JERSEY ZOOLOGICAL PARK

(Redirected from Durrell Wildlife)

'Jersey Zoological Park' or 'Jersey Zoo' is a 25-acre (100,000 m²) zoological park established in 1959 on the island of Jersey in the English Channel by naturalist and author Gerald Durrell (1925-1995). It is now officially called 'Durrell' after its founder, and in an attempt to shed its stereotype as a Zoo. It has approximately 150,000 visitors per year, despite a lack of emphasis on large, crowd-pleasing animals, and its relatively out-of-the-way location; visitor numbers tend to vary with the tourist trade to Jersey.
Durrell began his career capturing animals for other zoos, but thought that the facilities needed to concentrate more on animal conservation rather than mere entertainment. He tells the story of starting the zoo in his book ''A Zoo in my Luggage''.
Jersey Zoo has always concentrated on rare and endangered species. It has mammals, birds, amphibians & reptiles, comprising over 190 species.
Since 1964, the zoo has been home to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (formerly the ''Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust'').

In 1995 was dubbed the worlds rarest snake. More recently the species have been relocated back to Antigua on some islands where they are free from predators / pests

Overseas Projects

Retired Programmes

External link

Site

The zoo is located at Les Augrès Manor, Trinity, Jersey, 5 miles north of Saint Helier. It officially opened on March 26 1959.
The zoo is situated in 31 acres of superbly landscaped parkland and water-gardens. The gardens are renowned for the many beautiful and rare trees, plants and shrubs, and the natural habitats that have been created for the exotic endangered species that are at home here.
There is a strong commitment to looking after the Island’s native wildlife, and large areas within the grounds have been designated native habitat areas. A 3-year, £1 million project to redevelop the central valley, completed in 2002, has attracted even more local wildlife into the area, creating a haven for kingfishers, bank voles, butterflies, dragonflies and several species of waterfowl. The extensive planting of flowering and fruiting trees throughout the grounds also serves to attract a plethora of wild birds and insects. Included in the former are several species of bird which used to be commonly seen in Island gardens but have become increasingly scarce in recent years, the house sparrow and song thrush are both prime examples.
There are over 50 nest-boxes positioned around the grounds, which are used by a variety of birds including barn owls, kestrels, swallows and martins. Other animals which are commonly seen within the grounds are the red squirrel, bank vole, and the elusive short-toed tree creeper which is not found in the UK.

Current breeding programmes at Jersey Zoo

Durrell primarily works with species from locations which are ecologically rich in diversity and not found anywhere else. Such locations are Madagascar; lemurs, ducks, mongooses, tortoises, Mauritius; the pink pigeon, kestrel, and echo parakeet, Comores; both species of bat, Brazil; tamarins and poison dart frogs, South East Asia; Bali Starling, Orangutans, Macaques and Java Sparrow, Caribbean; Numerous birds and snakes, and even Jersey; Agile Frog, Common Toad, Common and Sand Lizards
Some species listed below which located at the zoological park, are there for the education purposes of the keepers in preparation for rarer species of the same family or genus. The Meerkat was one example for the much rarer striped mongoose. The length of these programmes are unclear, but some like the meerkat will be kept on as they are popular with visitors.

Education Species

Kept within The Royal Pavilion, an educational centre for schools and the public to visit and learn about the behaviours of different species. They include:

★ New Guinea Blue tongued skink

★ Corn Snake

★ Common Boa

★ Giant Land Snail

★ Giant Millipede

★ Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

★ Maclay's Sceptor (a stick insect)

★ Cane Toad

★ Red-eared Slider or terrapin (indicator species)

Local Wildlife Encouragement Programme

a programme set up by Durrell to encourage local Jersey wildlife such as red squirrels, bank voles and hedgehogs integrating them with the zoo. Centre piece is a pond encouraging waterfowl and insects such as dragonflies and damselflies.

