Jersey Zoological Park

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The dodo is the symbol of the trust and the zoo. Statues of dodos stand at the gateways of the zoo
The dodo is the symbol of the trust and the zoo. Statues of dodos stand at the gateways of the zoo

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 Wildlife after its founder, and in an attempt to shed its stereotype as a Zoo. It has approximately 750,000 visitors per year with numbers tending 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. Despite a lack on emphasis on large, crowd-pleasing animals, and its relatively out-of-the-way location. It has mammals, birds, amphibians & reptiles, comprising over 190 species.

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, Carribean; Numerous birds and snakes, and even Jersey; Agile Frog, Common Toad, Common and Sand Lizards

The zoo is located at Les Augrès Manor, Trinity, Jersey, 5 miles north of Saint Helier. It officially opened on March 26 1959.

Since 1964, the zoo has been home to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (formerly the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust).

Contents

[edit] Current breeding programmes at Jersey Zoo

Some species listed below which located at the zoological park, are there for the education purposes of the keepers in preparation for more 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. These are marked with an *

[edit] Mammals

[edit] Birds

[edit] Reptiles

[edit] Amphibians

[edit] Others

  • Patula Snails 1992-

[edit] Local Wildlife Encouragement Programme

2004- 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. Presumabley linked with the Jersey Crappaud / Common Toad programme

[edit] Local rare and declining plant propagation

2006- 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

[edit] Other programmes

[edit] Continued by Durrell elsewhere

conservation for the species has moved on to the next stage and returned to Mauritius, re-establishing the species into the community and eco-system. 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 and rebullding the species from scratch almost. There is a 'maze' establishing in the honor of this successful programme back in Jersey Zoo

  • Antiguan Racer In Jersey 1995-2003?

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

Although no longer located in Jersey, conservation is still monitored by Durrell in Assam India and other locations

[edit] Discontinued

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

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

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.

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. With numbers of snowy owl having greatly increased Jersey took on the Montserrat Oriole from the volcano striken island instead

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

[edit] External link

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
     
The Life and Times of Gerald Durrell
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Institutions associated with: Jersey Zoo • Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust • Wildlife Trust • Wildlife Preservation Canada • Mauritian Wildlife Foundation • Madagascar Fauna Group • Programme for Belize • World Land Trust • World Conference on Breeding Endangered Species in Captivity as an Aid to their Survival

Co-conservationists: Lee Durrell • David Attenborough • Peter Scott • Jeremy Mallinson • Edward Whitley

Expeditions undertaken: Argentina • Australia • Belize • Bhutan • Cameroon • India • Madagascar • Malaysia • Mauritius • Mexico • New Zealand • Paraguay • Russia • Sierra Leone

Species associations: Aye-Aye • Gorilla • Mauritius Kestrel • Pink Pigeon • Pigmy Hog • Rockfowl • St. Lucia Parrot • Volcano Rabbit

Books authored: The Overloaded Ark • Three Singles to Adventure • The Bafut Beagles • The New Noah • The Drunken Forest • My Family and Other Animals • Encounters with Animals • A Zoo in My Luggage • The Whispering Land • Island Zoo • A Look at Zoos • Menagerie Manor • Two in the Bush • The Donkey Rustlers • Rosie is My Relative • Birds, Beasts and Relatives • Fillets of Plaice • Catch Me a Colobus • Beasts in My Belfry • The Talking Parcel • The Stationary Ark • Golden Bats and Pink Pigeons • The Garden of the Gods • The Picnic and Suchlike Pandemonium • The Mockery Bird • Ark on the Move • The Amateur Naturalist • How to Shoot an Amateur Naturalist • Durrell in Russia • The Fantastic Flying Journey • The Fantastic Dinosaur Adventure • The Ark's Anniversary • Keeper • Toby the Tortoise • Marrying Off Mother and Other Stories • The Aye-Aye and I • Puppy Tales • The Best of Gerald Durrell

Illustrators: Ralph Thompson • Edward Mortelmans • Peter Barrett • Graham Percy • Keith West • Cliff Wright

Famous TV Series: Two in the Bush • Catch Me a Colobus • The Garden of the Gods • The Stationary Ark • Ark on the Move • The Amateur Naturalist • Ourselves and Other Animals • Durrell in Russia

Notable others: Durrell Family • Jacquie Durrell • Lawrence Durrell • Achirimbi II • Theodore Stephanides • Douglas Botting
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Zoos, Aquaria and Aviaries

Zoo • Public aquarium • Aviary • Menagerie • Tourist attraction

List of zoos • List of aquaria • List of zoo associations

Animals in captivity • Environmental enrichment • Endangered species • Conservation biology • Biodiversity • Endangered species • Extinction • Ex-situ conservation • In-situ conservation • Wildlife conservation • Zoology

Coordinates: 49.22949° N 2.07338° W

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