Durrell 2012 » Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

09-08-2012

Aside from Kahili being pregnant, there are a few other things going on at Durrell.

Durrell Wildlife Camp has been open for over a week now, with guests unequivocally loving their stay, by all accounts!

Fantastic local projects coming up, with tonight seeing the culmination of the agile frog captive breeding and release project - new Head of Herps Mattias Goetz told me that when he first surveyed the habitats in 2002 he found only 4 clumps of spawn, compared to 126 in 2011, and multiple sites harbouring breeding frog populations!

There is also activity gearing up towards the release of red-billed choughs at a local coastal spot, again, the pay off of a lengthy and much considered project for the bird and conservation teams.

Golden lion tamarins once again enjoy free run of the 'tamarin woods' along with the emperor tamarins and silvery marmosets.

Oh, and we have some of the first legally imported Angonoka - 'ploughshare tortoises' at Durrell... under maximum security conditions!

These guys were part of a consignment confiscated in Hong Kong, and subsequently very well looked after at Kadoori Farm and Botanical Gardens before being sent to Jersey, Rotterdam and Chester to begin a captive breeding programme.

09-08-2012

these are young tortoises aren't they (as in too young to breed yet)? Are any of them (at any of the three zoos, if you know) going to be on display at all until older, or is that not an option?

Jersey Choughs.
09-08-2012

So have the two pairs they got from Paradise Park in Cornwall now bred successfully?

How many Choughs are at the Park now?

Did they get any more from PP, apart from the initial four?

09-08-2012

Good to hear, I am staying at the Wildlife Camp in September for 4 nights and really looking forwards to the experience.

The last time I was at Jersey Zoo was 17 years ago, so I guess one or two things have changed since then!

10-08-2012

....not least of which is our banning of the 'Z' word! (I am being facetious - but we are now called Durrell Wildlife Park on all the signs and road signs etc!).

Seriously though, I'm absolutely confident that you'll love your stay! Are you booked on any of the tours or experiences? Feel free to come and say hi when you're here - I'll PM you shortly!

10-08-2012

Hi Pertinax, I'm due to be working on the communications for the chough campaign in a few weeks - I can't wait! But for now, have a look at the website that Dr Glynn Young, the conservationist leading this project has set up; Birds on the edge | Saving coastal birds and habitats from extinction.

I'll keep you posted on here as things move too if you like.

10-08-2012

Thankyou for the Link.
It says Jersey now have 'up to five pairs'.

Do you know if the extra (three?) pairs at Jersey were bred there this/last year, or have also come from Paradise Park where they got the first two pairs from?

Any updates on release dates/numbers etc of Jersey Choughs would be very much appreciated.

11-08-2012

Sorry Childonias, I missed this earlier!

They are indeed too young to breed, and are still in quarantine at present. I believe the Herps team will be looking at four years before public display - and even then security will be paramount, given that Durrell have had Angonoka stolen from the in-situ breeding facility in the past - with the smugglers going to extraordinary lengths to get to them.

Would you like me to upload an image or two into the gallery?

11-08-2012

@RickJ, the offexhibit of bowsprit would be quite understandable.

All these have been confiscated in the Far East (at least 40+ already) and now redistributed amongst reputable chelonian captive-breeding centers around the world. Most are in the youngest age classes and only very few are adults as yet.

It looks more than likely that an US facility will be breeding the species successfully before long!!!

11-08-2012

photos would be much appreciated thanks

11-08-2012

Seconded!

11-08-2012

pic here.

Endangered tortoises' 'safety net' - MSN UK News

11-08-2012

I've added some from their arrival at Durrell in the Durrell gallery. Beautiful tortoises!

11-08-2012

Any other animals at Durrell that you folks would like to see images of, feel free to ask. If I am cleared to post them, I'll happily share them.

17-08-2012

On the people front, Durrell have announced today that current CEO Paul Masterton is moving on to pastures new.

Paul has been (and still currently is) an amazing leader, and done much to ensure Durrell as an organisation have a clear way forward. He's here for six months to ensure a smooth handover to his successor... who that may be, we don't yet know.

See durrell.org/news for more.