LIFE WILD 2019 ISSUE 2 - Durrell Wildlife Conservation
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WILD
2019 ISSUE 2
L IFE
Adopt today
A N D HELP C AR E F O R O U R
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WELCOME
WE LCO M E TO WI LD L IF E
It has been a wild autumn here at the Trust, We made significant progress on rewilding in
and I am not just talking about the Jersey 2019. Not only were white storks successfully
weather! We have rounded off our 60th released into the UK, but some of the
anniversary year with many conservation released birds ‘did what comes naturally’,
achievements and memorable events. by heading south on migration. Don’t worry
– we’re keeping an eye on them using GPS
The wildest was no doubt the invasion of trackers! Mountain chicken frogs are calling
Jersey by 40 gorillas to raise funds for a new once again in their native Montserrat after
gorilla house. Each was a life-sized statue their release into special areas of the forest,
sporting a unique design illustrating the artist’s which have been slightly modified to reduce
idea about gorillas and the environment. the impact of the deadly chytrid fungus.
Strategically placed around Jersey in a D R LEE DUR R E LL
public art trail, the statues infected the island There is much, much more in this edition HONORARY D I RE CT O R
with a sort of ‘gorilla madness’, with images of Wild Life, which I am sure you will
going viral on social media and the ultimate enjoy. Once again, thank you all for your
auction raising more than a million pounds! extraordinarily generous support. We couldn’t
do it without you!
Our Rewild Our World strategy was gloriously
celebrated in Jersey at the Wilderness Ball
where 600 guests traversed a rainforest
wilderness, created by our amazing Events
Team, before being entertained by Sister
Sledge. Even more money was raised than at
the previous blockbuster ball, and all will go
to support our rewilding goals.
C ONTE N T S
2 REWILD OUR FORESTS
6 MEETING MILO
8 HOT TUBS FOR SICK FROGS
10 AT THE ZOO
It is important to us that we keep
you informed about our work, and
12 IN THE WILD the difference we are making to the
many species, habitats and local
communities with which we work.
If your household has received
16 SPECIES SPOTLIGHT – WHITE STORKS more than one copy of Wild Life
and you would like to discuss
your mailing preferences going
22 TECH CORNER – DRONE MONITORING forward, please don’t hesitate to
contact a member of our Supporter
Care team on (0)1534 860111 or
supportercare@durrell.org
24 GONE WILD
If you’d like to hear from us more
regularly you can subscribe to our
28 DODO DISPATCH email newsletter at www.durrell.org/
wildlife/social
32 BE INSPIRED
Wild Life is printed on paper which
is certified FSC® Mix Grade with
fibre coming from responsible
34 IN NUMBERS – GO WILD GORILL AS sources and can be fully recycled.
Your copy of the magazinbe is sent
to you in a fully compostable wrap
D U R R E L L WILDLIF E CO N SERVATION TR UST is a Registered Charity with the Jersey Charity Commissioner, registered charity number: 1
PATR O N HRH The Princess Royal FOUND ER Gerald Durrell, OBE, LHD HONOR A RY D IRE CT OR Dr Lee Durrell, MBE, PhD
DU R R E L L WILDLIF E CO N SERVATION TR UST - UK is registered in England and Wales. A charitable company limited by guarantee.
R E G I S TE R ED CH A RIT Y N UMBER 1121989 R EGISTER ED COMPANY NUMBE R 6448493
R E G I S TE R ED O F F IC E c/o Intertrust Corporate Services (UK) Limited, 35 Great St Helen’s, London EC3A 6AP
P H O TO A N D ILLUST RAT IO N CR ED ITS Neil Aldridge, Chloe Allen, Bam Perspectives www.bamperspectives.com, Leila Boyd,
Claire Burke, Emma Caton, Matt Chung www.mattchungphoto.com, Andy Coutanche, Andy Ellis, Danny Evans, Sid Gentle Films Ltd,
Givskud Zoo, Gregory Guida, Martin Harvey, Mike Hudson, Luke Jones, Tiffany Lang, Steve Longmore, Paul Marshall, Dean Maryon,
James Morgan, Silvano Paiola, Jennifer Parker, Sam Rowley, Chris Scarffe, Colin Stevenson, Massimiliano Sticca, Nick Upton, Serge Wich,
Mark Williams, Charlie Wylie COV ER IMAGE Paul Marshall www.paulmarshall.je
ISSU E 2 • 2019 W ILD LIFE 1
R E W IL D
F O RE S TS
DR LE S LE Y DICKIE CHI EF EX EC U TIVE OF F IC ER
2 W IL D L I F E I SS U E 2 • 2 01 9
At the recent Durrell London forests across our rewilding sites including
Madagascar, Saint Lucia, Mauritius and the
Lecture, held at the Royal UK. However, the evening focused mainly
Institution, we focused on on our work in Brazil, with our local partners
our work in forests around IPÊ, the Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas.
Brazil is the most biodiverse country on
the world. Forests are Earth’s Earth, but it has hit the headlines this year
most dominant land-based with the horrific burning of the Amazon
due to an abdication of governmental
ecosystem and can hold
responsibility for the environment. It is
great significance to people. deeply worrying that such mindless
They often feature in myths destruction should be allowed. Yet there is
another, little known, great tropical forest of
and legends, shaping how we
Brazil, the Mata Atlantica, or Atlantic Forest,
interpret our world and are that has suffered even greater destruction
central to childhood stories over the past century. This extraordinarily
lush rainforest extends along the Atlantic
such as Little Red Riding Hood. coast and inland in southern Brazil and
is some 60 million years old. It is home to
It is not only forests but individual trees hundreds of animals and thousands of
that become symbolic to us and our plants that are found nowhere else on
societies. The Ashbrittle Yew, the oldest Earth, yet only 12% of its original range
known tree in the UK, possibly as much persists, in some regions only 3%.
