Springwatch. “We were thrilled when a couple of our storks built a nest in an oak tree at Knepp this year,” says Lucy. “We watched excitedly as they displayed to each other and began building the nest. The female laid three eggs, and we waited expectantly throughout May, but unfortunately, they did not hatch. The female is still young, having just reached breeding age, and we think that the eggs were infertile. Despite the disappointing news, we are hopeful that they will return next year and attempt to nest again. Storks are faithful to the nests they create and return each year. We will certainly be keeping a close eye on the oak tree in 2020!”
TAKING FLIGHT
CLOCKW I S E FR O M AB O V E Marge’s migration route, white stork takes flight, aerial view of the nest at Knepp, young storks raised at Cotswold Wildlife Park
This summer, 24 juvenile white storks were released at the Knepp rewilding project after being hatched and raised at Cotswold Wildlife Park. “Despite the regular occurrence of vagrants from Europe, natural re-colonisation is unlikely,” says Lucy. “Therefore, the reintroduction of white storks will be carried out in three phases. The first is to create a static population using rescued birds from Warsaw Zoo, these act as a magnet for any storks flying over. The second phase is to create a free-flying population using birds from Poland that are kept at the site for two years in a large aviary before being released. The third phase is to create a migratory population, this is why we are releasing juveniles each year. These young storks have the instinct to fly south in their first autumn, heading towards their overwintering grounds in Africa, and then subsequently returning the following spring.” The storks have unique coloured rings on their
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legs so they can be individually identified. Eight members of the group were also fitted with GPS tags so their flight paths can be tracked as they travel south for the winter. “It has been a joy to see the juvenile storks leaving the release pen and taking to the skies with our free-flying adults,” says Lucy. “I have been blown away by the enthusiastic response, not only from our local community but also from birders and members of the public. Many people have provided us with detailed sightings, which are crucial for helping us to understand the behaviour of these young storks. We have had reports stretching from East Sussex to Penzance in Cornwall, where the birds spent some time wowing holidaymakers. We are happy that some of the birds have made their way back to Knepp, while excitingly, others have decided to travel south. One individual, named Marge, crossed the English Channel in August and headed south through France and Spain. After a week or two spent feeding up on a rubbish tip south of Madrid, she continued south. She eventually crossed the Strait of Gibraltar on 23rd September becoming our first British bred white stork to successfully migrate! She is currently in Morocco in an area which is used by overwintering storks from across Europe.”
ENGAGING A COMMUNITY The White Stork Project is one of many conservation initiatives outlined in Durrell’s Rewild Our World strategy, but this is about more than just returning lost species. “There is a growing realisation that a positive, connected relationship with nature increases pro-environmental behaviours and is an essential part of wellbeing,” says Lucy. “This nature connectedness holds benefits for individuals, just as it does for the natural world as a whole. This project will use storks to engage communities to connect with their local wildlife and to strengthen emotional connection towards nature. White storks are charismatic birds. Their large size, colourful plumage, colonial nesting behaviours and well-established folklore already ensures their popularity throughout their European range. In a time of increasing disengagement with nature in the UK, bringing back the white stork could be a means by which to reignite our affection for the natural world, and drive pro-conservation behaviour change and environmental restoration.”
This project is being carried out in partnership with Knepp, Wadhurst and Wintershall, as well as the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, Cotswold Wildlife Park, and Warsaw Zoo. To find out more about the project or report sightings, visit www.whitestorkproject.org.
