WILD LIFE
Future Conservationists
IN PERSON AND ONLINE COURSES FOR 16 TO 18 YEAR OLDS
Like the idea of a career that makes a difference for nature? Gain the knowledge and confidence to kickstart your journey towards a career in conservation.
WHERE Jersey Zoo or online
WHEN 23 – 25 October 2024
APPLY by 9 September
Scan to find out more
Welcome to Wild Life!
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the latest edition of Wild Life. As we move forward from what have been a challenging few months, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your support and dedication to Durrell’s mission of saving species from extinction. Your commitment has been a beacon of strength for the Durrell team.
I am delighted to share some exciting upcoming events and activities that we can all look forward to. This September, Jersey Zoo will host the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, showcasing breathtaking moments from the wild. Mark your calendars for the Durrell Lecture 2024, which will officially launch our conservation project at the Dalnacardoch Esstate in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. Events will be held in Edinburgh, London, and Jersey on 5, 6 and 14 November, bringing together our community to celebrate this new initiative.
Our winter edition of Wild Life will also shine a light on Dalnacardoch, a project that represents a significant step forward in our conservation efforts in Britain. We look forward to sharing updates and stories from this project with you.
We are also in the early stages of planning our next conservation strategy, set to launch in 2026. Building on the success of our Rewild Our World strategy, initiated in 2017, we are optimistic about the future and the impactful work we will continue to do together.
In spring 2025, 20 dedicated individuals will embark on the Founder’s Trek in India to commemorate what would have been Gerald Durrell’s 100th birthday—a journey that promises to be both inspiring and memorable. Additionally, we have a series of exciting events lined up for 2025 to honour our founder’s centenary year, with more details to be announced later in 2024.
Please save the date for our next AGM, which will be held on 5 December 2024. Further details will be provided this summer.
Thank you once again for your steadfast support through your memberships and dedication to creating a wilder, healthier, more colourful world. I hope you enjoy this edition of Wild Life, and I look forward to sharing more news and updates with you in the coming months.
Craig Jones, Richard Johnstone-Scott, Mike Korostelev, Simon R Leach, Nobilis Fauna, Luis Palacios, Gabby Salazar, Savills, Chris Souville, Alex Ward, Charlie Wylie COVER IMAGE
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 supporter.care@durrell.org or (0)1534 860111
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DURRELL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION TRUST Les Augres Manor, La Profonde Rue, Trinity, Jersey, JE3 5BP, Channel Islands
Wild Life is printed on paper that is certified FSC® Mix Grade with fibre coming from responsible sources and can be fully recycled. Your copy of the magazine is sent to you in a fully compostable wrap.
PHOTO AND ILLUSTRATION CREDITS Aardman Animation, Bettina Avila, Tomas Bertelsen, Will Bertram, Diego Bresani, Becky Bloomfield, Paula Castano, Rashid Cruz, Stuart Capstick, Darren Deans, Howletts Animal Park, Estate of Gerald Durrell, Howletts Animal Park, Rachel Hughes rachelhughesphotography.com,
Matthew Hatchwell Chair, Board of Trustees
At the zoo
Jersey Zoo hosts Ukrainian Zoo Association
On 1 February, Jersey Zoo had the pleasure of hosting four representatives from the Ukrainian Zoo Association. Through our partners at Prague Zoo, who have been lending physical support and food supplies, Jersey Zoo contributed funding to Ukrainian zoos that have been heavily impacted by the ongoing war. The delegation’s visit to Jersey was part of a short tour around the UK, and our teams were delighted to meet them.
New birds under our wing
Four new female ferruginous ducks have joined our Madagascar Wetlands aviary. By caring for this species at Jersey Zoo, our keepers have gained important insights into breeding and egg incubation, which has helped inform our Critically Endangered Madagascar pochard breeding programme.
A beautiful female grey crowned crane from Longleat Safari and Adventure Park has joined our male crane. The pair hit it off immediately, ducking and dancing to impress. An Endangered species, grey crowned cranes can be found in wetlands and grasslands across eastern and southern Africa.
We recently welcomed a new female Javan green magpie to Jersey Zoo. A Critically Endangered species, Javan green magpies are among the most sought-after songbirds in the illegal caged bird trade due to their bright green feathers. It is now believed there are less than 250 left in the wild.
Reaching new heights
Weighing nearly 200kg, Biggy the Aldabra giant tortoise is heavier than a silverback gorilla. Trying to move him presents some significant challenges. When Senior Veterinary Officer Violaine Colon needed to assess and remove a benign tumour discovered near Biggy’s tail, a new piece of specialist equipment was required. Thanks to the generosity of a donor, a unique hoist was made to lift our heaviest animal off the floor. The hoist gently raised and supported Biggy, allowing our vets to remove the tumour. This successful operation means Biggy is much more agile and social, even for a century-old giant tortoise!
