Jersey Zoological Park

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Jersey Zoological Park
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.
Date opened 26 March 1959
Location Trinity, Jersey
Land area 25 acres
Number of Species over 190
Website

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. It has approximately 150,000 visitors per year, despite a lack of emphasis on large 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 "Menagerie Manor".

Jersey Zoo has always concentrated on rare and endangered species. It has mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, comprising over 190 species.

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

Contents

[edit] 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 landscaped parkland and water-gardens. It has a strong commitment to looking after the Island’s native wildlife, and large areas within the grounds have been designated native habitat areas. A £1 million project to redevelop the central valley, completed in 2002, has created 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, including the house sparrow and song thrush.

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 short-toed tree creeper, which is not found in the UK.

[edit] New Vision

In January 2008 Durrell announced its new vision for the future with an emphasis on its 'Topspot' theme in conservation i.e. Madagascar. The plan is a five year £46 million pound project which would improve the visit to Durrell and improving the animals welfare. All funds need to be raised. The first stage includes an 'African Bai' including a centered around a larger gorilla complex, showing more information and starting new programmes with animals from the same region i.e river hogs and guernon monkeys. The other main project is 'Mascerena' with a central open exibit for the bats and birds of Madagascar, Mauritius and Comores to fly free, and will be surrounded by other exibits featuring the mongoose and various lemurs. The rest of stage one includes a visitor centre with restaurant, and plans for eco-lodges. The second stage would involve a new amphibian and reptile centre, improved medical and college facilities.

[edit] Jambo

Jambo was a gorilla who was born in 1961, in Basel, Switzerland. Jambo shot to international news stardom overnight on August 31, 1986, when five year old Levan Merritt fell into the gorilla enclosure and lost consciousness. Jambo stood guard over the boy when he was unconscious, placing himself between the boy and other gorillas in what ethologists analyze as a protective gesture. He later stroked the unconscious boy. When the boy regained consciousness and started to cry, Jambo and the other gorillas retreated, and an ambulanceman and two keepers rescued the boy. Most of the drama was shot on home video by Brian Le Lion, and extensively photographed by bystanding zoo visitors. The publicity on major news channels and newspapers helped ease public fears about the potentially violent nature of gorillas.

[edit] Current breeding programmes at Durrell

Durrell primarily works with species from locations which are ecologically rich in diversity and not found anywhere else, such as islands and rainforests.

[edit] Mammals

Species Status Threats Location Programme
Western Lowland Gorilla Endangered Hunting and Disease Congo 1959-
Sumatran Orangutan Critically Endangered Hunting and Habitat Loss Sumatra, Indonesia 1968-
Celebes Crested Macaque Endangered Habitat Loss Sulawesi, Indonesia 1963-
Lar Gibbon Near Threatened Habitat Loss South East Asia 1997-
Ring-tailed Lemur Vulnerable Habitat Loss Madagascar 1964-
Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur Endangered Habitat Loss Madagascar 1982-
Red Ruffed Lemur Critically Endangered Habitat Loss Madagascar 1982-
Alaotran Gentle Lemur Critically Endangered Hunting and Habitat Loss Madagascar 1990-
Aye-Aye Endangered Deforestation Madagascar 1990-
Silvery Marmoset Least Concern Deforestation, Logging Brazil 1973-
Golden Lion Tamarin Endangered Deforestation Brazil 1980-
Black Lion Tamarin Critically Endangered Deforestation Brazil 1982-
Golden-headed Lion Tamarin Endangered Deforestation Brazil 1980-
Emperor Tamarin Least Concern Deforestation Brazil 1990-
Cottontop Tamarin Endangered Deforestation Brazil 1975-
Pied Tamarin Critically Endangered Deforestation Brazil 1989-
White-headed Marmoset Vulnerable Deforestation Brazil 1988-
Goeldi's Monkey Near Threatened Deforestation Brazil, Peru 1988-
Black Howler Monkey Least Concern Habitat Loss Argentina 2006-
Andean Bear Vulnerable Hunting, Habitat Loss Peru 1962-
Ring-tailed Coati Least Concern Habitat Loss Central & South America 1998-
Oriental Small-clawed Otter Near Threatened Trapping India, Bangladesh 1999-
Malagasy Giant-Jumping Rat Endangered Limited Distribution, Habitat Loss Madagascar 1990-
Meerkat Least Concern Habitat Loss Botswana, South Africa 1999-
Narrow-striped Mongoose Endangered Habitat Loss, Logging Madagascar 2006-
Livingstone's Fruit Bat Critically Endangered Deforestation Comoros 1992-
Rodrigues Flying Fox Critically Endangered Deforestation Mauritius 1976-
Maned Wolf Neat Threatened Habitat Loss Brazil, Chile 2000-
Parma Wallaby Near Threatened Habitat Loss New South Wales, Australia 1978-

