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LIFESPRING/SUMMER 2017

DURRELL WWW..ORG animal With 15 different adoptions animal adoptions to choose from…

Kea Badongo Freya Bluey Bahia

Kate Barnaby lndigo Stumpy Bandro

Dobby Bintang Astrid Homer Raymi Who will you choose? VISIT WWW.DURRELL.ORG/ADOPT TO FIND OUT MORE

DURRELL ADOPT SAVING SPECIES FROM EXTINCTION WWW.DURRELL.ORG/ADOPT WELCOME WELCOME TO OUR NEW LOOK MEMBERS MAGAZINE

I hope you are as pleased as I am conservation portfolio, what we can with our new-look magazine. It was do to be ‘greener’ and how to stretch time to rethink the metaphor ‘on the limited resources in our programmes in edge’, because Durrell is bringing the wild. One idea, which is not exactly unprecedented, but is tremendously back so many species from the brink invigorating for all Durrell staff, is to reinstate of extinction and WILD LIFE better the name ‘ ’. describes the optimism we all feel Ten years ago we made a conscious at Durrell. decision to avoid the word ‘zoo’, because We also wanted to broaden the content of its negative connotations at the time. of our magazine to resonate with all our Today we embrace it, because modern Members of all ages, from the youngest have made great progress in the -ling to the oldest Honorary Fellow. service of conservation, both in the zoo Lee Durrell Whether you are an artist, a scientist or setting and in the wild. and HONORARY DIRECTOR a philanthropist, whether you simply love his early team had pioneered much of this, animals or have a burning passion to and Durrell will continue its ground-breaking save them, I know you will find something work at to make zoos even especially for YOU in the pages that follow! better. Speaking of new, our Chief Executive, I am certain that Gerry would have been Dr Lesley Dickie, who joined Durrell last very happy with putting the ‘zoo’ back into autumn, is coming up with fresh and Durrell. We hope our Members, visitors and creative ideas on a daily basis, such other supporters will, too. Let us know what as which species we should add to our you think!

CONTENTS

2 WHAT’S IN A NAME? 5 AN EVENING WITH ALASTAIR FOTHERGILL & SIR 6 THE DREAM BEHIND 8 IN FOCUS: THE RERE 12 NEWS 14 THE SCIENCE OF SAVING SPECIES 15 RESTORING THE RED-BILLED CHOUGH TO JERSEY 16 AMPHIBIANS CAN THRIVE IN A GREEN, CLEAN WORLD 18 RADIO TRACKING 20 SMALL CHANGES THAT MAKE A BIG IMPACT 22 - THE BANDRO FESTIVAL 24 SAFE UPDATE 26 DODO DISPATCH 30 BE INSPIRED 32 FEEDING TIME

DURRELL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION TRUST is a member of the Association of Jersey Charities, membership number 69. PATRON HRH The Princess Royal FOUNDER Gerald Durrell, OBE, LHD HONORARY DIRECTOR Lee Durrell, MBE, PhD DURRELL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION TRUST - UK is registered in and Wales. A charitable company limited by guarantee. REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1121989 REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER 6448493 REGISTERED OFFICE c/o Intertrust Corporate Services (UK) Limited, 35 Great St. Helen’s, London EC3A 6AP

PHOTO AND ILLUSTRATION CREDITS Juan Pablo Bravo,Nik Cole, Elizabeth Corry, Jeff Dawson, Daniel Drakes, Estate of Gerald Durrell, Tim Flach www.timflach.com, Robin Hoskyns www.robinhoskyns.co.uk, Craig Jones www.craigjoneswildlifephotography.co.uk, Tiffany Lang, Dean Maryon www.deanmaryon.com, Rafael Garcia Motta, Lizzie Noble, Inaki Relanzon, John Rodgers www.johnrogersphoto.com, Toby Ross, Colin Stevenson, Lance Woolaver and Charlie Wylie www.wylie.je COVER IMAGE Boophis reticulatus, Madagascar 2015. Robin Hoskyns www.robinhoskyns.co.uk

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 1 DR LESLEY DICKIE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER WHAT’S IN A NAME? TO BE OR NOT TO BE A ‘ZOO’? THAT IS THE QUESTION

Actually, that was not the real question. A zoo is what we have always been. However, in the mid-2000’s we started to get nervous about calling ourselves a zoo. Factors such as a possible poor response from animal rights activists, who tar all zoological parks with the same brush, were worried about. In 2006, we changed from Jersey Zoo to Durrell Wildlife Park, with the larger Trust having already changed from the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust sometime before. We had therefore removed every mention of the island of Jersey from our name, be it at Trust or site level. This followed a rebrand, when the Dodo logo was introduced.

I had misgivings about us not being to say descriptive, word they naturally called a zoo from day one when I wanted to use. Looking even closer to began as the Chief Executive Officer home, it seemed that the staff were in October 2016. It also proved to be also overwhelmingly in favour of using confusing for visitors. In my first week the word zoo, but that they had also at Durrell, I was walking around the been instructed that, somehow, zoo site, talking to visitors and staff and was an inappropriate word to use. seeing the animals. I was in the bat This is nonsensical for a number of house when I got talking to a couple reasons, the first being most obvious, who were having a great day. They in that we run a zoo; we are, by all explained how much they liked the legal and non-legal definitions, a zoo; bat house, how much it had changed we are members of many different what they thought of bats – not scary, zoo organisations (British and Irish but beautiful and important – and Association of Zoos and Aquariums, how much they loved visiting the zoo, European Association of Zoos and and how much they would learn with Aquaria and Species 360); we rely every visit. Then they stopped, looked upon partner zoos for the animals we embarrassed, and apologised for care for here in Jersey, animals that using the word zoo. are part of cooperative breeding This was not the only time in that programmes. Partner zoos that have first week that people said to me, ‘oh over the years, looked at Durrell’s but we are not meant to call it a zoo, ‘we are not a zoo’ stance with either are we?’ It seems we had drummed sadness, amusement or to some into our visitors ‘don’t call us a zoo!’ extent, annoyance. By implying to This struck me as a bizarre situation, the public that zoo is a bad word we where people who were our core were tacitly undermining our closest supporters, enthusiastic proponents colleagues at other facilities – many of our work, were embarrassed or of whom we collaborate with in confused about what word to use. I fieldwork, science and training, in reassured everyone I met where this addition to breeding programmes. arose, that it’s absolutely fine to say In the past, several zoos changed zoo, because that is exactly what we their name for fear of unwanted are. The response was one of relief attention from animal rights groups. that they could use, without fear of They are changing back – institutions censure, the most comfortable, not like the Bronx, and Whipsnade.