as 4,000 years old, has stood sentinel Our connection to the region goes
over Ashbrittle through the centuries with between the boreal and tropical forests, back many years. Durrell has a well-
countless generations of Somerset children and are sometimes referred to as the ‘four- earned reputation as a world leader in the
having played beneath its boughs. You season forests’. They are highly diverse care, management and conservation of
may have visited the mighty ‘General with coniferous, deciduous and broadleaf callitrichids, the beautiful tiny monkeys of
Sherman’, a giant redwood or sequoia, in trees and even contain temperate the Americas and none more so than the
California, the largest known living single rainforests, some of which are found in the black lion tamarin. Thought to be extinct
stem tree on Earth. It weighs nearly 2 million UK. The fourth type of forest that could be in the 1970s, black lion tamarins were
kg, a true giant of our planet that invokes described are man-made commercial rediscovered, and Durrell became the
awe and wonder. forests, these are often monocultures and first zoo outside Brazil to hold and breed
Forests can be split into four types. First, have little biodiversity. this species. To this day, we continue to
there is the Taiga, also known as the boreal At the Lecture, the first speaker of the be the only zoo in Europe that keeps
forest, which grows in the high northern evening was Professor Miles Richardson, these rare and endangered monkeys.
latitudes. They are characterised by cold from the University of Derby. He gave a Like other species in the forest, they are
temperatures; think of how vast expanses fascinating insight into how connectedness severely impacted by deforestation,
of frozen forests are used in films to portray to nature affects our physical and mental which is happening at an alarming rate.
icy cold. However, it is tropical forests happiness, and our likelihood to carry out The disappearing forest forces animals
that dominate the planet’s ecosystems behaviours, such as recycling, to help to live in small fragments of ideal habitat.
and as the name suggests lie between the planet. Connectedness to nature is Here they become isolated and face an
the tropics of Capricorn and Cancer. something that is at the heart of Durrell’s increased risk of extinction from inbreeding,
Half of all the world’s forest is tropical, strategy, and this was a thought-provoking insufficient habitat and the increased
which includes both rainforest and dry introduction to the science behind it. dangers from roads, farms and predators
forest. Temperate forests are sandwiched We then turned to Durrell’s work with when moving between fragments.
ISSU E 2 • 2019 W ILD LIFE 3
sleeping dens as the old, weathered
trees. Black lion tamarins are small and
vulnerable to larger predators such as
tayra (a small mammal from the weasel
family) and snakes. They were therefore
understandably nervous about venturing
too far without assurances of where they
could hide and sleep. We tackled this
problem by testing different designs of
artificial next boxes at Jersey Zoo in our
callitrichid forest where tamarins and
marmosets roam free. Our own monkeys
essentially chose the nest-box design
they liked best for their wild cousins,
demonstrating the effectiveness of
applied zoo-based research. The selected
nest box was placed into the wild corridor
and was soon being investigated by
numerous species including black lion
Our partnership with IPÊ has deep roots tamarins. It’s still early days, but we
and extends over 30 years. Our very first will continue to monitor as this project
Brazilian trainee at the Durrell Academy progresses.
was Claudia Padua, an exceptionally Our next step, together with our
talented young biologist who, on his return partners at IPÊ, is to create a tree corridor
home, founded IPÊ and still leads it today. to connect the Morro do Diabo State Park
IPÊ has gone from strength to strength, and to isolated forest fragments to the north.
we continue our collaboration in the field Linking these small patches of rainforest
and through staff training. The organisation will give threatened populations of black
started building forest corridors in the lion tamarin, puma, jaguar and ocelot a
Pontal region of São Paulo to connect chance to thrive again.
fragmented forest to the Morro do Diabo With your help, we can restore this lush
State Park, the last stronghold of the black rainforest by planting trees and creating
lion tamarin. They began by planting the sustainable livelihoods for local people.
13km long western corridor, with help A special thank you must go to
from Durrell via our ‘Cans for Corridors’ Rathbones and Rathbone Greenbank
scheme, which raises money through Investments for their generous sponsorship
recycling aluminium cans. This corridor of the Durrell London Lecture for the
scheme also provided fruitful work and second year.
purpose for the Movomento sem Terra, or
landless peoples movement, in the area.
Instead of viewing them as a threat, IPÊ
recognised these people as potential
allies and partners. They provided training
and land for the people to be part of
the project by growing the saplings that
would be needed to regrow the forest
corridors. As the forest grows, there is also
the opportunity to cultivate other crops,
such as shade-grown coffee and cassava,
providing livelihoods for local people. The
western corridor has now been completely
planted and, due to the lushness of the
tropics, within just a few short years trees
can reach over 7m tall. These forests
are also rich and diverse with over 150
native tree species being planted, unlike
the monocultures of the human-made
commercial plantations.
We know via camera traps that
animals are moving through the corridors,
demonstrating that the concept is IF YOU CAN HELP TO
working. However, for the black lion R E C O V E R T H E AT L A N T I C
tamarins, we found a problem. Although FOREST PLEASE VISIT
the tiny monkeys were venturing into
the corridors, they were not travelling
D U R R E L L . O R G / AT L A N T I C
the length of them. This is because the
trees in the new corridors were young
and did not have as many crevices and
4 W IL D L I F E I SS U E 2 • 2 01 9
CARBON
In addition to building functioning, resilient
habitat, there is also the need for a world
facing catastrophic climate change to tackle
the issue of carbon emissions. While the first
point of any climate change approach should
be finding ways to reduce carbon emissions,
how do we mitigate what is left?
There is increasing evidence that tree
planting has great potential to capture
carbon. A recent report found that there is
an identifiable 0.9 billion hectares that can
be reforested globally. This would equate to
neutralising 200 gigatons of carbon, nearly
two-thirds of all emissions in the atmosphere.
IPÊ and Durrell, while primarily focusing on
building habitat and protecting biodiversity,
have also been contributing to natural
climate solutions. Growing evidence also
suggests forests that are rich in wildlife, with
high numbers of animals are more efficient at
absorbing carbon. Therefore, it makes perfect
sense that in tackling the two great existential
crises of climate change and biodiversity loss,
we combine the work. In 2020 we plan to
launch our carbon scheme for individuals and
companies, ‘Rewilding Carbon’, and this is the
first step of that process.