[edit] Birds

Species Status Threats Location Programme
Northern Bald Ibis Critically Endangered Hunting, Habitat Loss Morocco, 1968-
Chilean Flamingo Near Threatened Habitat Loss, Pollution Chile 1976-
Greater Flamingo Least Concern Habitat Loss Africa, Asia 2002-
White-naped Crane Vulnerable Habitat Loss Mongolia, Russia, China 1979-
Grey Crowned Crane Least Concern Habitat Loss Africa 1972-
Blue Crane Vulnerable Habitat Loss South Africa 2004-
Congo Peafowl Vulnerable Habitat Loss Congo 1976-
Edward's Pheasant Endangered Hunting, Trade, Habitat Loss Vietnam 1976-
Vietnamese Pheasant Endangered Hunting, Illegal Trade Vietnam 1999-
Palawan Peacock Pheasant Vulnerable Hunting Palawan 1983-
St Lucia Amazon Vulnerable Deforestation St Lucia 1975-
Echo Parakeet Endangered Habitat Loss Mauritius 1987-
Wrinkled Hornbill Near Threatened Deforestation Malaysia 2002-
Pink Pigeon Endangered Deforestation Mauritius 1977-
Nicobar Pigeon Near Threatened Deforestation Nicobar Islands 2005-
Emerald Dove Least Concern Deforestation Sri Lanka 2005-
Mindanao Bleeding-heart Dove Vulnerable Habitat Loss Mindanao Island, Phillipines 2005-
Swan Goose Endangered Hunting, Climate Mongolia, China 1970s-
Red-breasted Goose Endangered Climate Change Scandinavia 1970s-
Madagascar Teal Endangered Deforestation Madagascar 1993-
Meller's Duck Endangered Deforestation Madagascar 1975-
White-winged Wood Duck Endangered Hunting, Habitat Loss India, Bangladesh 2007-
Marbled Duck Vulnerable Habitat Loss Spain 1999-
Ferruginous Duck Near Threatened Habitat Loss Africa 2006-
Hottentot Teal Least Concern Habitat Loss Africa 2005-
Indonesian Teal Least Concern Habitat Loss Indonesia 2007-
White-backed Duck Least Concern Habitat Loss Central Africa 2007-
White-faced Whistling Duck Least Concern Habitat Loss Africa, South America 2007-
Black-winged Stilt Least Concern Habitat Loss Europe 1999-
Bali Starling Critically Endangered Illegal Bird Trade Bali 1972-
Montserrat Oriole Critically Endangered Habitat Loss, Volcanic Activity Montserrat 1999-
Red-crested Turaco Least Concern Habitat Loss South Africa 1972-
Black Bulbul Least Concern Habitat Loss Madagascar 1999-
Blue-crowned Laughingthrush Critically Endangered Trade, Habitat Loss China 2001-
Red-tailed Laughingthrush Least Concern Habitat Loss China, Thailand 2003-
White-rumped Shama Least Concern Habitat Loss Malaysia 2004-
White-crowned Robin-chat Least Concern Habitat Loss West Africa 2004-
Java Sparrow Vulnerable Habitat Loss Java, Indonesia 2005-
Pekin Robin Least Concern Habitat Loss China 2005-
Hooded Pitta Least Concern Habitat Loss Malaysia 2005-
Chestnut-backed Thrush Near Threatened Habitat Loss Indonesia 2005-
Asian Fairy-bluebird Least Concern Habitat Loss India, Sri Lanka 2005-
Grey-faced Liocichla Vulnerable Habitat Loss China 2005-
Tropical mockingbird Least Concern Habitat Loss Trinidad 2008-
Brazilian Tanager Least Concern Habitat Loss Brazil 2007-