2 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 JERSEY ZOO Paignton did not entirely drop the word zoo, but is now putting it more front and centre. Colleagues at these institutions have indicated to me that they felt dropping the word zoo had been or would have been a mistake, and we believe we have nothing to fear from animal rights groups – we are strong enough to deal with them. It is on our work and standards that we will be judged by the outside world. I had also been canvassing opinion. A change back to including the word zoo in our visitor site name was supported by both the Minister of Tourism and Visit Jersey (the States of Jersey organisation that promotes tourism to the island). From focus groups conducted on the island we also found that despite our road and entrance signs residents on the island were confused about the previous name. Was it just Durrell, Durrell Wildlife or Durrell Wildlife Park? If that name was not resonating, a name change to something more recognisable was clearly needed. Whilst I believe, we should be proud of being a zoo and the amazing work we do, it is also an issue of visibility. Tourism to Jersey has significantly declined and affected our income. We know from a recent survey that about 1/3 of visitors leaving the island via the airport had never heard of Durrell or that there was a zoo they could visit. We are looking at increasing our visibility at the airport and harbour for arrivals but we believe the word zoo on its own would make us more visible to potential visitors. We are not doing ourselves any favours by the refusal to use the word zoo and if we alienate potential visitors. On the 6th of March 2017, we formally announced that from the 3rd of April 2017, we would revert to calling ourselves Jersey Zoo. Just as the Zoological Society of London has and , and the North of England Zoological Society has , Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust will have Jersey Zoo and we are proud of being a fabulous small zoo that punches above its weight in conservation and beyond.

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 3 SECTION TITLE

ed No add sugar

4 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 ed AN EVENING WITH No add sugar ALASTAIR FOTHERGILL & SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH

Mark Ridgway is head of Biology and housemaster of Druries at Harrow school. As a graduate in Zoology, Mark has had a fascination with animals from a young age, inspired, as many of us will relate to, by Gerald Durrell’s My Family and Other Animals. Here he tells us of his adventures driving across Portugal and, more recently, London, the latter of which involved a rather exciting passenger…

I can’t think of many occasions when one would want to aloud to the family and, no surprise, the book of choice for be delayed in the grid-lock of west London, but for me the the first part of the trip was My Family and other Animals. My Friday afternoon of 25 November 2016 was one such time. 11-year-old self was hooked. A fascination with animals had My passenger on this occasion was Sir David Attenborough, always been high on my agenda and a trip to Chester Zoo whom I had just collected from his home and was now was always my one-and-only idea for a pleasurable day delivering to this Durrell fund-raising event. The evening out. This continued into adulthood, a Zoology degree and in question had been some 14-months in the planning, eventually, into my current career of teaching Biology. In my life had been wished away to this moment, as we sat May 2010 a parent of one of my pupils, the lovely Caroline together, enjoying animal-related banter, whilst stuck in Christensen, knowing my interest in conservation, was kind the contradiction-in-terms that is Friday evening rush hour. enough to introduce me to fellow Channel Islander Lee I was in heaven, but frustrated that not one single passing Durrell and the link was made. motorist or pedestrian had looked into my car to see whom Harrow School very kindly provided the venue, Speech I was carrying. I knew I should have left the passenger-side Room, with a capacity of 600 and we were also able to window open. use the Senior Common Room for a dinner after the talk. The conception of this event probably started at a This was to prove to be another important fundraising part wedding the previous year, when my friend and fellow of the evening. Selling tickets was never an issue, we sold guest, Alastair Fothergill, was easily persuaded during the out in fewer than 24 hours… unfortunately, still leaving large joy of the occasion to offer his services to help publicise and numbers of disappointed people. Alastair and Sir David fundraise for Durrell. He in turn was able to ask Sir David, were, of course, superb. Their gentle, intimate style of and once the date was fixed, the planning began. Looking presentation, gave one the impression of eaves-dropping back, however, I was wondering where the initial seeds on two friends who were reminiscing over past adventures, were sown: the break-in of my family home in 1970 is my and the standing ovation at the end was a real echo of logical conclusion. The loss of my mother’s diamond watch the joy they had brought to so many people over so many secured enough compensation to fund a VW camper collaborations and series. van and hence the first big family adventure of driving in I wonder if they might be persuaded to give us a repeat Portugal in the summer of 1971. In those pre-iPad days of performance? course our family entertainment was mother-led reading

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 5 THE DURRELLS

Sally Woodward Gentle is the BAFTA award-winning executive producer behind popular British television dramas including Any Human Heart, Whitechapel and of course The Durrells. She tells us about her love of Gerald Durrell’s writing, her interest in his conservation work and the inspiration behind the award-winning ITV series which saw so many of us take to the sofa on a Sunday evening. THE DREAM BEHIND THE DURRELLS

“I read a lot of material for work while I am travelling on the London Tube but the only books which consistently mean I miss my stop are from Gerald Durrell’s Trilogy. The only scripts are ’s adaptation. A few years ago during one of our routine meetings with the brilliant Victoria Fea, Senior Drama Commissioner at ITV, we were discussing what show we could make which could bring sunshine and sheer joy to the schedule. The idea of it felt quite cynical until we did a broad mental sweep of existing titles and realised that one of the few things we would all want to watch was a version of My Family and Other Animals. Our ambition, however, was to be bold and ambitious and create a version which would have even broader appeal and not run out of story. Focusing the action on Louisa rather than just Gerry was a start and then trying to seduce Simon Nye back to territory he had already triumphed in was key. It was essential to us that we had the blessing of Durrell and particularly Lee, the late Gerald’s wife, now Honorary Director of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust The team behind the show are all passionate, if lay, conservationists and Gerry’s source material feels so special and personal to millions of people around the world. Writer Simon Nye, myself and the rest of the team all paid a visit to Jersey during the development of the first series. We saw first hand Durrell’s four-pronged approach to conservation: the beautiful zoo “Gerald’s Ark”; training future conservationists: working in the wild, and all underpinned by pioneering science. If we could, I think we would have all given up television there and then and run off to Madagascar or to help. Lee Durrell was extraordinarily generous with her time and showed us Gerry’s writing and photographs from Corfu. It was quite awe-inspiring to see the pictures of the people Simon had already started breathing life into in his scripts. Once we had drafts we were all happy with we shared them, in confidence, with Lee as we wanted to make sure that we weren’t making any huge gaffe and we also wanted, in our own little way, to have mini conservation stories. Simon largely makes up the stories of each episode but we also make sure to include something from the books. One of four children himself, he also has four children and often takes the family on adventures. In fact, it is sometimes hard for us to keep track of him. Expecting script delivery,

6 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 THE DURRELLS

it’s a regular occurrence to call his mobile only to hear that continue to struggle to make ends meet so Louisa decides familiar ‘calling abroad’ ring tone. they should sell uniquely British fare at the local market. In setting up the show and having been caught out by Only time will tell if this is a masterstroke or one built more Brexit and the Euro crises we did consider whether there was on enthusiasm than good judgment. Margo re-ignites somewhere other than Corfu to film. Somewhere there was her relationship with her ‘monk’; Larry falls into a deep a filming infrastructure and a tax break. One trip to Corfu, depression when it would appear that NO-ONE has read however, ruined that. Corfu is unique. And we all fell in love. his latest book; Leslie is a chap in need of a ‘niche’. He We have been blessed with a genius cast. Keeley thinks he discovers that niche when Theo introduces him Hawes as Louisa is human, warm, funny, moving, totally to photography. Gerry, in the meantime, embarks on a empathetic. Josh O’Connor as Larry could be obnoxious conservation project of his very own. His first attempts at a but he is totally engaging, witty and full of barely concealed programme.” love. Callum Woodhouse, straight out of drama school, From our perspective, the rest, as they say, is history. couldn’t be a more perfect Leslie while Daisy Waterstone IS Margo. It is testament to Milo Parker’s charisma and Sally is running the Corfu half marathon in May to support sensitive performance as Gerald Durrell and to Durrell as Durrell - please do sponsor her for this challenge: an extraordinary organisation that he has become their www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Sally-Woodward-Gentle2 Ambassador. The first series seemed to go down really well. It brought in a huge audience and has been sold worldwide. The second series has just been ‘picture locked’. The family

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 7 IN FOCUS

IN FOCUS: THE RERE

Many of us will have seen a green turtle or two gliding across our TV screens during an episode of Blue Planet, and perhaps even marvelled at the astonishing size of a leatherback, but hands up if you’ve heard of the Madagascar big-headed turtle?