The unbe-leaf-able life of a hooded katydid! Katydids lay their eggs in soil and, after three to five months, they hatch, tiny and wingless (1). Like many other invertebrates, katydids shed their exoskeletons as they grow and leave behind a moult. A hollow “hood” develops after their second moult (2), which sits on the middle part of the body known as the thorax. By the third moult, the katydid’s hood becomes very defined, and they begin to resemble adults. They will moult another four times over a few months until they reach adulthood (3, 4). Once they’re adults, these incredible insects grow wings that resemble leaves to help them to camouflage (5, 6), boasting a wingspan of up to 25cm! Adult females will lay eggs using their ovipositors, the large appendage at her rear-end, and the lifecycle begins again.
In the wild
A royal introduction Durrell’s Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP) Director, Dr Parag Deka, was honoured to be invited to an afternoon tea with our Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, in Mumbai. They discussed our work in India with our partner Aaranyak, and Dr Deka gifted HRH a carved pygmy hog made in one of the local communities that support the PHCP. We currently have 88 hogs at our breeding centres, and 28 will soon be paired in the hope of hoglets! With so few left, matched hogs must be chosen carefully with the help of matchmaking software to preserve genetic variability in the population. Luckily, Dr Deka is a pro matchmaker, and our pygmy hogs currently have excellent genetic credentials.
Getting to know Dalnacardoch
Last year, we introduced you to our new rewilding site, the Dalnacardoch Estate in Scotland. We continue to increase our understanding of the species and habitats present across the Estate through our survey work, the data from which will underpin our landscape-scale restoration work, rewilding and reviving the land and its ecosystems. We have begun to gradually reduce deer numbers to promote the natural regeneration of woodland and will work closely with neighbours on the implications of management for deer across their range.
In March, Durrell became registered as an official charity in Scotland. This year we also welcomed our Programme Director, Deirdre Stewart, and Rewilding Ecologist, Sam Buckland, to the team. We are delighted that Sir Stephen Dalton, Jersey’s former Lieutenant-Governer, has taken on the voluntary role as Chair of Durrell’s Scottish Board of Trustees.
In search of the kapidolo
Our team in Madagascar is all set to carry out population surveys for the flat-tailed tortoise, known as “kapidolo” in Malagasy. This Critically Endangered species can only be found within the Menabe Antimena Protected Area in Madagascar, where they are unfortunately threatened by deforestation and fires. Finding kapidolo in the wild isn’t easy as they bury themselves in leaf litter and camouflage into their surroundings, only coming out during the short rainy season. The aim of the surveys is to update our knowledge about the current wild population size and find a reintroduction site where there are no individuals currently living for future releases of captive-bred kapidolo.
A year to celebrate for Durrell’s Academy
In his book The Stationary Ark, Gerald Durrell noted that one of his ambitions was to form “a university... where people can get the correct training... and then take their talents back to form conservation units throughout the world.” This dream came true 40 years ago when the International Training Centre for the Conservation and Captive Breeding of Endangered Species was established at the headquarters of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Jersey. It was officially opened by Gerry and our Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, in 1984, and was later renamed Durrell Conservation Academy in honour of our founder. This year, the Academy is looking forward to celebrating its 40th birthday and the milestone of training over 7,000 students from 160 countries.
Restoring Floreana
A significant phase of the Floreana Island Restoration Project, Durrell and partners have together removed invasive species from Floreana, the most southerly island in the Galapagos. This will allow native wildlife to recover and thrive without the threat of predation from species that shouldn't be on the island. Five species of native finches were held safely in captivity during invasive species removal, including the Critically Endangered medium tree-finch, which is found nowhere else in the world. Jersey Zoo’s Head of Veterinary Services, Allan Muir, and Bird Keeper, Chloe Allen, visited the project to provide expertise and support. These birds have now been released back into the wild and tagged individuals will be monitored with radio transmitters and drones. The project will now continue into its next stages, working towards its aim of reintroducing 12 locally extinct species and restoring the island’s degraded ecosystem.
Regreening Madagascar
Our Menabe team in Madagascar recently attended a reforestation event with the Minister of the Environment at the Allée des Baobabs, working towards the country’s vision of Regreening Madagascar. The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development hopes to transform areas of deforested and degraded lands into resilient and multifunctional ecosystems to improve local and national economies, protect biodiversity, and improve food security and water supplies. Durrell is helping towards this goal by working with local communities to support replanting through community-led reforestation and monitoring.
IN FOCUS Madagascar big-headed turtle
Found in the swamps and slow-moving rivers of Madagascar, the Madagascar big-headed turtle is known locally as ‘rere’. Durrell has been working to protect this unique turtle and its habitat since 1998, running captive breeding and release efforts and empowering local communities to look after the rere’s precious wetland habitat.