ISSU E 2 • 2019 W ILD LIFE 5
M EETIN G
M I LO
Actor Milo Parker played Gerald ‘Gerry’ Durrell
in popular ITV drama series The Durrells and is an
ambassador of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Following a stint at Jersey Zoo doing work experience,
Milo answers some questions about animals, acting
and his role as an ambassador.
6 W IL D L I F E I S S U E 2 • 20 19
H OW DI D Y OU BEC OM E A N A M B A S S A D O R FO R D U R R EL L ?
I was first asked to be an ambassador by Lee Durrell in early
2016. I’d finished filming the first series of The Durrells and I was
doing a lot of press work promoting the series before its launch,
much of which was with Lee. I’d gone over to Jersey Zoo to see
Gerry’s work and how it was being continued today and started
to build a great relationship with Lee. I started going to fundraisers
and Durrell events and Lee invited me to become an ambassador
for the Trust. I was so surprised and delighted. It’s such an honour
to be able to contribute to Durrell in my small way!
WH AT INSPI RED Y OU TO G E T IN TO A CTIN G ?
It’s a real cliché, I’m afraid. I’d done a Year 4 school play,
I think I was about nine or ten. We did a play set in the Middle
Ages and I absolutely adored getting up on stage and playing
around with my character. I was never into sports or anything and
found something I really loved doing and wanted to continue, so W H AT I S Y OU R FAVOU R I T E A N I M A L AT J ER SEY Z OO?
I signed up to a small theatre company near where I live. It was Personally, I love the lemurs. We had two lemurs in series 4
run by Beth Braidford and her husband, Andrew who is one of the and they were an absolute joy to work with. I got to help care
founding members of the BWH Agency. Long story short, I ended for them when I was on work experience and learn all about
up signing with the agency. I was really lucky to be given such an them. They are so gorgeous and cute! I also loved working with
amazing opportunity. the orangutans who were, despite being a bit smelly, completely
adorable.
DO YOU THI NK PL AY I N G G E R RY H A S IN FLUE N CE D Y OU R
AT TIT U D E TOWARD S A N IM A LS A N D N ATUR E ? I F Y OU C OU L D VI SI T A N Y OF T H E DU R R EL L R EW IL DIN G
A hundred percent. When we started filming, I had no idea SI T ES W H I C H W OU L D I T B E?
about the incredible legacy that Gerry had created and the work I’d love to be able to visit the Sumatra rainforest. I’m fascinated
that still goes on today that was inspired by him. Since playing by the orangutans and think that it is crucial we do all we can to
Gerry, I’m fascinated by conservation and the amazing work that help conserve this fast-disappearing species. Avoiding palm oil in
Durrell does, not just at Jersey Zoo but all around the world. It’s the food we choose is a really good first step!
also made me realise the responsibility we all have to preserve
nature and do all we can to be kind to animals and the planet. W H AT R OL ES H AVE Y OU GOT L I N ED U P N EX T ?
I’m doing my A-Levels at the moment, so I’m focussing on those
T E LL U S ABOUT Y OUR R E CE N T W O R K E X P E R IE N CE AT for the moment. I’ve started doing auditions for work next year so
J ERS EY ZOO? fingers crossed I’ll be able to start acting again soon, I really miss it!
I was so lucky to be able to do my work experience at Jersey
Zoo. It was a really busy week, but so interesting and enjoyable. T EL L U S A B OU T Y OU R FAVOU R I T E A N I M A L ON SE T?
I worked with most of the animals, from the lemurs to the Every year I always say that Mossup the dog (who plays Roger)
orangutans. At the start of each day, I’d help the keepers with is my favourite but, as much as I adore her, she may have been
feeding the animals and getting them ready for when the zoo taken over by the gorgeous barn owls we worked with on series
opened. I loved getting up close to the animals and seeing how 4. There’s only one owl in the show, but we used two throughout
dedicated the keepers are. I never realised how much work goes filming. They were called Twit and Twoo and were an absolute
on behind the scenes to ensure the animals are comfortable and dream to work with. I was amazed by how well-behaved they
happy. The only bit I wasn’t too keen on was the poo shovelling, were and, to my surprise, I didn’t get weed on!
which I had to do every morning. Still, needs must!
I also went to the launch party of the ‘Go Wild Gorillas’ trail.
All the finished gorillas were lined up in one room and it was the
first time they’d all been seen together, which was fantastic. On
my way to the airport to go home, I spotted a few and got some
pictures. My favourite one was the Gerald Durrell themed gorilla.
Thankfully, it was on display outside the zoo entrance, so I got
some good photos!
DO YOU THI NK ‘ THE D UR R E LLS ’ H A S IN S P IR E D M O R E
P EOPLE TO PR OTEC T A N D P R E S E RV E O UR P L A N E T?
I hope it has. The show has helped people, including myself,
notice Gerry’s incredible legacy and the work being carried out
in his name. It has raised awareness of the difficulties facing us
and our planet and what we must do to preserve our biodiversity
and nature. It’s humbling to be involved with raising this crucial
awareness.
7
IN THE WILD H OT T U BS FO R SI C K F R OGS P R O J EC T C OORDI N ATO R FO R THE MO UNTAIN CH IC K EN REC OVERY P R O G RAMME LUKE JO NE S T E L L S US ABOU T HI S WO RK RE TURNING THE S E CR IT IC A L LY EN DA NG E RE D FR O G S TO MO NTS E RR AT . The mountain chicken frog is native only to the Caribbean islands of Dominica and Montserrat. The species was driven to the brink of extinction by a deadly microscopic fungus called chytrid, which is believed to be the cause of over 500 documented extinctions and declines of amphibians worldwide. Luke is part of a team looking to re-establish the frogs on Montserrat and protect them from the fungus by manipulating the environment in semi-wild enclosures. Earlier this year, 27 captive-bred mountain chickens arrived in Montserrat from Jersey Zoo and ZSL London Zoo and were released into the enclosures. The success of this project will see the establishment of the first breeding population of mountain chickens on Montserrat in 10 years.
difficult on Monserrat. Importing materials
can be expensive, so you really have to
work with what you’ve got and make the
most of it.