You may have heard it referred to as the Madagascar side-necked turtle, or perhaps by its local name, the rere? No? This awesome species definitely deserves the attention of the first species spotlight! With a humungous head and wrinkly, weathered skin, examining this creature will transport you back to the Mesozoic era. This prehistoric-looking animal is the largest freshwater turtle in Madagascar and the only aquatic turtle species endemic to the island - occurring nowhere else on earth.

8 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 IN FOCUS

FACT FILE

COMMON NAME Unfortunately, the rere is one of the most Madagascar big-headed or endangered turtles in the world and is Madagascar side-necked turtle classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. At almost a third of the sites SCIENTIFIC NAME throughout the species’ known range, the Erymnochelys madagascariensis rere is thought to be close to extinction.

SIZE Up to half a metre in length

WEIGHT Up to 15 kilograms IN THE WILD Around 12,000 reres are left in the wild.

BREEDING Females tend to nest every other year, but may lay 2 - 3 clutches per breeding season, with around 10 – 15 eggs per clutch.

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 9 IN FOCUS WHERE DOES THE RERE LIVE? The rere occurs only in Madagascar and has a wide distribution across eight watersheds in the west of the country. However, despite this wide extent of occurrence, the rere is in trouble - populations are declining, KEY MILESTONES with less than 10% of the species historical range currently supporting stable populations.

ANKARAFANTSIKA 114 NATIONAL PARK

2015 A world first for the species as 114 turtles are bred successfully LAKE AMBONDROBE in captivity and released to restore the wild population at NEW PROTECTED AREA Ankarafantsika National Park.

HOW DURRELL IS HELPING Whilst the decline in rere populations paints a a bleak picture, there is still hope for this species and we have a great deal to be optimistic about. With the help of local communities, Durrell has been protecting nests 2015 A New Protected Area and restoring habitat at two important sites for the rere: Ankarafantsika is created primarily for the National Park and Lake Ambondrobe. conservation of the rere. Since conservation began in 1998, Durrell staff and local people have protected nests that have produced more than 4000 rere hatchlings, over 300 turtles have been head-started and over 100 captive bred turtles have been successfully released. The rere population is now increasing at these two field sites, and in 2015, a new protected area was established primarily for the conservation of the rere. This was a huge milestone, marking the first ever protected area in Madagascar to be designated primarily for the conservation of a single species.

RERE POPULATION 2015 5000

2005 2016 Durrell’s Juliette Velosoa 3000 wins a highly regarded Whitley 2005 2015 870 2136 Award for her work with the rere.

ANKARAFANTSIKA LAKE AMBONDROBE NATIONAL PARK

10 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 IN FOCUS

MEET JULIETTE VELOSOA - OUR RERE SPECIES SAVIOUR! Since 2002, Juliette has been conducting research on rere population trends and has been working to integrate local communities and traditional customs into our conservation. As one of the world’s leading experts on head starting turtles and developing community conservation initiatives, we are extremely proud to have Juliette as part of the Durrell team. Last year, Juliette’s incredible contribution and dedication to the conservation of the rere was recognised when she won a prestigious Whitley award.

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 11 NEWS

NEWS FROM WHAT’S ON WHEN? THE ZOO

SAD FAREWELLS We’ve recently had to say some sad farewells to a few old faces at Jersey Zoo.

Fali, our oldest Gentle was the last surviving member of a group of ten brought to Jersey from Madagascar by Gerald and Lee Durrell.

MEMBERS’ DAYS Our new Members’ Days are the perfect opportunity to bring a guest for free on Sunday 21st May and Saturday 9th September and introduce or reintroduce a loved one to the wonderful residents of Jersey Zoo.

Kick off the half-term holiday in May by being a budding naturalist at the Bioblitz Family Weekend from Saturday 27th May to Monday 29th May (10:30am to 3:30pm). You can meet our wildlife Mr Brown, the last and much-loved green- experts and help us do a count of the wild animals feathered living outside of his and plants that call our zoo their home. native Mauritius, died just weeks after his 21st birthday. You can take your own bears along to meet ours at this year’s Teddy Bears Picnic on Saturday 17th June and Sunday 18th June. It’s a fun day out for the whole family from 10:30am until 3:30pm.

It’s your chance to explore Jersey Zoo at dusk on a guided tour, dine al fresco on the terrace of Café Firefly and sit back and listen to live music with a glass of bubbles from the Prosecco Van when we stay open late (6:00pm until 9:00pm) on Friday 4th August and Friday 18th August.

It’s ‘dress to impress’ with a Halloween twist at this year’s Durrell Dash, sponsored by Rathbones, on Sunday 29th October as we celebrate a long run - our 10th anniversary of the Dash!

Check out www.durrell.org/events for more details and to find out what else is on at the And last but not least, our laid-back zoo during the year. centurion George the radiated tortoise, one of the world’s rarest, who came to Jersey with Gerald Durrell back in 1976. TALKING OF BAT HOUSE TAMARINS EXTENSION

Tamarin House is our newly designed tamarin range with a natural, woodland feel, where you can get up close to the tamarins when they are inside, and with improved viewing of their outside enclosure.

We are currently extending the Island Bat Roost, which will double the flight space for our bats and provide even better viewing for visitors. The extra space will allow the critically Pied tamarin endangered Livingstone’s fruit bats to fly continually, improving their physical fitness.