Local rare and declining plant propagation

A long way from the usual animal conservation work at Durrell. Aim is maintain the genetic diversity of the locally rare plants.
Currently four species are being grown in the propagation unit. ''Fragaria vesca'' or Wild Strawberry, ''Dianthus gallicus'' or Jersey Pink, ''Anogramma leptophylla'' or Jersey Fern and ''Linaria vulgaris'' or Common Toadflax.
Other plant species will be propagated as seed or cutting material becomes available. As some of these plant species are so severely threatened, just finding specimens for propagation will be a real challenge.

Success Stories

Proof that conservation does work, some species have returned home for continuation of programmes to reintroduce them to their own environment

Mauritius Kestrel

In 1976 there were only four individuals in the wild with one female. Durrell took the risk of taking a recent clutch of eggs and had them hatched successfully - rebuilding the species, almost from scratch. The conservation for the species has moved on to the next stage and its focus has returned to Mauritius, re-establishing the species in the community and ecosystem.

Antiguan Racer

In 1995 was dubbed the worlds rarest snake. More recently the species have been relocated back to Antigua on some islands where they are free from predators / pests

Przewalski's Horse

With the newly established wild population of these species, originally extinct from the wild the zoo was part of the coalition of 'zoos' which together brought the species from the brink of extinction. Since the recent phase of the recovery includes introducing them to the wild, it can be assumed the Jersey pair were part of this in 2000.

Overseas Projects

★ Pygmy Hog
Although no longer located in Jersey, conservation is still monitored by Durrell in Assam India and other locations. The species is still in dire need of funding and help

★ Blue Iguana
Hitting headlines recently is some success in Grand Cayman with the Blue Iguana. Working alongside local authorities the iguana is being saved from extinction. It shows what can be done

★ Madagascar Pochard
Previously thought extinct, (found when looking for something else), Durrell have recently teamed up with Madagascar to help research and study the species

★ Ploughshare Tortoise

Retired Programmes

★ Swan Goose

★ Snow Leopard
Conditions for the snow leopard was no longer suitable at Jersey, as the cats required more area and more resources than the trust had to spare. The pair were moved onto another zoo which met the requirements in 1996

★ Cheetah
A new and improved exhibit for the bears and the new otters and coatis meant that the cheetahs had to move. The zoo also saw the threat to the species had reduced. They were moved onto another zoo before work on the exhibit started in 1996

★ Babirusa
Similar story to the cheetahs, the new exhibit mean there were no room for them at the zoo, they were moved to another zoo where the programme continued in 1996.

★ Snowy Owl
The owls were a mother and son, unfortunately in 1998 the mother died of old age leaving an adolescent male. He was paired with a female at another zoo and left in 1998.

★ White-eared Pheasant
The pheasants disappeared a few years ago presumably to make way for the planned 'Cloud Forest' project completed in 2004.

★ Bornean Orangutan
The zoo originally had both species of orangutan inhabiting in the park, however it got to expensive to keep both on at the same time. The Bornean orangutan, which were larger and were having better results were sent to another zoo in 1992, whilst the Sumatrans stayed on.

★ Serval
Apart from vague recolection of them being there a few years ago there is no knowledge of when they were at the park or why they were moved.

★ Volcano Rabbit
Where the rabbits used to reside is now the home of the international training centre of conservation located close to the 'big' house at Les Augres Manor. This was some time ago, could have been late 80s early 90s

★ Chimpanzee
Durrell mentioned treating a chimp named Charley in his book ''Menagerie Manor'' which was a collection of memories from the first years of the zoo.

★ African Lion
Mentioned in several books and TV Shows about the Zoo

★ Tapirs (possibly Brazilian Tapirs)
Mentioned in several books and TV Shows about the Zoo

★ Leopards
Mentioned in several books and TV Shows about the Zoo

★ Peccaries
Mentioned in several books and TV Shows about the Zoo

External link

★ Durrell's website

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JERSEY ZOOLOGICAL PARK

Site

Current breeding programmes at Jersey Zoo

Mammals

Birds

Reptiles

Amphibians

Others

Education Species

Local Wildlife Encouragement Programme

Local rare and declining plant propagation

Success Stories

In 1995 was dubbed the worlds rarest snake. More recently the species have been relocated back to Antigua on some islands where they are free from predators / pests

Overseas Projects

Retired Programmes

External link

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