W H EN C OU L D T H EY B E I N T R ODUCE D
T O T H E W I L D?
If we see resistance to the fungus, we will
probably look at expanding the facility to
increase the range over which the frogs
are spread. If by the end of next year they
have bred, and we had no instance of
disease, we could look at releasing the
offspring into the wild as they may have
already developed resistance. But that is
just one of many different options, we are
very much learning as we go along.
WH AT STAGE WAS THE P R O JE CT AT with the natural background level of H OW I S T H E L OC A L C OM M UN ITY
WH E N Y OU JOI NED ? chytrid. The warm side is where we have R ESPON DI N G T O T H I S PR OJE CT?
The team had already attempted four implemented environmental manipulation It is very mixed. Older generations knew
releases of mountain chickens into the by installing heated ponds and removing a time when mountain chickens were
wild on Monserrat, but they had been the canopy cover to increase solar on the island, and they miss them. They
unsuccessful. So we were back to the radiation to the ground level. This will grew up with the sound of them calling
drawing board trying to come up with make the temperature too high for chytrid at night. It was an identity of their island,
a new plan. One thing we learned from to survive, so frogs suffering from chytrid and I don’t think they really noticed it until
previous releases was that chytrid cannot will use the warmer side. Those that do they lost it. It was also a valuable resource
survive in temperatures above 30°C. We not need it will take advantage of less and contributed to the island’s economy
tried releasing frogs during the hot season competition for food and space in the through tourism, which particularly
and using anti-fungal treatments to guide cool side. Individuals in this cooler side will benefitted the more impoverished people.
them through the cold season. However, come into contact and breed together The problem we have is that younger
we still lost individuals as we were just and, over time, we should hopefully see generations don’t remember it, they don’t
treating them, not curing them. Eventually, the population develop an increased have that deep emotional connection.
we came up with the idea of releasing the resistance to the fungus. We need to re-establish that connection
frogs into temperature-controlled semi- for them to support the project. Montserrat
natural enclosures. H O W LO N G W I L L I T L I K ELY TA K E F OR lost a part of its identity when the frogs
TH E FR O GS T O GA I N R ESI STA N C E T O went extinct, and we now have the
CH YTR ID ? opportunity to give back a little bit of what
We are expecting it to take 3-5 years makes it unique.
minimum, but it could be longer. We know
that it can happen as we saw it happen W H AT WA S I T L I K E T O H EA R THE M
naturally in Dominica. The population over C A L L I N G ON M ON T SER R AT FOR THE
there crashed to the point that the frogs F I R ST T I M E I N Y EA R S?
were believed to be extinct for 10 years. It’s hard to put into words, but it was just
A few individuals must have had enough complete euphoria! I had never actually
resistance to survive in that time. We are heard a mountain chicken calling until
also not sure exactly how they will develop then. It was like a myth had been made
this resistance, whether it’s changes to the real. You hear all of these “legends” of
microbiome on their skin, their immune what the call is like, which everyone
system or it could even be behavioural. It describes differently. To listen to it for
might be a case that they learn to utilise yourself is just, wow! We also felt proud
hot spaces in their environment. Either that this is something we had achieved.
way, we are trying to find that out. We have been able to put a species back
where it belongs. After all of the stress
H OW DO THE ENC L OSUR E S W O R K? W H AT H AV E B EEN T H E B I GGEST and pressure, hearing that call relieved
The hope is they will act in a similar CH A LLE N GES I N SET T I N G U P T H E everything. All of the hard work was worth
way to a vaccine. Where a vaccine is P R O JE CT? it just for that.
a weakened state of a virus or disease A lot of things had to be started from
that your body is better able to counter scratch. We had to survey the island for
and then develop a resistance; the new habitats, form new relationships with
enclosures are designed to weaken the landowners and find a suitable place for
prevalence of the chytrid fungus within the our insect breeding centre, to breed extra
environment. Mountain chickens suffering food for the frogs. A major challenge was
from it, or with little resistance to it, can to catch wild insects by hand and then
survive in areas of the enclosure where breed enough to feed our 27 frogs, each C LO C K WI SE FR O M AB O VE
Luke Jones with one of the mountain chickens to
the fungus is weakest. The enclosures are of which eat around 700 crickets weekly.
arrive in Montserrat, a heated pool in the semi-wild
split into a warm side and a cool side. The One of the hardest things was finding enclosure, a mountain chicken being checked for
“cool side” is just the natural environment the materials for all of this, which can be signs of disease.
ISSU E 2 • 2019 W ILD LIFE 9NEWS
AT THE Z OO ENDANGERED PIGEONS
RETURN HOME
Three pink pigeons bred at Jersey Zoo
YOUNG LOVE FOR RAYMI have been returned to their native island
In July, our 3-year-old Andean bear, Raymi, left Jersey for his new home at Givskud Zoo of Mauritius. Here they joined the in-country
in Denmark. Soon after arriving, he was paired with a young female called Nazca. Since captive breeding programme to return
then, they have been playing together with Nazca already showing that she is in charge, missing genes to the wild population.
despite being half Raymi’s size. In time we hope the pair will make a vital contribution to
the breeding programme for the species. Raymi has been an adored member of Jersey
Zoo’s bear family, whose playful and mischievous behaviour has been enjoyed by both
staff and visitors alike. The keepers were sad to see him leave but excited for him to start
this new chapter of his life.