12 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 NEWS

OUR BIRD KEEPER DIARY DATE FLIES THE NEST Don’t forget to put Tuesday 19th September After winning Durrell’s 2016 in your diary – it’s the 53rd Annual General Rumboll Travel Award, Bertie Ferns Meeting (AGM) of the Members of Durrell flew off to Sumatra to investigate the Wildlife Conservation Trust. It starts at plight of the Critically Endangered 6pm at The Royal Yacht Hotel. Ex-Durrell Sumatran Laughingthrush and find keeper Ian Singleton is the special guest out more about the scale of the illegal for the Members and Supporters Talk, bird trade in Indonesia. Read more which follows the meeting and Ian will be about his trip: chatting about the work being carried out www.birdingbertblog.wordpress.com by the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme, the group he set up to help save these primates in peril. FIELD NEWS AND ACADEMY ACTIVITY GOOD NEWS NEW CLASS OF CONSERVATIONISTS FOR SKINKS A dozen conservationists from across the globe are now on course to pick up more skills Our reptile team have been back to to help species thrive in their own countries. They have all signed up to the internationally Gunner’s Quoin, an island off the coast acclaimed Durrell Endangered Species Management Graduate Certificate (DESMAN) in of Mauritius to check out numbers of Jersey, learning the theory and practive of wildlife conservation. reintroduced and resident reptiles. They spotted numerous orange-tailed skinks and juvenile Round Island boas in new locations BREEDING THE BIG YEAR FOR across the island and found the Telfair’s WORLD’S RAREST SMALL MAMMALS skink population had grown in abundance. We’re racing ahead with plans to develop a Last year was a huge one for the IUCN captive breeding programme for the world’s SSC Small Mammal Specialist Group A Telfair’s skink rarest snake, the racer. Using and 2017 is set to be even bigger thanks what we’ve learnt from breeding Anguillan to a new strategic partnership with Global racers at Jersey Zoo will help kick-start our Wildlife Conservation. We’re working work to restore the species. with the group and Texas A&M University to ensure more conservation effort and Saint Lucia Racer research is invested in small mammal species around the world.

Red-crested tree rat EMERGENCY APPEAL HELPS BOOST EFFORTS TO SAVE THE PLOUGHSHARE TORTOISE ANOTHER NEW Sadly, illegal poaching continues to threaten the ploughshare tortoise, but thanks to the CENTRE READY success of our emergency appeal we have FOR RARE DUCKS PHOTO CREDIT: LIZZIE NOBLE been able to raise funds to increase security The second Madagascar pochard breeding at our captive breeding centre. We were also centre in Antsohihy is now ready and we’re delighted to find twelve baby tortoises in preparing to move our ducks into the new IMPORTANT the wild, indicating that the ones we have enclosures. They’ve been health-screened, released are breeding despite the threats. WETLAND HABITAT vaccinated and are all doing well. COULD SOON BECOME NEW RAMSAR SITE We’ve been supporting Madagascar in their bid for the lakes at Ankarafantsika National Park to become a Ramsar site. Several are considered sacred and have cultural significance, and, we believe, are deserving as wetlands of global importance.

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH OUR LATEST NEWS VISIT WWW.DURRELL.ORG/NEWS

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 13 CONSERVATION SCIENCE

THE SCIENCE OF SAVING SPECIES In Monty Python’s film, Life of Brian, there’s a great scene where the character Reg (played by long-time Durrell supporter, ) asks “All right, but apart from sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh-water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?” Science can be “a bit like the Romans” to understand how they use forests. – its easy to underappreciate the There are so many questions we need critical role scientific research plays in to answer; the team’s ‘science intray’ the discovery of the world around us, is definitely not going to be emptied technological innovation, development anytime soon. of new medicines etc. Particularly when We also do scientific research to it’s communicated in a highly technical measure the difference we are making language that’s hard to grasp. through our mission of saving species from So that’s the point of this regular extinction. Durrell’s ‘business’ is producing feature: to bring to life what science does conservation results and we need to for Durrell’s mission. In each issue, one of credibly measure them to not only ensure Durrell’s Conservation Scientists will write we are as effective as possible, but also about their work in the field, in the zoo or to demonstrate our impacts to those who behind a computer (crunching data can so generously support our work. Using be a lot more interesting than it sounds scientifically sound methods is the most I promise!) or about a particular issue in compelling way of doing this - if you want conservation science that we think you’ll to know more please visit the Durrell Index be interested in. website www.durrell.org/index In a nutshell, at Durrell we conduct As Head of Conservation Science, it scientific research to provide us with is a privilege to lead a team of talented the best possible evidence to guide conservation scientists across Durrell, as the design of our conservation work well as working closely with academics in the field and at our zoo, our animal and PhD students from some of the management programmes and our world’s best universities. Our shared conservation training. This research is ambition is to ensure Durrell truly is a necessarily diverse; from a population science-based, impact-led conservation survey of a rare lizard on a remote organisation and we hope you enjoy tropical island, to working with a university finding out more about our work (with genetics lab to design a captive breeding or without the occasional Monty Python programme, to conducting interviews reference!). with local communities in Madagascar

Dr Richard Young HEAD OF CONSERVATION SCIENCE

14 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 IN THE WILD RESTORING THE RED-BILLED CHOUGH TO JERSEY

In 1910 the red-billed chough HOW DO YOU MONITOR WHAT INSPIRES YOU was deemed locally extinct. THE BIRDS ONCE THEY ARE TO KEEP GOING? Elizabeth Corry, Chough RELEASED? Hearing the positive comments from re-introduction field manager All the birds are fitted with tail- islanders and tourists when they see and Senior Bird Keeper at Jersey mounted radio transmitters to track the choughs playing in the wind is Zoo, tells us about her work to their movements for up to six months very motivational. For some it has restore these beautiful black post-release. Daily tracking lets us completely changed the way they birds to the coasts of Jersey. monitor dispersal patterns and habitat view birds. use to inform future management plans. It also serves as a useful tool at WHEN WILL YOU CONSIDER TELL US HOW THE BREEDING the start of a release if an individual YOUR WORK WITH CHOUGHS PROGRAMME STARTED? gets lost and needs help returning to IN JERSEY TO BE COMPLETE? In 2010 Paradise Park in Cornwall the flock We will consider the reintroduction loaned Jersey Zoo two breeding to be successful when the chough pairs of choughs to begin a breeding We monitor general health by population in Jersey is self-sustaining. programme with the intention of observing behaviour, getting the We are already well on the way to releasing chicks on the island. A birds to feed off weighing scales to achieving this with birds breeding release aviary was built on the north record body weight, and sometimes for themselves in the wild. We need coast in 2012 and the trial release of collecting faecal samples to screen for to ensure the habitat is restored seven choughs began in 2013. parasites. sufficiently so we can reduce the need for supplemental provisions. WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF MADE TO DATE? YOUR JOB? ARE THERE ANY OTHER We have successfully increased the Ultimately the goal of any captive SPECIES THAT HAVE BECOME Jersey chough population from zero breeding programme is to see a LOCALLY EXTINCT THAT YOU to thirty-five birds. This includes five species return to its former glory in the THINK WOULD WORK WELL wild-hatched chicks thanks to six of wild. Watching the choughs, some AS A RE-INTRODUCTION? the choughs in the wild pairing up and of which you have hand-reared, fly Yellowhammers and Turtle doves nesting within their first year of release. free once again in Jersey is the most- amongst others. Jersey has lost several rewarding part of my job. species in recent years and many more are in decline.

Elizabeth Corry SENIOR BIRD KEEPER

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 15 AMPHIBIANS CAN THRIVE IN A GREEN, CLEAN WORLD

Thrive Renewables, previously Triodos Renewables, – is a mission-led company. We believe in a clean, smart energy system that is powered by the investment of many. We are about connecting people to sustainable energy and in doing so helping to tackle climate change.

Our investors are looking for more than just a healthy return, they want to see the impact their investment is having on the environment and be part of a wider movement to help clean up the UK’s energy system.