Reconnecting a rainforest
The Atlantic Forest in South America is one of the most threatened and diverse ecosystems in the world. It extends along the Atlantic coast of Brazil and inland as far as Paraguay and northern Argentina. The huge area is made up of multiple types of forest, including rainforest, coastal forest and mangroves. The diverse range of habitats means there is a lot of life in and around the trees.
The Atlantic Forest is vital to the survival of both wildlife and humans, both locally and across the globe. It is home to approximately 7% of the world’s species, with over half found nowhere else on Earth. The forest also plays an important role in mitigating climate change and provides water to over half the population of Brazil.
Unfortunately, much of the forest has been lost to agriculture, including sugar cane and beef production. As a result, only around 6% of the interior forest remains in scattered fragments. The destruction of the forest forces animals into these fragments where they become isolated. They face an increased risk of extinction because of inbreeding, degraded habitat and increased risk from roads, farms and predators when attempting to move between fragments. Increasing connectivity is crucial to save these animals. Tree corridors linking these fragments of forest will provide a lifeline for threatened species by expanding their habitat area.
Since we launched Rewild Carbon three years ago, we have planted 254,659 native-species trees with local partners Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (IPÊ), which will be cared for until they reach maturity. As they grow, these trees will create around 172 hectares of forest corridors. That is an area the same as 172 rugby pitches!
During that time, we have been joined by 50 responsible businesses of all sizes from the Channel Islands, the UK and further afield. Our business partners represent a broad range of industries and what they have in common is a commitment to reduce their impact on the environment and give back to nature.
Rewild Carbon is a nature-based solution, unlike traditional carbon offset programmes. Not only does it reduce carbon in the atmosphere, but it also restores ecosystems, recovers species and rebuilds livelihoods.
Rebuilding livelihoods
Local people are the true guardians of the Atlantic Forest, and they are at the heart of Rewild Carbon. The local community were involved in the project design and are now employed by it. They are responsible for the seedling production at the nurseries, tree planting and monitoring the new forest as it grows.
Poverty is a huge challenge in the project region and young adults often move away to find work in other areas. Rewild Carbon provides training and sustainable job opportunities in forest restoration, which can boost the income of local families and enable young people to remain in the area.
Recovering species
Newly planted trees can provide food and shelter for animals within just a few months of growth. The new tree corridors link fragmented forest and create vital lifelines for the native wildlife, such as black lion tamarins, jaguars, tapirs and giant anteaters.
Durrell’s main focus in Brazil is the Pontal do Paranapanema area in the State of São Paolo. However, Rewild Carbon also supports Durrell’s wider work in Brazil.
Together with our local conservation partners ICAS - Wild Animal Conservation Institute, we are able to support conservation work with other species across Brazil.
Meet some of the species Rewild Carbon is helping
Giant anteater
These incredibly unique animals are the most threatened mammal in Central America, facing habitat loss due to increasing agriculture in their forest and grassland home.
Giant anteaters are the largest of four living species of anteater, all found in Central and South America. The smallest species of anteater, the silky anteater, is just 40 centimetres long, almost five times smaller than the two-metre-long giant anteater. As their name suggests, anteaters primarily feed on ants. They use the sharp claws on their front feet to tear open nests, and their extremely long tongue and sticky saliva to lick up the ants. As many ants are venomous, anteaters must be fast feeders. They can flick their tongue in and out of their mouth up to 150 times a minute!
The forests and grasslands of Central and South America that giant anteaters call home are under severe threat from increased agricultural usage of the land. New roads being built across habitats mean giant anteaters are often killed by collisions with traffic.
Through Rewild Carbon, we’ve funded radio collars for four orphan anteater pups rescued and rehabilitated by ICAS and their project partners. This will allow them to be monitored after being released into the wild. Analysing their movement will give us a better understanding of how young anteaters disperse through the landscape and what barriers they face. The results will help identify areas for habitat conservation and establishing tree corridors to protect giant anteaters and other species.
Jersey Zoo recently welcomed a new resident, Zena the giant anteater. Zoo visitors will find Zena in the South American House alongside the Linne’s two-toed sloths, and black and gold howler monkeys.
One-year-old Zena moved to Jersey Zoo from Cotswold Wildlife Park. Since her arrival, she has settled in well to her new home. Keepers have been enjoying getting to know Zena’s gentle nature. She greets keepers with a big stretch and yawn in the morning to show off her tongue and, when she’s not snoozing, she spends her time digging for ants and other insects.
Fact file
Scientific name Myrmecophaga tridactyla
Range
Central and South America
Habitat
Forests and grasslands
Diet
Ants
IUCN status
Vulnerable. The IUCN classifies giant anteaters as the most threatened mammal in Central America.
Did you know?
A giant anteater’s tongue can be more than half a metre long!
Giant armadillos
The elusive giant armadillo is rarely seen. It is solitary and nocturnal, spending all day deep underground. They play a key role as an ecosystem engineer as their burrows provide a refuge for over 70 other species.