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GO R I L L A J O Y AT J ER S EY Z O O In the early hours of Friday 15th November, 25-year old western lowland gorilla Bahasha gave birth. The keepers are delighted with the news and have been keeping a close watch over the first-time mum and the newest addition to the troop. Both are doing very well and silverback Badongo has been keeping a protective eye over Bahasha and their baby. There certainly couldn’t have been a more perfect way to conclude our 60th anniversary year. To support our fundraising efforts to build a new indoor home for our gorilla family visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/GoWildGorillas
TECH CORNER
DR ON E M ON I T OR I N G
E YE S I N T H E SKY
D R M IKE HU DS O N C O NS E RVATIO N RE S E AR CH FE LLO W
T H E R M A L OR I NF RA RE D IMAG ING IS THE P R O CESS O F TA KI NG DI GI TAL P ICTURE S WITH A S P E CIALIS ED C A M ERA , WHI C H RE CO RD S INFRARE D O R HE AT R A DIATI ON AS OPPOS E D TO V IS IBLE LIG HT . The critically endangered Alaotran gentle lemur is the only primate to live exclusively over water. Hidden in the marshes surrounding Madagascar’s largest lake, Lac Alaotra, the lemurs continue to be threatened by the illegal burning of its habitat for conversion to rice paddies. Until now, monitoring the population of this species has been conducted primarily by canoe. This meant that surveys were restricted to a small number of canals used by local fishermen. Our team of conservationists, alongside researchers from Liverpool John Moores University, visited Lac Alaotra earlier this year to trial the use of drone-based thermal infrared cameras as a new way of monitoring the lemurs. In short, the drone would fly over large areas of otherwise inaccessible marsh and detect the lemurs from their body heat. The results of the trial were promising, and we are pleased to have recently received a large research grant to continue the development of this system.
The Alaotran gentle lemur’s dark grey fur makes it particularly tricky to spot with the naked eye in the dense marsh. The thermal-infrared cameras make them much easier to detect, allowing us to obtain more accurate estimates of their population size.
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Traditional canoe surveys are very limiting as they are restricted to just a few narrow canals. The lemurs are also very hard to spot among the dense vegetation, even for the trained eyes of local Durrell staff.
TECH CORNER
In a single 20 minute flight, the drone was able to cover a greater area of the marsh than a canoe team could cover in two days, hugely increasing the efficiency of the surveys.
The team have been putting on community events where they show drone footage of the villages surrounding the marsh. Our conservation efforts in Alaotra are community-based, so events like this are essential in fostering goodwill among the local people.
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E N O G D i l w
n a n e e b has s a y l t l i i n r u o G m d m l e co d i Go Wi w d n ll’s isla e r e r l u b i D d e ting incr a r b e l e c project anniversary‌ 60th
IN PA R T N ER S HI P W I T H W IL D IN A R T , TH E GOR I L L A T R A IL H A S PR O V ID E D J OY A N D W O N DE R T O TH O USA N D S OF I S L A N DE R S A N D V ISITOR S, I N SPI R I N G T H E M T O D ISCO V ER N EW UR B A N A N D W IL D LO C AT I ON S A C R OS S J E R S E Y. By bringing artists, businesses, schools and communities together, Go Wild Gorillas has made the whole island smile! Artists’ designs have encouraged everyone to discover the wonderful world of conservation through the visual arts. The ultimate aim of the trail was to launch a significant fundraiser to build a new home for our beloved gorillas at Jersey Zoo. The trail concluded at the start of November with the Grand Gorilla Auction, where the sale of 44 sculptures raised an incredible £1,146,500!
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A HEAR T F ELT T HANK Y OU TO : • The many businesses and organisations that have chosen to support the trail; you have made it all possible. • All the artists for bringing our gorillas and Jersey to life through colour and creativity. • Teachers, community groups, charities, and colleagues for choosing to make this a priority in a busy schedule, influencing the next generation and future wellbeing of our island culture. • Everyone who bought one of the sculptures at auction contributing a huge amount to our fundraising campaign. • All of you who have enjoyed the gorillas and been out exploring the island; you have made 2019 a summer to remember.
