Despite the rebranding to 'Durrell' some years ago now, I'm of an age where I still think of it simply as Jersey Zoo- I don't think 'Durrell' conveys any message to people who don't know what it is, such as potential tourists.
Perhaps 'Jersey's Durrell Zoo' would be a good middle ground/partial retreat. I was too young to be paying attention in the 1990s when 'zoo' became a dirty word, but I believe zoos should be reclaiming it and wearing the name proudly. A lot of very necessary welfare reform has happened since the late 1960s and continues today. Whilst zoos should be upfront about the failures of the past, they should not disown their history. Many of the zoos that eschewed the name - tried to pretend not to be what they are - have since returned to it. The rest should follow.
The park is planning to build a second Livingstone's fruit bat enclosure next to the current one, but the new one will be much larger and doughnut shaped. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10154084502467041
https://www.durrell.org/wildlife/wp-content/themes/wc-durell/assets/media/Solitaire/solitaire_27.pdf An online edition of their scientific journal
It depends on how highly you rate each separate aspect of a zoo's work. In terms of achievements in conservation and education, it is among the best in the world.
In Europe, I agree. But in terms of island zoos (as in non-mainland - I am not including Britain) it might rank quite highly. Loro Parque stands out as a leader here but it is difficult to list many other high profile collections.
Even though the zoo as such might not be the best, it is still an inspiring place to visit and very enjoyable.
Which is as you may all have read is what I simply did observe in the first place. As for Island ecosystem conservation and restoration they have certainly been very influential and ground breaking from the time owhen no zoo community would burn their hands on the little brown numbers onwards (and forever more ...). The latter alongside a host of other conservation groups like Birdlife International (Seychelles, Micronesia), the entire New Zealand conservation community, the Galapagos / Ecuador conservation authorities all have made a big impact on Island ecosystem conservation, rehabilitation and species restoration. And by Jove should we all be very glad they all did or the world should have been a far less biodiverse place now!
Durrell are an inovative zoo. The first to bring into captivity and breed many species. Pioneers in training students in zoo biology and conservation. One of the first to set up overseas projects and they have developed reintroduction techniques, and manging species in the wild. The captive collection is not big, but focusses on the captive breeding and research of endangered species.
Durrell has rebranded Dear Member, I am writing to inform you that from 3rd April 2017 Durrell Wildlife Park will be changing its name to Jersey Zoo. When Gerald Durrell founded Jersey Zoo in 1959, he was a pioneer in his belief that good zoos could do great things in conservation. Today Durrell continues that mission and we believe that we set an exemplary example of best in class zoo practice across animal husbandry, education, science and conservation. At Durrell we are proud to be a zoo and the work we do both here in Jersey and in the wild all follows the same mission – to save species from extinction. Zoos are now the fourth largest funders of conservation in the world and we are pleased to be able to make a significant contribution. We are also proud that Jersey is our home and this name change re-affirms that. Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust will not be affected by this change which only refers to the zoo. The primary objective of the name change is making the zoo more visible to visitors to the island as well as staying true to the wishes of our founder. Your membership will still be to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and one of the benefits of membership is access to Jersey Zoo. Lee Durrell is very much in support of this change and comments: Putting ‘zoo’ back into Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust is something I welcome, for it reinforces what Gerald Durrell had been working towards all his life - to ensure that zoos are genuine and powerful instruments for conservation. Ten years ago, we made a conscious decision to avoid the word ‘zoo’, because of its perceived negative connotations. Today we embrace “it, because modern zoos have made great progress in the service of conservation, both in the zoo setting and in the wild, through innovative research, professional training, inspirational public education and improvements in animal wellbeing. Gerry and his early team had pioneered much of this, and Durrell will continue its ground-breaking work through Jersey Zoo”. I hope that you as members, as well as visitors and the people of Jersey, will support this change and continue to enjoy our beautiful zoo and all it has to offer. Best wishes, Dr Lesley Dickie Chief Executive Officer Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Of course, for those of us who never actually *stopped* calling it Jersey Zoo this changes very little indeed perchance this will be followed by Suffolk Wildlife Park re-embracing its old name?