Honey production is an important industry in Cerrado and many people’s livelihoods are dependent on selling honey. Giant armadillos love to eat bee larvae and they will often destroy beehives in their search for food. Unfortunately, this means that one giant armadillo can destroy a beekeeper’s livelihood in just a few weeks. Beekeepers often use poison to stop this, leading to local extinction not just of giant armadillos but also other rare species such as giant anteaters.
Community engagement is key to saving the giant armadillo. ICAS have developed a wildlife-friendly certification scheme that encourages beekeepers to find alternative ways to protect their hives, such as raising the hives on poles, electric fences and other methods. This certification enables them to sell their honey at a higher price and benefit from co-existing with giant armadillos.
Rewild Carbon business partners fund the donation of queen bees to small-scale beekeepers. This encourages them to participate in the scheme, and enables them to increase honey production and also their income.
The scheme is proving to be a success, with around three quarters of the estimated 200 beekeepers in the region already certified or seeking certification. The aim is to expand the scheme beyond Mato Grosso do Sul.
Fact file
Scientific name
Priodontes maximus
Range
South America
Habitat
Savannahs and forests near water
Diet
Invertebrates
IUCN status
Vulnerable
Did you know?
Giant armadillos are the largest of 21 species of armadillo!
Black lion tamarins
Once thought to be extinct, this iconic species was rediscovered in 1970. Along with our partners IPÊ, Durrell has been working for over 30 years to ensure its survival.
Fact file
Scientific name
Leontopithecus chrysopygus
Range
Atlantic Forest
Habitat
Deciduous inland forests
Diet
Primarily insects and fruits
IUCN status
Endangered
Did you know?
Black lion tamarins are born with gingery-gold fur on their rump and legs, which looks like shorts. This disappears as they reach adolescence.
In an established forest, tree holes provide sleeping sites for black lion tamarins and protect them from predators. It will be many years before our young forest can provide such shelter. So, as our newly planted trees grow and mature, we place artificial nest boxes in them to provide safety for the tamarins as they sleep. It is not easy to design the perfect nest box. We have developed new boxes and tested them on tamarins living in our own forest fragments at Jersey Zoo, to come up with a design that can be successfully transferred to the Atlantic Forest.
Together with IPÊ, we are also constructing important wildlife bridges, which allow black lion tamarins and other mammals to safely cross the many roads that bisect the forest in the project region. Each bridge is around 20m in length and will be monitored so that we can measure the impact it is having on local wildlife.
DODODISPATCh
where DO we WORK?
Durrell works all over the world in many special and unique places. Each of these places has plants and wildlife that have adapted especially to live there.
We call these communities of plants and wildlife “biomes”.
There are five major types, though some can be split up…
AQUATIC fresh and saltwater
GRASSLANDS temperate and tropical
FORESTS woodland and rainforest
DESERTS dry, hot, but sometimes cold
TUNDRA cold, very cold
Durrell works in northeastern India to protect a grassland habitat known as the Terai grasslands.
Found near the Himalayan mountains, these grasslands provide a home for many plants and animals. Some of these species are found nowhere else on Earth.
The pygmy hog is one of these species. It lives in the tall grasslands and is so rare that it was once thought to be extinct.
Thi is Pa rag
Parag is the Director for the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme in Assam in northeastern India. This programme was set up by Durrell and local organisations to save the pygmy hog. Parag has dedicated his whole life to making sure this precious species isn’t lost forever.
To do this, Parag and his team breed pygmy hogs at the project’s breeding centres. Once the pygmy hogs have grown up, they are released into the wild. By doing this, the team is increasing pygmy hog numbers and rebuilding their wild population.
Thi is Dhriti an
As Field Scientist for the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme, Dhritiman is the master of all our grassland science. He’s in charge of bringing back healthy grasslands for pygmy hogs and makes sure we are having an impact.
In the parks where we work, Dhritiman helps the managers make the best decisions about how to care for the grasslands. He leads the removal of invasive species (plants and animals that don’t belong in the grasslands). This allows the habitat to recover and become healthier.
Some of the released hogs have radio collars to help Parag track them across the vast grasslands.
Dhritiman and his team carry out grasslands surveys to look for signs of pygmy hogs. They look for nests, poo and other signs. They also use camera traps to look for pygmy hogs and other species that live in the grasslands. Which animals can you spot?
Parag and Dhritiman’s work not only helps the pygmy hog, but hundreds of other species too. Here are some of them.
RELEASE ThE hOGS
The pygmy hogs have been released into the wild. Which route should they take through the grasslands?
HOG faCTS
These tiny pigs were once thought to be extinct. In 1971 they were rediscovered sheltering from a grassland fire in a nearby tea plantation.
There are currently around 250 pygmy hogs in the wild.
Durrell has bred and released over 170 hogs across national parks in Assam. In the future, we plan to release hogs in areas outside of Assam where they were once found.