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D i l w O G T R A l l i r gO
1. Colour in your gorilla mask 2. Stick to a sheet of card 3. Cut out the mask and eye holes 4. Make holes in the sides and tie a length of string or elastic to each side so it holds to your face
what was your favourite GO WILD GORILLA? DESIGN YOUR OWN AND SHARE WITH US on or @gowildgorillas
GO
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s e i g d n r u o y
D O D O D I S PAT C H
THE New s e r u t n e v d a of Indigo As a gorilla grows up, they eventually reach an age when they are ready to leave their family troop and seek new adventures. This was our young gorilla lndigo’s year to make the big move from Jersey Zoo. His destination? Pairi Daiza zoo in Belgium. Here he would move in with his uncle Lomako, brother of our silverback Badongo, and another young gorilla called Tebogo, who was moving from Dublin Zoo. In preparation for Indigo’s big trip, our veterinary team first needed to give him a full check-up to make sure he was in perfect health. Taking a gorilla to the vet is not an everyday occurrence, but they can be trained to make this process really easy. Each morning the keepers would spend 20-30 minutes practising different training exercises to prepare him. This meant that when the day arrived, Indigo was more than happy to present his shoulder to his keepers to receive an injection of anaesthetic. Once Indigo had fallen asleep, he was taken to the vet centre to have his check-up. They reported that Indigo was in excellent condition, so his move was arranged for the 23rd March.
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It was a long journey to the zoo in Belgium. Indigo travelled on the ferry to France and was then driven in the van to Pairi Diaza. He was very calm and quiet throughout the journey. Chris, Indigo’s keeper from Jersey Zoo, was already waiting at the destination so that a familiar face was there to help him settle in. As soon as Indigo was let into his new home, he came to see Chris and took his usual breakfast before checking out his new bedroom. The other young gorilla, Tebogo, had already been there for a couple of days. The Pairi Daiza keepers were very excited to meet Indigo and had his favourite food of mango and grapes ready for him. Later on that day, Indigo and Tebogo were introduced to each other. Although Indigo was still a little nervous, they soon began playing, wrestling and chasing each other. It wasn’t long before they became good friends. When the time came for Chris to say his goodbyes, Indigo was much more interested in playing with his new friend and didn’t even notice. Although this can be hard for the keepers, Chris was happy knowing that Indigo would be well looked after and would spend his days playing and having fun. Since Indigo moved, the keepers from Pairi Daiza have sent lots of updates on how Indigo, Tebogo and Lomako are getting on. Now they are all living together happily and even share their home with a group of colobus monkeys.
D O D O D I S PAT C H
M Y Y E A R AT J E R S E Y Z O O My name is Georgia, and I am one of the newest zookeepers in the mammal department. l started working at the zoo in June 2018, and this is my story so far! I started out as a student, doing work experience five days a week for 12 months. Working with keepers helped me to understand how a zoo works and allowed me to develop my own skills as a zookeeper. When a job became available, I knew I had to apply. After a nervous couple of months, I got the phone call to say I’d got the job – all my hard work had paid off! As a keeper, I get to look after a whole range of animals from the tiny bokiboky and the gorgeous howler monkeys to the mischievous macaques and awesome Andean bears. During the summer, an essential part of my job was helping the animals to keep cool. I would throw frozen fish into the moat for Chui, our male bear, to go and find. That way the water would help cool him down, but he’d also spend lots of time looking for food like he would in the wild. We would also give them ice lollies or freeze their favourite foods into big blocks of ice for them to use their impressive claws to tear open.
In autumn last year, I trained to become an orangutan keeper. It was a slow process as you have to build up a strong bond with the orangutans. At first, it was quite scary. Dagu the adult male weighs over 130kg, and he has a loud call he uses to establish his territory, but as I got to know him, I realised that he is really a gentle giant. One of my favourite moments was watching Dagu play with his two children, Jantho and Kea. He is so gentle with them, even when they are really cheeky and bite at his fingers or pull his hair. In January, I had the opportunity to be trained in caring for the gorillas and pigs! Everyone falls in love with our gorilla family – they are absolutely amazing, but it is our Visayan warty pigs that I adore. We have three girls at Jersey Zoo: Penelope, Diosa and Babs and I do my best to keep them busy. They have amazing noses designed to help them rummage for food, so sometimes I bury food in their enclosure to encourage them to go digging. I also make them new toys like bamboo wind chimes to play with. As a treat, they get flavoured water, their favourite is cucumber and mint. They are quite pampered piggies! Over the past year spent at Jersey Zoo, I often look back and think how when I was six-years-old, this was my dream, and now it’s my reality. If you want something badly enough, you can achieve it with a lot of hard work, dedication, and bravery.