Monitoring genetic diversity is an integral
part of conserving wildlife. A higher genetic
variability helps maintain the health of a
population, provides better protection
against disease and pests, and makes a
species more adaptable to environmental
changes. The returned birds are
descendants of individuals brought to the
zoo by Gerald Durrell in the 1970s. It was
around this time that pink pigeons were
considered to be one of the rarest birds in
the world, with just ten individuals thought
to remain in the wild. Although the wild
population is currently stable, the species
is still faced with the threat of invasive
predators and a deteriorating habitat.
SUCCESS AT NATIONAL UNDERS TANDING OUR PIED
AWAR DS CEREMONY TAMARINS
We were delighted to receive a total of Pied tamarins are sensitive animals and
seven awards at the annual conference develop health problems more than other
of the British & Irish Association of Zoos and related monkeys in captivity. Maintaining
Aquariums (BIAZA) earlier this year. These the highest standards of welfare is a top
awards recognise our efforts from across priority, so we worked on a collaborative
the organisation at Jersey Zoo and in the study to better understand the causes
field. We received gold awards for our of stress in the tamarins. We measured
work with the Pygmy Hog Conservation cortisol, which is the stress hormone, and
Programme and for the research found that females had higher cortisol
highlighting the impact of the illegal wildlife levels than males, while hand-reared
trade on the ploughshare tortoise. The zoo tamarins had higher levels than parent-
received a gold award for the expansion reared monkeys. Unexpectedly, tamarins
of the fruit bat enclosure to enable living in off-show enclosures had more
continuous flight and a bronze award for elevated cortisol than those living in the
the research to understand sources of areas that can be seen by our visitors. This
stress in pied tamarins. We also received a might be because there are more pied
silver award for the zoo’s popular summer tamarins in the off-show buildings. The
event Durrell At Dusk. Two gold prizes quieter, well-vegetated public exhibits
were awarded for developing husbandry may give the monkeys enough security
techniques for the giant jumping rat and to feel relaxed even when they are being
the mountain chicken frog to prevent its watched.
extinction in the wild.
10 W IL D L I F E I SS U E 2 • 20 19NEWS
HORNBILL BREEDING SUCCESS
Earlier this summer, we were delighted that a pair
of Sunda wrinkled hornbills successfully hatched
two chicks. This is the first time in our history that
these endangered birds have successfully bred
at the zoo. Wrinkled hornbills usually remain
paired for life. The female will seal herself in
the nest, leaving just a small hole for the male
to pass food through. The mother and chicks
rely solely on the male to feed them during this
nesting period. Our handsome male, Samson,
proved himself to be a model father and did a
fantastic job providing for his family. Eventually,
15 weeks after concealing herself in the nest
box, the mother emerged with her two chicks.
Samson watched and encouraged them as
they removed the mud seal from around the
nest entrance, tempting them out with morsels of
food and squeaking noises.
C O N SER VAT I ON KN O WL E DG E
TRAINING IN ENDANGERED SPECIES RECOVERY NATURE CONNECTION IN
In September, we welcomed 15 participants from eight different countries onto our JERSEY’S SCHOOL CHILDREN
long-running Endangered Species Recovery course. They included people involved The term “nature connection” describes the
in a wide range of conservation issues from Australia’s critically endangered relationship a person has with the natural
orange-bellied parrot, to the topic of conservation psychology. Also on the course world. Do they feel part of it, do they enjoy
was a Colombian amphibian conservationist, who underwent bespoke training in experiencing it, and do they feel responsible
our Herpetology Department while in Jersey. Earlier this year, we also welcomed two for it? An increasing number of studies show
primatologists from Brazil for bespoke internships on marmoset husbandry within our that the more connected to nature someone
Mammal Department. is, the better their physical and mental health.
They are also more likely to support wildlife
conservation and make changes towards a
more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
Last year, we measured levels of nature
connection in 1000 primary school children. We
found that girls seem to be more connected to
nature than boys, but this connection declines in
both as they get older. Children in rural schools
had higher nature connection scores than
children at schools in urban areas. Most likely
because rural schools have more facilities such
as ponds and school gardens.
We are now looking at secondary school
students to see how nature connection changes
through adolescence. This is the time when a
person’s relationship with the natural world is
thought to be at its lowest level. A crucial part of
this research will look at how we can intervene to
stop it declining to support wellbeing and inspire
a positive attitude towards conservation.
ISSU E 2 • 2019 W ILD LIFE 11NEWS
I N TH E W I L D
SEAR CHING FOR A SIGN
Work continues to track both the released and wild pygmy hogs across the tall grasslands
of the Himalayan foothills. Over the last year, the team have been monitoring populations
of this threatened species in four protected areas covering their entire range. The field
team surveyed each region looking for signs of pygmy hogs and other native species
such as the hispid hare and hog deer. The presence of nests and droppings are the
leading indicators that an area is being used by the hogs. The surveys covered a total
area of 36km2, with almost 240 hours spent searching. Based on the results of these
surveys, 50 camera traps were installed in three major grasslands in Manas National Park.
The cameras managed to capture pygmy hogs in three different locations, as well as
many other native species that rely on this unique grassland.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT A FINCH SAFETY NET
One of the main threats to the endangered white-breasted An island-wide eradication
thrasher in Saint Lucia is predators taking young birds from the of invasive predators is due
nest. Camera traps have been installed to monitor nest activity to to begin on Floreana in the
identify which species pose the most severe risk to the chicks and Galápagos Islands in 2020.
eggs. In particular, whether they are natural endemic predators Five species of Darwin’s
such as the Fer-de-Lance or introduced alien species, such as finches have been identified
the small Indian mongoose. This information will help the team as being at potential risk
to develop a predator control programme that will hopefully during this period, including
increase the fledgling success rate. the medium tree finch which
is found only on Floreana.
To guarantee the safety of
these birds, individuals of
each species will be held
in captivity throughout the
eradication and monitored
post-release. Captive trials
have identified the needs of the finches to establish best practice
guidelines to ensure their survival in captivity. The first step will be
to improve the holding facilities by extending the aviary. This will
allow birds to be kept in appropriate densities that guarantee
good health and welfare.