They range from 20–25cm tall and 55–71cm long. About the size of a cat!
© Mike Korostelev
MEET THE TEAM
Dr Sophie-lee Williams
White-tailed Eagle Project Officer at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Sophie-lee is a raptor biologist and has over a decade of experience working with wild, injured, and rehabilitated owls and raptors. She founded the Eagle Reintroduction Wales (ERW) project in 2016 at Cardiff University, in partnership with the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Wildlife Trust Wales as part of her PhD. In 2021, ERW became one of Durrell’s UK Programmes and Sophie-lee joined us as our White-tailed Eagle Project Officer. Durrell and partners at Gwent Wildlife Trust are working to help return the white-tailed eagle to Southeast Wales.
What sparked your passion for wildlife?
I’ve always been besotted with birds of prey. As a young girl in the Welsh valleys, I enjoyed going out onto the hills with my binoculars to find birds. I often spent time observing our local breeding peregrine falcon nest and the odd kestrel fluttering above the moors.
How did you start working with eagles? With my passion for birds of prey sparked, I moved to Scotland to work with satellitetagged eagles during my Master’s degree in 2015. I spent a year living in the middle of the Monadhliath mountains and saw all of the UK’s raptor species, including golden and white-tailed eagles. I was then shocked to learn that these were native birds to Wales, and I felt deprived of them as a child. I made a commitment that I would restore these eagles to Wales and consequently set up Eagle Reintroduction Wales to assess the feasibility of returning them to their Welsh home.
How did you get into your role at Durrell?
I became more involved with Durrell after I finished my PhD with Cardiff University, during which I researched the feasibility of returning once-native eagle species lost to our landscapes. Our research highlighted that our upland habitats did not hold suitable resources to return golden eagles but that white-tailed eagles were an extremely compatible species to return. Durrell took a keen interest in this research and felt that ERW matched ambitions for the work they had begun in the UK. In 2021 ERW joined Durrell’s UK Programmes team and I became their White-tailed Eagle Project Officer.
Tell us about your role in Wales.
My role as White-tailed Eagle Project Officer focuses on working with local communities and stakeholders around our release site in Southeast Wales to understand community perception, including attitudes towards whitetailed eagles and support for the restoration of these birds. My ultimate hope is to return these amazing birds back to their historic home here in Wales.
What do you enjoy the most about your work and what do you find the most challenging?
The most enjoyable part of my job is project awareness and transferring knowledge about the biology and behaviour of white-tailed eagles. An estimated 84% of the Welsh public does not know what a white-tailed eagle is. There are common misconceptions about the species, and it gives me great pleasure to tackle these misconceptions on the ground and positively alter community perceptions towards these native-lost birds.
What is your favourite fact about white-tailed eagles?
Despite white-tailed eagles being the largest bird of prey in the UK, with an impressive 8ft wingspan, they do not eat much in comparison to their size. They only require 500g of food per day and have a unique digestive system with organs like a crop to store food. These adaptations mean they do not need to eat food every day.
What is a typical day at work like for you? My typical day alters on a day-to-day basis. Previously, the project was assessing whether white-tailed eagles could return to Wales. Given historical data, we know that eagles can biologically survive in the country, but we have spent the past few years determining whether the modern-day landscape is still suitable. Our work involved comprehensive biological, environmental, ecological, and socio-economic feasibility assessments.
Now that much of that is complete, the project has turned from a research project to an active conservation programme. Most days I’m out working with the general public, communities and stakeholders to discuss the reintroduction of white-tailed eagles through site visits, talks, meetings and webinars. Other days, I work in the office conducting research and working further on feasibility documents and reports.
Aged 16-18 and inspired by Sophie-lee’s story? Our Future Conservationists course is the ideal opportunity for you! Find out more on the inside of the front cover.
Restoring mangrove forests by drone
When you think of a drone, aerial video footage of beautiful landscapes likely comes to mind. But did you know that this technology can be used for conservation purposes? In Madagascar, our team and other partners have been aiding the Ministry of Environment in restoring mangroves forests by drone. Mangroves are composed of trees that have adapted to grow in salt water. Found in tropical coastal areas, mangroves provide biodiverse ecosystems for wildlife and store the most carbon of all tropical forest types, as well as protecting the coastline from erosion. Around two percent of the world’s mangroves are in Madagascar where they are unfortunately threatened by deforestation for charcoal production and timber.
Durrell’s Drone Project Coordinator, Tsito Rakotozoely, has been assisting the Government over the last four years, helping them to build drones to plant mangroves. Funded by UK Research and
Innovation’s Global Challenges Research Fund through Liverpool John Moores University, and now supported by a Darwin Initiative Innovation grant (UK DEFRA), these custom-built, heavy-lifting drones are programmed to shoot seeds into the ground at defined heights and with specific distances between each seed. This cutting-edge technology improves seed dispersal, covering more ground and enabling tree-planting in remote areas.