That’s why Durrell was our perfect choice as charity partner for the London Lecture on Amphibians last year. We both share a passion for environmental protection and the desire to make a difference.

16 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 It’s important that we make the connection between renewable energy and conservation. By reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions, addressing air pollution and reducing the consumption of water, we are tackling the cause of many underlying threats to world wildlife. Climate change is one of the biggest threats to sensitive ecosystems globally and if we as individuals are causing these problems, it is our responsibility to address them. For this to happen, it needs to be on a global scale.

“Through the contribution of renewables and other low carbon generation the UK’s electricity has become 28% less carbon intensive over the last 5 years. We are moving in the right direction, but for the benefit of ourselves and the species we share the Earth with, we must accelerate progress.” Matthew Clayton, MD of Thrive Renewables.

For generations to come, we have a shared hope that together we can work towards a more balanced relationship with the planet and its resources. Whether you’re a Durrell Member or a Thrive investor you can take comfort in knowing you’re making a difference today.

We look forward to our continued relationship with Durrell for 2017 and exciting plans to expand the ways in which we connect people to conservation and renewable energy.

More about us www.thriverenewables.co.uk

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 17 TECH CORNER

radio-tracking Radio-tracking is the process of attaching a small transmitter to an animal that sends out an electronic signal which can then be used to locate it. Transmitters or ‘tags’ come in all shapes and sizes and have been fitted to almost every type of animal from bees to blue whales.

Durrell work with some incredibly rare animals and when we are releasing them back to the wild, it is crucial we know how they are doing. Using radio tags allows us to gather essential information on their movements and behaviour.

Here we show how we use radio telemetry to follow Critically Endangered pygmy hogs after we release them into the wild in , India.

18 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 TECH CORNER

STAGE 1 STAGE 2 DURRELL’S

Radio tags have to be very small In preparation for attaching these compared to the animal they are tags, our project vet pierces a small UNDERHOGS tracking. You can see how small the hole in the ear and we then let it heal pygmy hog tags are. We fasten the completely. This reduces the chance device to standard plastic livestock ear of the tag causing any discomfort or tags, similar to those used on domestic the ear becoming infected. pigs, before attaching them to the hogs.

Small hole Radio device

Antenna

STAGE 4 STAGE 3 Critically Endangered, After the animals are released, the pygmy hogs are so rare field team uses a radio receiver When the hogs are ready to be and antenna to locate the signal of they were once thought released, we attach the tags securely each animal and record its location and check they are working correctly. to be extinct, but today, daily. As more and more fixes are We then transport the hogs to the with the help of Durrell, recorded, we can start to understand release site where they are briefly held the animal’s movement and what this little piggy is making in enclosures to get used to their new sort of habitat they prefer. We then a comeback. surroundings before being released use special software to create maps into the wild. of the animal’s range which helps us Durrell’s Underhogs is a film that manage and conserve the species. tells the story of the smallest pigs in the world. Follow Durrell’s Volunteer Manager Daniel Ear tags Craven on his travels to India, the birthplace of Gerald Durrell, to trace the origins of the great conservationist before joining up with the Durrell team who are building on his legacy.

Antenna Learn more about the team’s work with the species as they release the 100th pygmy hog back into the beautiful wild grasslands of Radio receiver Assam, and how you can help. Help the hogs! Please donate to this project and help the Durrell team continue this vital work. Right now, we have teams tracking the released choughs in Jersey, hogs in Assam, ploughshare tortoises in Madagascar and giant Aldabran tortoises in You can view Durrell’s Underhogs Mauritius. at www.durrell.org/underhogs

ALL PHOTOS Craig Jones - www.craigjoneswildlifephotography.co.uk

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 19 SUSTAINABILITY SMALL CHANGES THAT MAKE A

BIG IMPACTWORDS BY KRISTINA MIDDLETON

DID YOU KNOW… ON AVERAGE EVERY PERSON IN THE UK GENERATES APPROXIMATELY 400KG OF WASTE EVERY YEAR?

However, statistics show that awareness is on the increase and more and more of us are disposing of our waste more responsibly.

At Jersey Zoo we believe we should lead by example. That’s why we have made some exciting changes, which just prove that there are lots of great sustainable options out there.

PLASTIC

The average life span of a plastic bag is just 12 minutes! WHAT IS DURRELL DOING? Reports suggest that we waste 50% of the plastic we use Durrell has removed all plastic water bottles from the zoo, and, all too often, it is not disposed of properly. In fact, it is instead, visitors can now quench their thirst with ‘Water in estimated that we only recycle 14% of our plastic and as a Box’ a range of natural spring water packaged in 100% a result the ocean is becoming increasingly polluted, with compostable boxes! estimates that the tonnage of plastic waste in the sea will soon outweigh the tonnage of fish. All other drinks are available in recyclable aluminium cans which in turn will help Durrell’s ‘Cans for Corridors’ initiative, This poses a serious threat to marine life; turtles become which raises money by recycling cans to plant tree corridors entangled in six-pack can rings; dolphins get caught in in the rapidly shrinking Atlantic Forest in Brazil fishing nets; and sea birds ingest broken plastic causing them to starve. A million sea birds and 100,000 sea mammals are killed every year by careless disposal of WHAT CAN YOU DO plastic. We all need to reduce the amount of plastic we use in our everyday lives. The scale of the problem is massive and we need to take action now. We are seeing some positive changes such as REFUSE single-use plastic. This includes plastic bottles, in 2015, the UK introduced a 5p charge for plastic bags, plastic bags, and ready to eat lunch packaging; choose which resulted in an 85% decrease in consumption by July items that don’t use plastic. 2016. More recently the UK government announced a ban on the use of microbeads by the end of 2017. Further afield REUSE plastic bags, bags for life, utensils and other Delhi in India just banned all disposable plastics. California everyday items. Buy a stainless steel water bottle; not only is has banned disposable plastic bags, as has City it sustainable, but you’ll save yourself money in the long run. and numerous cities around the world. Rwanda did this some years ago and Kenya is trying to get the law changed REDUCE your consumption of excessive plastic. Choose now. This gives us hope that the importance of these issues wisely and if it will leave behind plastic waste, leave it on are starting to be understood the shelf.

RECYCLE any plastic you do you use. If you cannot avoid it, then dispose of it responsibly.

20 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 SUSTAINABILITY

COFFEE CUPS PALM OIL

Another issue that is finally receiving proper attention thanks Many of us are blissfully unaware of the prevalence of to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s ‘War on Waste’ is the take- palm oil in food and cosmetic products. However, palm oil away coffee cup. The UK throws away approximately 2.5 cultivation causes devastation to and is pushing billion take-away coffee cups every year. Despite claims many species to the brink of extinction. In particular, that they can be recycled, the majority of your cups end up orangutans have lost more than 90% of their habitat in the in landfill due to the lack of specialised recycling plants. last 20 years, and approximately 1,000-5,000 orangutans continue to be killed every year. The solution is simple - join the growing re-use ‘revolution’ by purchasing a re-usable coffee cup and encouraging others We the public, are faced with two options; seek sustainable to do the same. As an added incentive many coffee shops methods for its production, or boycott it completely. The now offer discounts if you take along your own mug. biggest contribution we can all make in our daily lives is to purchase products that don’t contain palm oil or, at the WHAT IS DURRELL DOING? very least, are stamped with the approval of sustainably Durrell will now be serving hot drinks in take-away sourced palm oil. Vegware cups. These revolutionary cups are completely compostable and lined with plant-based PLA, not plastic. WHAT IS DURRELL DOING? Visitors to the zoo will also be offered a discount if they bring At the zoo we are now avoiding palm oil in any food served a reusable coffee cup. in our cafés. Freezers are stocked with Minioti’s palm oil free ice cream, which is also free of added sugars and made with milk sourced from Jersey Dairy’s own herd of pedigree cows.