12 W IL D L I F E I SS U E 2 • 20 19NEWS
GIANT JUMPING RATS ON CAMERA A NEW FIELD STATION
Our team in Madagascar have managed to capture what could be the first-ever The success of our Rewild our Islands fundraising
camera trap footage of the endangered Malagasy giant jumping rat in the wild. campaign has enabled work to begin on
These elusive yet charismatic mammals are found only in the Menabe-Antimena enhancing the infrastructure on Round Island
Protected Area and depend on good quality forest to thrive. Rapid deforestation with a new field station and office/quarantine
across its native range to make way for cash crops such as peanut and maize is facilities. However, getting 20 tonnes of
driving the species to extinction. Camera traps are being used for the first time to building materials to an uninhabited island 22
help gain a better estimate of the current population size. The videos show exciting kilometres off the coast of Mauritius came with
insights into their behaviour, and it is hoped that this footage will also help bring the its challenges. In total, it took 36 helicopter trips
plight of this species into focus. and around 68 people to shift all of the materials.
Once completed, these new facilities will aid
the work to restore the island’s ecosystem and
recover populations of threatened wildlife.
RETURNING THE WILDCAT TO BRITAIN HOPE FOR ENDANGERED TUR TLE
We are delighted to be partnering with the Vincent Wildlife Trust (VWT) to restore The second-ever release of captive-raised
one of the rarest and most endangered mammals in Britain, the European wildcat. Madagascar big-headed turtles into Lake
Alongside VWT, we aim to pool our knowledge and experience to establish a Ravelobe is due to take place early next year.
self-sustaining population of the species outside of Scotland, where it is currently This critically endangered turtle, known locally as
found only in the remote Highlands. An initial study to identify potential areas for ‘rere’, is under threat from the loss of wetlands
reintroduction has already been undertaken. The next stage will be to conduct and hunting for food by impoverished local
more in-depth ecological and social feasibility studies within these areas to communities. Our team in Madagascar will
determine which is the most suitable as a release site. A core focus of this project work alongside these communities and law
will be to work alongside local communities, taking into full account their views enforcement to increase patrols in the area
and needs. to reduce the amount of illegal fishing. The
condition of the lake can then be improved
to benefit both the rere and the local people
who rely on the resources it provides. The aim is
to use the turtles as a flagship to restoring local
wetlands.
K E E P U P T O D AT E W I T H
OUR WORK
SIGN UP FOR OUR ENEWS
DURRELL.ORG/NEWS
ISSU E 2 • 2019 W ILD LIFE 13REC OV ER
T H E ATL ANTIC
F OR EST
THE ATL ANTIC FOREST IS ONE Tragically, of this once vast landscape
OF THE RICHEST AND MOST now only 12% persists in highly
fragmented pockets. Increased
BIODIVERSE HABITATS ON
human pressures mean that towns,
THE PLANET.
pastures and intensive farmland
This extraordinarily lush rainforest, have replaced this once plentiful and
which extends both along the colourful rainforest.
Atlantic coast and inland in southern
Despite so little remaining, the Atlantic
Brazil, is home to many species of
Forest is still immensely rich in wildlife.
animals and plants that are found
However, many of the species that live
nowhere else on earth.
there are now threatened with
extinction, including the black lion
tamarin that Durrell and our Brazilian
partners, Instituto de Pesquisas
Ecológicas (IPÊ), have worked to save
for the last 30 years.
N
BL AC K LIO N TAM ARIDeforestation in Brazil continues to happen at an alarming rate and we need to act
now before it’s too late. Animals that live in small fragments of forest become isolated
and face an increased risk of extinction.
Together we can protect this precious ecosystem by creating ‘wildlife corridors’,
lifelines between the forest fragments. These corridors are established by planting
trees to reconnect wildlife including highly threatened populations of black lion
tamarins, jaguars, pumas ,and ocelots.
Native people are at the heart of this project; the trees are grown in
community nurseries and planted by local people thereby providing
sustainable livelihoods and future security for the true guardians
of this rich and diverse landscape.
CA MERA T RA P IN SPECTION
Together with our partners at Instituto
de Pesquisas Ecológicas (IPE) you can
create a tree corridor to connect the £25
will enable the local community
Morro do Diabo State Park to isolated to plant five trees and nurture them
forest fragments to the north. for three years
Linking these small patches of rainforest will
give threatened populations of black lion
£500
will run a community nursery for one
tamarin, puma, jaguar, and ocelot a week
chance to thrive again.
£15,000
will pay for a forest and community
You can restore this lush rainforest
officer to oversee the project for
by planting 17,000 trees and creating one year
sustainable livelihoods for local
people. This will neutralize £85,000
approximately 2,500 tonnes of will rebuild 1,000 metres of wildlife
corridor connecting forest fragments
greenhouse gas emissions.
D O N ATE N OW VIS IT W W W. DUR R E L L . O R G / AT L A N T I CT H E BI R D B EHI ND
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
WHITE STORK
T H E LEGEND
Mention the word “stork” to anyone in Britain and the image that jumps to
SCIE NT I FI C NAME mind will likely be of a large, majestic white bird carrying in its beak a baby
Ciconia ciconia
wrapped in a cloth bundle. This image plucked straight from the pages
WEIG H T of mythology could well be the only one many people have of this once
2.3–4.5 kg
abundant bird, which is now a rare sight in the UK.
T OP SPEED
In 1416, the last known breeding pair of white Each year, as winter begins to descend over
110 km/h
storks in Britain were recorded nesting on St Europe, white storks fly south in spectacular
WINGS PAN Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. Since then, there flocks, which can number into the thousands.