Tsito and his colleague Fy have now built four drones for the Madagascar Government, each with a 1.9m wingspan and capable of carrying 30kg of mangrove seeds during 20 minutes of flight time. In one flight, each drone can cover 1Ha and make three flights per day, depending on weather and site conditions. As well as building the drones, Tsito has been training the Ministry of Environment staff to fly them, which involves piloting the aerial drone from the ground by remote control.
Since 2021, the drones have planted mangroves across over 240Ha on both the east and west coasts of Madagascar. To track the progress of the seeds, local communities help to monitor and survey the reforestation areas to assure that the dispersed seeds grow correctly. Ministry staff will also use drones at three-month, six-month, and twelve-month intervals to fly above each restored site, scanning the landscape using photogrammetry, which provides a map to track landscape change and mangrove growth.
This year alone, Tsito has helped to train 80 new certified drone pilots, including staff from the Ministry of Environment, Madagascar’s Civil Aviation Authority, and other conservation partners. We will continue to train people around Madagascar to improve forest monitoring and surveillance, increasing capacity to use drones as an effective and efficient tool for biodiversity conservation and protection.
Postcards from Assam
Stuart Capstick is Durrell’s Social Research and Behaviour Change Technical Adviser, specialising in conservation social science. He recently visited Assam in northeastern India to meet colleagues and local partners involved in the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP). A collaboration between Durrell, the Assam Government, the Indian Government, IUCN/SSC Wild Pig Specialist Group and Aaranyak, the programme has successfully released more than 170 Endangered pygmy hogs into the wild.
Hello from Assam!
We spent our first few days in Guwahati, where the pygmy hog research and breeding centre is based. The city is noisy and chaotic, but the compound here feels like a world away. From the veranda, we can look out over the enclosures and watch the young hoglets trotting around in groups and the adult hogs busily making nests. We’ll visit Manas National Park in a couple of days to see how the grasslands are being restored and meet with communities who live close to the fringes of the park.
Wishing you well, Stuart
Greetings from
Assam
Hi team!
Hard to believe we’ve crammed so much into a week, but I now understand much more about the work that’s going into conserving the species and ecosystems of Assam. It’s been invaluable to get to know the PHCP’s dedicated team, and to meet people in nearby villages. One women’s cooperative took us to see their bright yellow fields of mustard, grown with the PHCP’s help to support local livelihoods. We also spoke with people about their reliance on firewood and the alternatives available. Along the way, we’ve got close to elephants, rhinos, jackals and hornbills, and even stumbled upon a folk-dance celebration in Guwahati! Heading back home now with a suitcase full of Assam tea.
See you soon, Stuart
Greetings from
Manas
Celebrating the life of Kishka
9 November 1978 – 16 May 2024
Richard Johnstone-Scott
Former Head of Mammals
Gentle by nature, yet magnificent in her prime, Kishka was a much-loved western lowland gorilla I knew well.
At approximately 9.40 am on Thursday 9 November 1978, Kishka was born at Howletts Zoo in Kent, where I was the head gorilla keeper. Some years later, following my return to Durrell to manage the great apes, I would request a five-year-old Kishka, a stud-book-approved female, as part of a female exchange. She arrived at Jersey Zoo on 24 July 1984. It was a heartwarming reunion!
Despite her lack of years, Kishka was socially experienced having been reared in a cohesive group by a dominant female and sired by silverback, Kisoro.
With an inherent confidence and strength of character, she quickly adapted to her new surroundings and successfully integrated into the group led by the gentle giant Jambo...with whom the young Kishka was clearly besotted!
In July 1986, Kishka produced a healthy daughter named Sakina, who she proudly presented to me from her enormous nest of straw. It was a memorable moment. Kishka was clearly pleased with herself and was suddenly the centre of attention, surrounded by the other females and offspring all offering a grumbling curiosity towards the latest arrival.
Kishka proved to be an exemplary mother and deservedly became much respected in the female hierarchy. She particularly enjoyed the company of other infants and juveniles and was ever ready to play the ‘aunt role’, good-naturedly ensuring that their boisterous play interactions were kept in check.
Kishka, bless her heart, was a truly remarkable gorilla who contributed so much to the well-being of her group companions and to her species. It was a privilege to be accepted into her company. She was a joy to work with and will be greatly missed by both gorillas and staff alike.
Mark Beresford Team Leader (Apes)
I’ve been lucky to have had the privilege of caring for Kishka over the past decade. In that time, she easily established herself as one of my favourite animals. Kishka was a brilliant gorilla to work with and loved a cheeky side-eye glance to keep an eye on what you were doing. She had a firm, calming, caring, matriarchal role in our troop and will be hugely missed by all.