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D O IT FOR D U R R E L L
B E I N SP IRED We are so grateful to all our friends, members, and supporters and we’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to each and every one of you. We hope you will be inspired by some of the ways our supporters have raised funds to help us save wildlife.
C EL E B R ATI N G 60 Y EA RS O F SAVING SPECIES The Investec Wilderness Ball was a fantastic celebration of Durrell’s 60th anniversary, raising an astonishing £224,291 to support our work rewilding habitats and saving threatened species from extinction. The Royal Jersey Showground was transformed to bring to life Durrell’s vision of a wilder, healthier, more colourful world, highlighting the vibrancy and natural beauty of our planet. Hosted by Durrell Ambassador Monty Halls, guests were treated to an incredible live performance by disco legends Sister Sledge, which culminated in the Durrell and Investec ‘family’ on stage as backing singers to their number one hit song We are Family.
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C LI M B I N G K I L I At the beginning of September, Grant Rogerson set out to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania as part of a group of six friends. Supported by local guides, they each reached the summit at 5,895 metres above sea level, helping to raise funds for three charities including Durrell.
EKOH AR T Heather Barette has created a collection of beautiful tote bags with powerful conservation messages. Inspired to take action, she is donating 30p from every bag sale to Durrell. You can find them in our Jersey Zoo Gift Shop.
GOR IL L A AR T A young fundraiser inspired to support Go Wild Gorillas has raised £150 over the summer with his own unique creations. Armed with a set of blow pens, Jack Bryan, aged 9, created individual art pieces to represent the 40 silverback gorilla sculptures to sell to family and friends.
J ERS EY GOR IL L A Will Highfield, aka Jersey Gorilla, has completed the incredible challenge of running the Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon in a full gorilla suit in under 4 hours! This extraordinary achievement follows a year of dedication to training, personal challenges and fundraising initiatives to raise over £32,000. The funds will go towards a new home for our gorillas at Jersey Zoo where Will regularly volunteers, helping to clean, feed, and look after Badongo and his family. His ambition is to continue fundraising by highlighting Durrell’s work overseas. Follow Jersey Gorilla on Facebook to find out more.
WILDL IFE WAR D ENS We are delighted to welcome Granite Products and Vantage as corporate members of Durrell, delivering clear business benefits and helping to protect threatened wildlife
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GO wilD gOrillAs in numbers
This summer, Go Wild Gorillas inspired the whole community to get out and explore our beautiful island on a trail of discovery to see wondrous gorilla sculptures and the nature in which they were placed.
SILV ERBA CK GOR I L L A SC UL PT UR ES: 40
C ELEB R ATING 60 YEA RS OF GO R I LL AS AT JERSEY ZOO
1959
6, 672 A PP USER S
2019
21 SC HO O L S INV OLV ED I N THE CREATIV E LE AR NING PR OGRA MME
YOU N G G OR I L L A SC UL PT UR ES: 43
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227, 076 GOR I L L A UN L OCKS
16 C OM M UN I T Y A N D C HA R I T Y GR OU P S D ESI GN ED GOR I L L A S
This very special group was established by Gerald and Lee Durrell on the 25th anniversary of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. As true “guardians” of the Trust, our Durrell Gardiens are passionate about conservation and enjoy making a difference alongside fellow influential supporters. They are ambassadors for Durrell amongst friends and acquaintances worldwide.
By becoming a Durrell Gardien, you will enable us to continue our mission to save species from extinction and support Durrell to be a leader in global conservation. To join the Gardiens, we ask for an annual gift of £1,500 or a monthly donation of £125. In return, as a dedicated supporter, you will have the opportunity to connect directly with our projects around the world, and celebrate and share our success. You will receive exclusive invitations to events, access to behind the scenes tours and be amongst the first to gain insights into our work directly from our Jersey Zoo team and international conservationists. You will also receive regular project updates and be part of the process to decide collectively which of our programmes your annual gift will benefit.
WE INV ITE YOU TO D ISCOV ER HOW YOU C A N BECOME A D UR R EL L GAR D IEN Please contact either beth.gallichan@durrell.org or alex.shears@durrell.org or call 01534 860022.
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