Approx. 165cm have been no confirmed records of a pair They take to the skies by day and come down
breeding in the wild. Evidence suggests that to roost in trees and open country by night. Most
ALT IT U D E these spectacular birds were once widespread individuals migrating from Europe and North
Can reach a height of 4,800 across the British Isles. Why they failed to survive Africa will eventually end up in sub-Saharan
metres during migration, is unclear, but it was most likely a combination Africa. Using their large wings, they soar on rising
making it one of the highest- of habitat loss, over-hunting and targeted warm air currents reaching altitudes exceeding
flying birds in the world. persecution. Now, more than 600 years later, we 1,500 metres and glide over vast distances. As
are working alongside private landowners and these warm currents only form over land, they
DIET conservation organisations to return storks as a cannot migrate across large bodies of water,
They are omnivores with a breeding bird in Britain. such as the Mediterranean Sea. Individuals
varied and opportunistic diet. travelling from Europe diverge through the
They seek out small mammals, LIFE IN THE PENTHOUSE Bosporus in the east or the Strait of Gibraltar in
earthworms, snails, crickets, Outside of the UK, white storks are a familiar sight the west.
and other large insects in throughout central and southern Europe and are
water-meadows, grasslands, often found living close to people. Nesting storks Sadly, their journey is not without its dangers.
and arable fields. are hard to miss as their large, bulky nests stand Exhausted birds often collide with overhead
up to 30m above the ground. They nest either powerlines and shooting along their migration
solitarily or in loose colonies of up to 30 pairs, with route still poses a threat to the species.
individuals often returning to the same nest sites
each year.
In some regions, such as Cheshinovo-Obleshevo
in North Macedonia, silhouettes of the birds
standing tall on nests built on telegraph poles,
pylons, trees, and rooftops dominate the skyline.
In many of these “stork villages”, people have
a close connection with the birds, and many
consider them to be a sign of good luck. Some
people even go as far as to erect cartwheels
and platforms onto their roofs to actively
encourage them to nest.
A GREAT MIGRATION
In 1822, near the German village of Klütz, an
astonishing discovery was made – a stork was
found with an arrow embedded in its neck.
The fact that it had somehow managed to
survive the attack was only part of the mystery
surrounding the bird. The weapon was identified
as being a kind found only in central Africa.
Up until that point, very little was known about
bird migration, this discovery was one of several
which provided early evidence that birds could
migrate over large distances.
16 W IL D L I F E I SS U E 2 • 20 19SECTION TITLE
“Bringing back the white stork could
be a means by which to reignite
our affection for the natural world”
ISSU E 2 • 2019 W ILD LIFE 17R ET U RNI NG A N I C ON
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
WHITE STORK
The White Stork Project aims to restore at least 50 breeding pairs in Southern
England by 2030. The project, of which Durrell is a key partner, will focus on
releasing at least 250 storks at several sites around Sussex to establish local
breeding colonies.
“Across Europe, white storks have lived alongside legs so they can be individually identified. Eight
people for generations and have become members of the group were also fitted with
a part of the culture and heritage of those GPS tags so their flight paths can be tracked as
countries,” says Durrell’s White Stork Project they travel south for the winter. “It has been a
Officer Lucy Groves. “They have been used in joy to see the juvenile storks leaving the release
other reintroductions across Europe as a flagship pen and taking to the skies with our free-flying
species for wetland creation and restoration. adults,” says Lucy. “I have been blown away by
We chose Sussex as an ideal place to release the enthusiastic response, not only from our local
storks as it has vast areas of floodplains and community but also from birders and members of
wet grasslands. The hope for them in the UK is the public. Many people have provided us with
to engage and inspire people and drive pro- detailed sightings, which are crucial for helping
conservation behaviour.” us to understand the behaviour of these young
storks. We have had reports stretching from East
AT TEMPTED NESTING Sussex to Penzance in Cornwall, where the birds
Earlier this year, a pair of young storks began spent some time wowing holidaymakers. We are
nesting at the Knepp Estate in West Sussex, which happy that some of the birds have made their
gained a lot of media attention including a way back to Knepp, while excitingly, others have
feature on BBC Springwatch. “We were thrilled decided to travel south.
when a couple of our storks built a nest in an oak
tree at Knepp this year,” says Lucy. “We watched One individual, named Marge, crossed the English
excitedly as they displayed to each other and Channel in August and headed south through
began building the nest. The female laid three France and Spain. After a week or two spent
eggs, and we waited expectantly throughout feeding up on a rubbish tip south of Madrid, she
May, but unfortunately, they did not hatch. continued south. She eventually crossed the Strait
The female is still young, having just reached of Gibraltar on 23rd September becoming our first
breeding age, and we think that the eggs were British bred white stork to successfully migrate! She
infertile. Despite the disappointing news, we is currently in Morocco in an area which is used by
are hopeful that they will return next year and overwintering storks from across Europe.”
attempt to nest again. Storks are faithful to the
nests they create and return each year. We will ENGAGING A COMMUNITY
certainly be keeping a close eye on the oak tree The White Stork Project is one of many
in 2020!” conservation initiatives outlined in Durrell’s Rewild
Our World strategy, but this is about more than
TAKING FLIGHT just returning lost species. “There is a growing
This summer, 24 juvenile white storks were released realisation that a positive, connected relationship
at the Knepp rewilding project after being with nature increases pro-environmental
hatched and raised at Cotswold Wildlife Park. behaviours and is an essential part of wellbeing,”
“Despite the regular occurrence of vagrants from says Lucy. “This nature connectedness holds
Europe, natural re-colonisation is unlikely,” says benefits for individuals, just as it does for the
Lucy. “Therefore, the reintroduction of white storks natural world as a whole.
will be carried out in three phases. The first is to
create a static population using rescued birds This project will use storks to engage communities
from Warsaw Zoo, these act as a magnet for any to connect with their local wildlife and to
storks flying over. The second phase is to create strengthen emotional connection towards nature.
a free-flying population using birds from Poland White storks are charismatic birds. Their large size,
that are kept at the site for two years in a large colourful plumage, colonial nesting behaviours
CLOCKW I S E FR O M AB O V E
Marge’s migration route, white aviary before being released. The third phase is to and well-established folklore already ensures their
stork takes flight, aerial view of create a migratory population, this is why we are popularity throughout their European range.
the nest at Knepp, young storks releasing juveniles each year. These young storks
raised at Cotswold Wildlife Park have the instinct to fly south in their first autumn, In a time of increasing disengagement with
heading towards their overwintering grounds nature in the UK, bringing back the white
in Africa, and then subsequently returning the stork could be a means by which to reignite
following spring.” our affection for the natural world, and drive
pro-conservation behaviour change and
The storks have unique coloured rings on their environmental restoration.”