Aoife O’Mahony
Mammal Keeper
Kishka was gentle and kind but had a feisty, stubborn side, always standing up for herself and others even when she possibly shouldn’t. She loved to get up in Badongo’s face and shout back at him despite being 100kg smaller. She was unbelievably quick and clever; you could have a whole conversation with her without the need for words.
Forty years at the zoo, and none of us, keeper or gorilla, know life in Jersey without Kishka. The empty space where she should be sitting in the sun eating lunch will, I’m sure, hurt for a long time to come.
I will miss her grumpy side eye, her old lady snores, and comedically timed farts. Amari has lost her best friend, although I’m not sure Kishka ever enjoyed the “play” that Amari was so eager to engage her in. I’ll miss the funny mornings of watching our little four-year-old pester her 45-year-old pal, copying Kishka’s every move or poking at her bum.
I’m certain Kishka’s legacy will continue in all the youngsters she helped rear and all the memories she imparted on the staff who had the privilege of working with her.
George Pritchard
Mammal Keeper
To try and describe the incredible nature of Kishka is like trying to share a sunset through photographs alone – there’s something special that you’ll never quite capture fully.
Kishka commanded instant respect from her keepers and gorilla companions. She was a gentle and quiet girl but could switch on a feisty, matriarchal side if Kahilli needed defending or big boy Badongo needed putting in his place.
Kishka was a very smart girl. Picking up on subtle head tilts, she would slink away to the far side of the enclosure and patiently wait for me to reappear with the tastiest food, safely away from the rest of the group so she could eat in peace.
I will always be grateful for the time I spent with Kishka. A wonderful soul I will never forget.
Tom Price
Mammal Keeper
As the most recent addition to the ape team, my training was made easier by Kishka’s adaptable and relaxed personality. She helped to make the bond and trust-forming process with the troop as easy as I could hope for. I may not have known her the longest, but I feel honoured to follow a relatively short list of ape keepers at Jersey Zoo who have had the privilege to know her.
RIP Kish.
Clockwise from top left Baby Kishka at Howletts Animal Park, Richard Johnstone-Scott with Kishka, Kishka with her infant Sakina, Kishka with Ya Pili, Kishka’s 40th birthday
TRAINING FOCUS
Martine Goder
Head of Durrell Conservation Training Mauritius
Martine Goder leads the Mauritius Islands Restoration Internship (MIRI) programme in collaboration with Mauritius Wildlife Foundation (MWF). The MIRI programme is in its second year, and previous interns are employed in the conservation sector as a direct result of their internship.
Tell us more about the MIRI programme. MIRI aims to equip early-career conservation biologists with the skills and knowledge required for restoring island ecosystems. It is a one-year internship that combines field and desk-based training alongside work experience on island nature reserves in Mauritius.
Who is the MIRI programme for?
The internship targets early-career and midcareer conservationists from the Southwest Indian Ocean islands, including Mauritius, Rodrigues, the Comoros, Madagascar, Reunion and the Seychelles. Each year, we recruit five interns to join the programme.
Where do the MIRI interns work?
The interns have an incredible opportunity to work on two islet nature reserves, Ile aux Aigrettes and Round Island, where ecosystem restoration has been underway for decades. Various techniques have been developed, tested, and fine-tuned, and lessons have been learned to restore and conserve the fragile and unique biodiversity found on these islets more effectively.
What do the interns learn?
The interns work with the Islands Restoration Team, which is led by Dr Nik Cole, Durrell Islands Restoration Manager for Mauritius. Nik has over 20 years of experience in species conservation and restoring island ecosystems.
They receive hands-on training on monitoring and conserving reptile, seabird and plant communities. They learn about headstarting juvenile tortoises, caring for endemic plants (including some of the world’s most threatened species), and how to effectively reintroduce plants in the wild as part of
forest restoration efforts. A lot of time is spent implementing different techniques for controlling invasive species and bio-security procedures to prevent new problematic species from arriving. They also participate in attracting seabirds to the islets, such as bluefooted booby, and ongoing research.
Eight lecture weeks are scheduled throughout the year, during which the interns get desk-based training. There is a great focus on techniques for analysing data, for example to estimate and compare species population changes and geographical distribution. The interns also learn about the impacts of invasive species, what can be learnt from post-mortem examinations, and how to prepare biological samples for export and research.
How does the MIRI programme help conservationists?
Talking from my own experience, when working as a conservation biologist in a developing country, you have to be a jack of all trades and still a master in your area. Your science background is useful, but you are expected to get involved in various other aspects of work that support conservation. Conservation is an intrinsically interdisciplinary field with a prominent social, economic and political dimension. As such, getting the relevant training and skills to help navigate the non-scientific side of conservation is critical to being a successful conservation leader. Through the internship, apart from the technical scientific training, we deliver a range of interdisciplinary and transferrable skills, such as communication, leadership, conservation education, project planning and management, project proposal writing, scientific paper writing, field safety skills and first aid.