[edit] Reptiles

Species Status Threats Location Programme
Jamaican Boa Least Concern Habitat Loss Jamaica 1976-
Burmese Python Least Concern Habitat Loss Burma 1985-
Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman Least Concern Habitat Loss South America 2004-
Radiated Tortoise Vulnerable Habitat Loss Madagascar 1976-
Malagasy Flat tailed tortoise Endangered Habitat Loss Madagascar 1990-
Hispaniolan Slider Vulnerable Habitat Loss Dominican Republic, Haiti 1999-
Spiny Turtle Endangered Habitat Loss Malaysia 2006-
Rhinoceros Iguana Vulnerable Habitat Loss Haiti, Dominican Republic 1972-
Lesser Antillean Iguana Vulnerable Habitat Loss, Hunting, Predation Lessr Antilles 1992-
Utillan Spiny-tailed Iguana Endangered Habitat Loss Utila Island, Mexico 2006-
Rio Fuerte Beaded Lizard Vulnerable Habitat Loss Mexico 2007-
Jersey Common Lizard Near Threatened Habitat Loss Jersey 2005-
Jersey Sand Lizard Near Threatened Habitat Loss Jersey 2005-
Red-eared Slider/terrapin Least Concern Habitat Loss USA 1999-
Marginated Tortoise Least Concern Hunting, Habitat Loss Albania, Greece 1990-
Indochinese Box Turtle Critically endangered Habitat Loss, Trade Vietnam, Laos 2004-

[edit] Amphibians

Species Status Threats Location Programme
Mountain Chicken Endangered Habitat Loss, Volcanic Activity Montserrat 1999-
Mallorcan midwife toad Vulnerable Habitat Loss, Climate Change Mallorca 1985-
Jersey Common Toad Data Deficient Habitat Loss Jersey, Channel Islands 2006-
Jersey Agile Frog Critically Endangered Habitat Loss Jersey, Channel Islands 1998-
Trinidad Stream Frog Vulnerable Climate, Habitat Loss Trinidad 1994-
Green and Black Poison Dart Frog Near Threatened Climate, Habitat Loss Costa Rica 1997-
Blue Poison Dart Frog Vulnerable Climate, Habitat Loss Surinam 1997-
Reticulated Poison Dart Frog Vulnerable Climate, Habitat Loss Columbia 1998-
Golden Poison Dart Frog Endangered Climate, Habitat Loss Columbia 1998-
Strawberry Poison-dart Frog Near Threatened Climate Surinam 2007-
Mission golden-eyed tree frog/ Amazon Milk Frog Least Concern Climate Brazil 2007-

[edit] Other

Species Status Threats Location Programme
Partula (genus) Critically Endangered Introduced Species Palau, Micronesia, Guam, 1992-

[edit] Education Species

Located within The Royal Pavilion, an educational centre mainly for schools and the public to visit and learn about the behaviours of different species. Unlike the other species they are not considered to be under threat.

Species Location
Corn Snake United States
Common boa Central America
New Guinea Blue tongued skink New Guinea
Giant African land snail Africa, Asia, Introduced in French Polynesia
Giant millipede West Africa
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Madagascar
Extatosoma tiaratum Australia
Cane Toad Central & South America, introduced in Australia

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

During the valley restoration project in 2000/01 two species of locally rare orchid were encouraged, and first flowered in 2005. They are Loose Flowered-orchid and Southern Marsh-orchid.

[edit] Success Stories

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

[edit] Overseas Projects

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.

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

[edit] Completed Programmes

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
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British Zoological Gardens
Zoos
Safari parks
Permanently closed
Category · List · Commons
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The life and times of Gerald Durrell
Institutions associated with
Co-conservationists
Expeditions undertaken
Species associations
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
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
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Zoos, aquaria and aviaries

Coordinates: 49.22949° N 2.07338° W `

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