While many of us are conscious of making sustainable life choices, it is apparent that not enough of us are committing to make a difference. Start off by incorporating some of these small changes into your lives. Not only will they make a real difference to the environment, but they will also benefit your bank account. It’s a real win/win situation!

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 21 MADAGASCAR

CELEBRATING WETLAND CONSERVATION AT THE BANDRO FESTIVAL In November 2016 Durrell was honoured to attend a very special celebratory festival in Lake Alaotra, Madagascar.

Whilst many will associate world-renowned importance of the ‘zetra’, a marsh plant conservation charity Durrell with the similar to papyrus, for the Lake Alaotra numerous species of animal with which they ecosystem and the bandro. The Chief of work, integrating local people is central to the Alaotra-Mangoro Region and other Durrell’s approach to conservation. local dignitaries led a replanting ceremony, This is especially important in Madagascar, contributing to the restoration of the where the majority of the population relies marshland habitat. on natural resources for their daily survival. Durrell has played a significant role over Madagascar is divided up into 12 ethnic the past decade in the development of groups, one of which is the Sihanaka. Found several New Protected Areas (NPA) across only around Lake Alaotra, the Sihanaka are Madagascar and the festival provided an a unique group with strong cultural ties to opportunity to officially launch the Alaotra the lake. NPA within the community. This protected Festivals and ceremonies are a key part status has now safeguarded a large area of of Malagasy culture and Durrell staff were Lake Alaotra, which will now be managed to thrilled to join government officials and protect and sustain natural resources. over 3000 people from local communities During the festival, the Prefect, who is to celebrate the conservation of the responsible for public safety and ensuring rare Alaotran gentle lemur (Hapalemur that fishing and zoning laws are followed, alaotrensis) and the official protection of a officially launched the Alaotra NPA and the large part of its habitat around Lake Alaotra. first boundary markers were placed in the Whilst Lake Alaotra, the largest inland lake marsh. Before placing the boundary markers, in Madagascar, is home to a number of the Tangalamena, the elders of the Sihanaka unique and fascinating plants and animals tribe, performed a traditional ritual - a Joro, perhaps the most iconic is the Alaotran during which the Tangalamena ask for the gentle lemur. Known locally as ‘bandro’, blessing of their ancestors. A cow was then this Critically Endangered lemur is entirely sacrificed and the best pieces were given to dependent on marshes surrounding the the Tangalamena as a form of deep respect, lake for survival. However, the lake and its with the remainder shared in a meal where wildlife are under extreme pressure from local villagers, authorities and Durrell staff overfishing and intense land cultivation were invited as a sign of social cohesion. for rice production. The burning of these Durrell is committed to conserving Lake marshes means the bandro’s habitat is Alaotra and will continue to work with local rapidly shrinking. communities to manage natural resources The Bandro Festival was held in Andreba sustainably and ensure the bandro and Gara, a lakeside village that is the most other wildlife continue to thrive in this unique famous site for seeing this lemur. Celebrations lake. The Bandro Festival shows how local were held over two days including songs communities, government and conservation and dances from women’s associations and organisations can work together towards a local children dressed in bandro costumes. common goal, and gives great hope for the The festival focused on highlighting the future of Lake Alaotra.

22 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 MADAGASCAR

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 23 SAFE UPDATE ‘Frogs do for the night what birds do for the day… they give it a voice. And that voice is a varied and stirring thing that ought to be better known.’ ARCHIE CARR, 1973 ZOOLOGIST

Our Saving Amphibians From Extinction programme, SAFE, is our contribution to the global battle to save amphibians. While we know the plight of many of the world’s larger celebrity species, there are many that are slipping away without us noticing. Amphibians are unfortunately high up on this risk list, with over 40% threatened with extinction. Yet they form an essential component of our natural world. To us amphibians are beautiful, exciting and essential. That is why we focussed our 2016 annual London Lecture on them. We were not sure whether our audience would agree, however the response from our guests was fantastic. At the lecture and over the preceeding weeks we asked for support to bring our vision to reality and we wanted to sincerely thank everyone who has helped us raise a fantastic £40,000 so far. These funds are helping us to develop the following exciting projects.

24 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 SAFE

IA Z C O R N A U G M O RO RD U A RT ER : A G DIT IT: CRE RED PHOTO PHOTO C

DEVELOPING REVERSING THE FATE OF THE ENHANCING OUR SAFE HAVENS FOR THE LAKE TITICACA WATER FROG CONSERVATION KNOWLEDGE MOUNTAIN CHICKEN IN BOLIVIA TO PROTECT CRITICALLY The mountain chicken SAFE haven This is a project being led by our ENDANGERED SPECIES IN is a new and pioneering project. We partner, the Bolivian Amphibian MADAGASCAR will work to create safe zones for the Initiative founded by our good friend Using our existing experience and species by manipulating key aspects and Durrell graduate, Arturo Muñoz. base in Madagascar, this project of the environment to make our This frog is amazing and a true survivor. focuses on targeted field missions designated sites less suitable for the It is specially adapted to living in the to two key areas in Ambohitantely deadly chytrid fungal disease. We cold high altitude lake – although all and Bemanevika. Both are forested will then build breeding enclosures the extra wrinkles of skin make it look sites that are isolated and relatively where we can care for and monitor like it has been in the lake far too intact. Ambohitantely is one of the mountain chickens being returned to long! However, this species is under few remaining high altitude forest the island. It is bold and hasn’t been great pressure from habitat change, patches left on the central plateau. done before, but it is based on sound pollution, and over-harvesting. The field missions will assess the science Our project will encourage local presence of amphibian species, their We are going to need more support communities to help monitor the water conservation status and develop a to achieve this goal and so the SAFE frog, to increase awareness, raise pride series of responses with the surrounding Haven is the focus of our Spring in the species, support local restoration communities. appeal. efforts and reduce pressures from over- harvesting.

ESTABLISHING SAFE IN These projects form key actions within the SAFE Programme – please In 2017, we will start activities on our visit our website where you can find fourth and final priority region for lots more information. SAFE - Sri Lanka. This island state is rich We recognise that amphibian with wildlife and is a global hotspot conservation is a massive global for amphibians. We have helped train partnership and our efforts would amphibian conservationists in Sri Lanka not be possible without the support and we will build on these partnerships and collaboration of many local to support amphibian conservation in and international partners. Finally,

IC the country. we want to thank all our supporters V O N A V who believe in the importance of O J A LG O amphibians and the work we are IT: RED PHOTO C doing to save them.