Be inspired
A letter from Emiley
Thank you to everyone who has supported Durrell over the past few months. We are so grateful to our fundraisers, members, donors, volunteers and sponsors. We hope some of the ways supporters are helping to save wildlife will inspire you.
We received a beautiful letter from nineyear-old Emiley, a Brownie Guide from Birmingham who reached out to tell us about how she has supported Durrell, including visiting Jersey Zoo on holiday, donating to our charity shop, and taking part in last year’s Tortoise Takeover art trail. The lovely letter featured drawings of some of the animals at the zoo and a photo of herself and her sister with one of the tortoise sculptures. Thank you for writing to us, Emiley!
Weathering Storm Ciarán
Hope for tortoises
Durrell has a long history of working with tortoises. These amazing reptiles are important actors in their ecosystems and losing them would have catastrophic consequences. Following on from the 2023 Durrell Lecture, you helped to raise over £89,000! These funds will directly support front-line conservation, allowing our passionate and dedicated team of experts to continue protecting precious species such as the Critically Endangered ploughshare tortoise.
We’re so grateful to the amazing supporters who donated to our Storm Ciarán clear-up appeal. Many trees had fallen around the zoo, and several buildings were damaged, including our organic farm, which was sadly destroyed. Thanks to everyone’s generous support, over £15,000 was raised to help get us back on our feet and start making repairs. Support came in many unique forms, including from Wild Thyme, who auctioned their Christmas wreaths and Rocque, Paper, Scissors, who raised money through their holiday market sales.
Reconnect your team with nature
Take part in one of our Wild Away Days at Jersey Zoo for an unforgettable experience and bring your staff closer together! Those involved will gain access to our beautiful site, working with experts in conservation, alongside some of the rarest animals in the world. Our team building day donation goes further than just paying for costs and is a commitment to supporting the conservation of wildlife across the globe. Please contact julia.voce@durrell.org to find out more.
OGRC visit our breeding centres in Madagascar Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation (OGRC) have been generously supporting our projects across Madagascar since 2021. This long-term support is vital to the success of our conservation efforts in the country. Last year, we had the pleasure of showing Duncan MacFadyen and Rendani Nenguda from the OGRC team the impact of their support first hand, when they visited our Madagascar pochard breeding centre and release site at Lake Sofia, and our breeding centres for the ploughshare tortoise and rere turtle. We want to say a huge thank you to OGRC for their kind ongoing support of our Madagascar programmes.
Ferryspeed supports ‘Snakes’!
Thank you to Ferryspeed, who supported our ‘Snakes’ exhibition at Jersey Zoo as our transport sponsor. They helped us move the incredible snake specimens over from the UK, with exhibition specialists Blue Tokay. If your company is interested in sponsoring one of our events to inspire your staff, engage customers, and help make a positive difference for people and nature, please contact zoe.levar@durrell.org.
Art in nature
Check out this wonderful painting by Jersey College for Girls student Annabel, who took part in one of our ‘Art in Nature’ sessions at Jersey Zoo. Our Learning team provided the class with a range of biological artefacts for students to study the patterns of and inspire their own art. The inspiration for Annabel’s painting was a beautiful female Hercules beetle specimen. Annabel said, “I recently visited the zoo to photograph your selection of preserved insects for my art A-level. I finished this oil painting with a base of gold leaf of one of the beetles I saw whilst there and, although it’s a slightly abstract interpretation, I hope I’ve done justice to this incredible creature! Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to see such beautiful insects, it was incredibly helpful for my project.”
FROM ZOO TO WILD IN NUMBERS
When Gerald Durrell founded Jersey Zoo in 1959, he was a pioneer in his belief that good zoos could do great things for conservation. Today, Durrell continues that mission. Jersey Zoo is the heartbeat of Durrell with a focus on education, breeding, research and animal husbandry, which aids Durrell’s wildlife conservation and habitat restoration around the planet.
Zoos 1 • Animals at Jersey Zoo, approximately 1249 • Locations we work globally 10
Black lion tamarins
Estimated in the wild 1,920
At Jersey Zoo 13
Returned to home country 5
Hectares of forest habitat being restored 432
Alaotran gentle lemur
Estimated in the wild 5,000
At Jersey Zoo 9
Infants born at Jersey Zoo 28
Hectares of marshland habitat restored 76
Mauritius pink pigeon
Estimated in the wild, 1990s 10
At Jersey Zoo 34
Returned to home country 23
Estimated in the wild today 600
Madagascar big-headed turtle
Estimated in the wild 10,000
At Jersey Zoo 5
Released into the wild 498
Juveniles translocated (20102013) 70
SUMATRA INDIA - TERAI GRASSLANDS
BRITAIN JERSEY
FLOREANA GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
BRAZIL
MAURITIUS MADAGASCAR
ST LUCIA MONTSERRAT
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