MANY THANKS TO THRIVE AND LOCATE JERSEY, SPONSORS OF THE 2016 LONDON LECTURE

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 25 SECTION TITLE HELP US BUILD SAFE HAVENS TOGETHER WE CAN FOR THE MOUNTAIN CHICKEN GIVE HOPE TO THE DURRELL.ORG/SAFEHAVEN MOUNTAIN CHICKEN

THE DECLINE OF THE MOUNTAIN CHICKEN FROG FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS DOWN TO FEWER THAN 140 IS SYMBOLIC OF THE CHYTRIDIOMYCOSIS CRISIS THAT IS DEVASTATING AMPHIBIANS % ACROSS THE WORLD. 99 Whilst this is one of the fastest species declines ever witnessed, all hope is not lost.

DURRELL ARE PIONEERS and together with our partners we have developed a ground-breaking plan to turn this species into a symbol of hope.

26 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 MOUNTAIN CHICKENS NEED SAFE HAVENS TO PERSIST FREE OF THE DISEASE IN THE WILD. Creating these safe havens has never been done before but it is the first vital stepping stone on the path to species recovery.

1 2 3

We will use pioneering We will then build an outdoor This will lead to the first techniques to manipulate enclosure to hold frogs and ever safe haven within the environmental features track their progress over time. frog’s native habitat on to make an area less the Caribbean Island of chytrid-friendly Montserrat

GLOBAL GOALS Our goal is that we can restore the mountain chicken back to its native range through a series of these safe havens. Proving this concept as a tool for conservationists to replicate worldwide would represent a giant leap forward in the global fight against chytrid.

SUPPORT We need your help to develop these PLEASE, IF YOU CAN, CONTRIBUTE safe havens. TO OUR CRITICAL SAFE CAMPAIGN. HELP US BUILD A SAFE HAVEN FOR THE Donating today will enable us to MOUNTAIN CHICKEN AND GIVE HOPE establish the project in Montserrat and TO AMPHIBIANS WORLDWIDE… start the environmental trials as well as developing the enclosures for the frogs. Pays for one swab to test the frogs £2 for deadly chytrid fungus Provides a weeks’ worth of food £20 for the frog breeding facility Buys a datalogger to record environmental variables £60 Buys a battery to heat the pond £100 and make it unsuitable for chytrid Provides fencing material to help £200 build the Safe Haven DONATE TODAY DURRELL.ORG/SAFEHAVEN

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 27 DODO DISPATCH WORD SAFARI A DAY IN THE LIFE i a s o c p n b y a p e v x w Orangutan p e u e y h n c l x q g u n p Mammal u a g z z m p x l o b n y a m Sumatra r m a n t e f j a z m i q t u Palm oil d u d t p e e w c z a w m u a Ape y m o s a r b m i z m s m g e Swing y b s e l t a r t a m u s n l Jantho u v e n m c l r i q a v x a u Dagu x r n n w w n w r m l q l r w g c b i u o n x c d r o d o k u s t o i l y w f r s a c i h Critically q e n d a n g e r e d i u r h Fruit x z j l d t t z t i u r f w r Endangered u q n m k r a i n f o r e s t Tree j a n t h o t a y f j s z g x Nest AT THE ZOO KAESN...... KREMEAT...... The new keeper at Durrell was just about to put up signs on the animal enclosures when he dropped all RABE...... the letters! Can you help him unscramble the names so that KOMEYN...... the visitors know which animal is which? GORF...... ANSWERS ON PAGE 28 MELRU...... FLAGMOIN...... TBA...... BIGBON...... TOERT...... YEA-YEA...... LAGROIL......

28 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 DODO DISPATCH A DAY IN THE LIFE

Hello, l’m Jantho

I wake up at 8 o’clock when my keeper arrives. Mum always tries to make me stay curled up in our nest but I want to go and see which keeper it is today. The keeper I see most is Gordon and I usually blow raspberries at him to get his attention. Mum and I have our own bedroom, but in the Name morning when Gordon wants to clean we move Jantho into the other side of the enclosure with my little Species sister and her mum Dana. Dana can be quite Sumatran orangutan KAESN...... grumpy and won’t always let Kea play with me; she Age 3 likes to keep her safe with her all the time. Favourite things If Kea isn’t allowed to play then I go to find Jiwa. KREMEAT...... Bananas, Nuts and He’s my big brother and we have a lot of fun Hessian Sacks RABE...... together. He likes hiding in boxes and wearing sacks on his head – just like me! Dislikes Loud noises We get lots of different things to eat, like leeks, KOMEYN...... peppers and cucumbers. My mum, Annette,likes GORF...... to scoop out the squishy middle part of the This is Gordon cucumbers and leaves me the rest. Sometimes I have to try and find my food because Gordon MELRU...... hides it. It’s a game and it keeps me busy for a long time, but best of all it stops my greedy dad, Dagu FLAGMOIN...... from eating everything. When I’m big like my dad I’m going to show off TBA...... too. He likes to make sure that everyone knows who’s in charge. He’s definitely the boss. BIGBON...... When the weather is nice I can play outside all day. It’s like my garden. I can run around and climb TOERT...... up very high. At the end of the day we get ready for bed. Mum YEA-YEA...... still makes a nest in the same basket that I was born in. I sleep in her nest but I’m learning to make my LAGROIL...... own. It takes a lot of practice, but just like other orangutans I’m very good at copying.

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 29

DODO DISPATCH

MEET FREYA, OUR CHILEAN FLAMINGO Can you help colour her and her friends in?

A TRADITIONAL MADAGASCAN FABLE he said. And he challenged the wild pig to a contest. Whoever could drink the most salty seawater would be the winner. Now everyone knows that drinking THE MADAGASCAR seawater makes you sick, so winning the contest wasn’t going to be easy. The teal went first. He dipped TEAL AND THE his beak into the sea, just as the tide was going out and pretended to take a good, long drink. The sea WILD PIG seemed to drain away. The pig was astonished. How had the teal drunk so much of the sea? The Madagascar Teal is a very rare duck which lives “Your turn,” said the teal. “I’m sure you’ll do better. along the western coast of Madagascar, in the lakes After all, you’re so much bigger and stronger than SNAKE, MEERKAT, BEAR, MONKEY, FROG, LEMUR, FLAMINGO, BAT, GIBBON, OTTER, AYE-AYE, GIBBON, OTTER, AYE-AYE, FROG, LEMUR, FLAMINGO, BAT, BEAR, MONKEY, THE ZOO ANSWERS SNAKE, MEERKAT, AT which lie close to the sea. The Madagascar teal is very me!” clever. The wild pig took a tiny sip, and There was once a wild pig who thought that spat the water straight out again! because he was big and strong, he was also very Then he took another sip, and clever. The wild pig was certainly very greedy. When another and another. He sipped someone told him that Madagascar teal was delicious so slowly that the tide had to eat, the wild pig set out to catch one. He didn’t turned and began to wash have much luck though, for the teals were much too back on the beach. clever for him! The water tasted horrible One day the wild pig found himself by the edge of but he was too proud to give the sea with a teal. He knew he could never run fast in. He closed his eyes to try to enough to catch the teal and it made him feel very forget the taste, but when he cross. opened them again, the teal “Go away” he shouted at the teal. “This place is for had flown off! The water was big, strong animals like me, not silly, little ducks!” coming in fast, so he ran But the teal just ignored him and flew further down and ran until he reached the seashore. This made the wild pig even more cross dry land. Then he ran and he insulted the teal even more. and ran, into the forest, “You’re so stupid and weak,” he squealed at the as far away as he could duck, “While I’m so big and strong and clever.” get from the horribly It went on until the teal could no longer stand it. clever little teal and his “If you’re so big and clever, why don’t you prove it?” horrible tasting contest.

30 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017

DODO DISPATCH DURRELL CONSERVATION AWARD

Become a conservationist by learning more about wildlife and your local environment! Complete the challenges to gain the Durrell Conservation Award.

WHO IS SUITABLE? The Durrell Conservation Award is open to Members of Durrell who are aged between 5 and 16 years old.

WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE? There are two compulsory modules and a selection of three other challenges for you to choose from. You can work towards Bronze, Silver, or Gold Awards. The challenges include drawing, writing, creating, fundraising, observing and there are choices within each module to suit your interests - from bird watching or research to creating an insect hotel and recycling. You can also use the Durrell Conservation Award towards gaining youth group badges.

WHY TAKE PART IN THE CHALLENGE? The challenges are fun and rewarding. You will learn practical skills to help you become a conservationist. By successfully completing the challenges, you gain the award whilst helping wildlife and the environment! An outline of the compulsory modules can be found below. Successful applicants receive a certificate and a mention in the junior section of our Members’ magazine. For more information about the Durrell Conservation Award or to take part, please visit our website www.durrell.org/wildlife/conservation-awards

COMPULSORY MODULES… GERALD DURRELL BRONZE SILVER GOLD Draw a picture of Gerald Durrell Read Gerald Durrell’s book Read Gerald Durrell’s book with one of your favourite My Family and Other Animals The aye-aye and I and write animals. and write about or illustrate your a review. OR favorite bit. OR Write a letter to Lee Durrell OR Make an album of the places explaining what you do to help Create and illustrate a timeline Gerald Durrell visited and the wildlife of Gerald Durrell’s life. animals he worked to conserve. NATURE DETECTIVE BRONZE SILVER GOLD Study and label a tree, marking Go bird watching and keep a Choose a small natural area to the different tree parts and the record of the different species carry out a nature survey and animals you saw in the tree. you saw, where and when you record your findings. OR saw them. OR Be an explorer and see if OR Create an ‘Ink trap’ so you you can make and label a Design and make your own can look for tracks and signs in collection of different natural bird feeder or insect hotel using your garden. Photograph and specimens such as feathers, recycled materials. Photograph describe your results. shells and leaves the design stages and the finished product.

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 31 #DOITFORDURRELL BE INSPIRED At Durrell 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. In each issue of WILD LIFE we will share some inspiring ideas of how our supporters raise vital funds for Durrell.

BEE SAFE Eden Powell and Adam Gavey are making and selling Bee Safe Kits in order to raise awareness about bees and their importance to the environment. Thank you for sharing your profits with Durrell. www.thebeesafe.simplesite.com

32 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 #DOITFORDURRELL

CHALLENGE CHUBBS Jerseyman and ex-rugby player Stephen ‘Chubbs’ De Ste Croix is taking on a year of challenges. His ventures range from marathons and triathlons to basket weaving, flower arranging and going vegan. Please support Stephen on this epic undertaking. www.justgiving.com/fundraising/challengechubbsdurrell

DURRELL CONCERT Thank you to the Heart of England Co-operative Concert Orchestra for putting on a concert in support of Durrell with music themed around nature and wildlife, including the Durrell Suite composed by Derek Lawrence.

#WALKINGWITHPAT With no route planned but relying on the kindness and knowledge of strangers, Patryk Kucza is planning to walk over 1000 miles from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise funds for Durrell this summer. www.gofundme.com/wilsonsbritishadventure

BUDDING CONSERVATIONISTS Special thanks to a really enthusiastic group of supporters at Vandora Springs Elementary school in North Carolina. Pupils have so far raised enough money to purchase seven animal adoptions which are then used to learn about conservation and why it is important for us to take care of our planet.

SKY DIVING STUDENT Student Simon Inman has been so inspired by his time at Durrell that he is jumping 10,000 feet from a plane to raise funds to pay for nest box camera equipment for the chough project. www.justgiving.com/fundraising/simoninman14

CHARITY SHOP The team at Durrell’s charity shop in Jersey wish to thank Leonard’s Electrics who provide free safety testing for all electrical appliances and also Marks & Spencers and the Amaizin’ Adventure park for their generous donations of clothes and gifts.

THE GIFT OF GIVING Five year old Tiily Robinson melted our hearts when her Dad told us she had asked for donations to Durrell in lieu of birthday presents. Huge thanks from everyone at Durrell.

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | WILD LIFE 33 IN NUMBERS

FEEDING TIME THE ZOO IN NUMBERS £17,500 PER year to feed OUR orangutans

£3,000 PER year to feed OUR BATS FOOD BILL £150,000 PER YEAR £3,000 PER WEEK £410 PER DAY £30,000 PER year to feed OUR

£13,000  PER year to feed OUR BEARS

34 WILD LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2017 DURRELL CONSERVATION ACADEMY UPCOMING COURSES FOR 2017

8th – 10th July 2017 15th – 21st July 2017 23rd – 25th September 2017 PASSION FOR GERALD DURRELL BEAUTY OF BIRDS PRIMATES WEEK JERSEY This three-day course is aimed at This three-day course draws upon Led by our Honorary Director, Lee amateur bird enthusiasts. Led by Durrell more than 50 years of Durrell’s Durrell, this week-long course will bird experts, you will learn about bird pioneering work with primates. introduce you to the headquarters diversity, ecology and conservation, Through practical workshops, talks and of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, and gain practical skills in identification, behind-the-scenes tours with specialist showing you just how Gerald Durrell’s birdwatching and other field skills. staff, you will have an exciting and work lives on in the organisation memorable introduction to the , he created to save species from Places are likely to book up fast, monkeys and apes at Durrell and the extinction. for further information visit conservation work to save them. www.durrell.org/courses

YOU’RE INVITED… to join Lee Durrell and Amelia Dalton at Waterstones, Queen Street, St Helier on Thursday 7th September, to celebrate one woman’s tale of High Jinks, High Seas & Highlanders.

“My encounters with Amelia Dalton have been mostly on the high seas near places like Madagascar, Borneo and Venezuela, where she has proven time and again her ingenuity, resilience and courage. Now I know how this mix of attributes came to reside in one extraordinary person. Mistress and Commander is exuberant, heart-warming and inspiring, a captivating read.” LEE DURRELL DURRELL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION TRUST

RSVP [email protected] Stay in five star luxury…

…surrounded by some of the rarest animals on the planet.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Call us on +44 (0)1534 860097 or visit www.durrell.org/camp :::::