18 W IL D L I F E I SS U E 2 • 2 01 9This project is being carried out in partnership with Knepp, Wadhurst and Wintershall, as well as the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, Cotswold Wildlife Park, and Warsaw Zoo. To find out more about the project or report sightings, visit www.whitestorkproject.org. ISSU E 2 • 2019 W ILD LIFE 19
GO R I L L A J O Y AT J ER S EY Z O O In the early hours of Friday 15th November, 25-year old western lowland gorilla Bahasha gave birth. The keepers are delighted with the news and have been keeping a close watch over the first-time mum and the newest addition to the troop. Both are doing very well and silverback Badongo has been keeping a protective eye over Bahasha and their baby. There certainly couldn’t have been a more perfect way to conclude our 60th anniversary year. To support our fundraising efforts to build a new indoor home for our gorilla family visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/GoWildGorillas
TECH CORNER
DR ON E M ON I T OR I N G
E YE S I N
T H E SKY
D R M IKE HU DS O N C O NS E RVATIO N RE S E AR CH FE LLO W
T H E R M A L OR I NF RA RE D IMAG ING IS THE P R O CESS
O F TA KI NG DI GI TAL P ICTURE S WITH A S P E CIALIS ED
C A M ERA , WHI C H RE CO RD S INFRARE D O R HE AT
R A DIATI ON AS OPPOS E D TO V IS IBLE LIG HT .
The critically endangered Alaotran gentle lemur is the only
primate to live exclusively over water. Hidden in the marshes
surrounding Madagascar’s largest lake, Lac Alaotra, the lemurs
continue to be threatened by the illegal burning of its habitat for
conversion to rice paddies. Until now, monitoring the population
of this species has been conducted primarily by canoe. This
meant that surveys were restricted to a small number of canals
used by local fishermen. Our team of conservationists, alongside
researchers from Liverpool John Moores University, visited Lac
Alaotra earlier this year to trial the use of drone-based thermal
infrared cameras as a new way of monitoring the lemurs. In short,
the drone would fly over large areas of otherwise inaccessible
marsh and detect the lemurs from their body heat. The results of
the trial were promising, and we are pleased to have recently
received a large research grant to continue the development of
this system.
The Alaotran gentle lemur’s dark
grey fur makes it particularly
tricky to spot with the naked
eye in the dense marsh. The
thermal-infrared cameras make
them much easier to detect,
allowing us to obtain more
accurate estimates of their Traditional canoe surveys are very limiting
population size. as they are restricted to just a few narrow
canals. The lemurs are also very hard to
spot among the dense vegetation, even
for the trained eyes of local Durrell staff.
22 W IL D L I F E I SS U E 2 • 20 19TECH CORNER
In a single 20 minute flight, the drone was The team have been putting on
able to cover a greater area of the marsh community events where they show drone
than a canoe team could cover in two footage of the villages surrounding the
days, hugely increasing the efficiency of marsh. Our conservation efforts in Alaotra
the surveys. are community-based, so events like this
are essential in fostering goodwill among
the local people.
ISSU E 2 • 2019 W ILD LIFE 23G O N E
w i lD
Go Wi
incr e d i
l
b
d
l e
G o r
isla
i l
n
l a
d
r
s
-
a
w
has
i
ting
d
b
e co
D
e
u
m
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n
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r e
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u
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ll’s
t y
c e l e b
project anniversary…
60thIN PA R T N ER S HI P W I T H W IL D IN A R T , TH E GOR I L L A T R A IL H A S PR O V ID E D J OY A N D W O N DE R T O TH O USA N D S OF I S L A N DE R S A N D V ISITOR S, I N SPI R I N G T H E M T O D ISCO V ER N EW UR B A N A N D W IL D LO C AT I ON S A C R OS S J E R S E Y. By bringing artists, businesses, schools and communities together, Go Wild Gorillas has made the whole island smile! Artists’ designs have encouraged everyone to discover the wonderful world of conservation through the visual arts. The ultimate aim of the trail was to launch a significant fundraiser to build a new home for our beloved gorillas at Jersey Zoo. The trail concluded at the start of November with the Grand Gorilla Auction, where the sale of 44 sculptures raised an incredible £1,146,500! 26 W IL D L I F E I SS U E 2 • 20 19
A HEAR T F ELT T HANK Y OU TO :
• The many businesses and organisations
that have chosen to support the trail; you
have made it all possible.
• All the artists for bringing our gorillas
and Jersey to life through colour and
creativity.
• Teachers, community groups, charities,
and colleagues for choosing to make this
a priority in a busy schedule, influencing
the next generation and future wellbeing
of our island culture.
• Everyone who bought one of the
sculptures at auction contributing a huge
amount to our fundraising campaign.
• All of you who have enjoyed the gorillas
and been out exploring the island; you
have made 2019 a summer to remember.
ISSU E 2 • 2019 WI LD LIFE 27G O wi lD
i l lA R T
gO r
1. Colour in your
gorilla mask
2. Stick to a sheet of
card
3. Cut out the mask
and eye holes
4. Make holes in the
sides and tie a
length of string or
elastic to each
side so it holds to
your faceyo ur d esi gn
WiTH
I L D
GO w
what was your favourite GO WILD GORILLA?
DESIGN YOUR OWN AND SHARE WITH US on or @gowildgorillasD O D O D I S PAT C H
THE New
a d v e n t u r es
of Indigo
As a gorilla grows up, they eventually
reach an age when they are ready
to leave their family troop and
seek new adventures. This was our
It was a long journey to the zoo in Belgium. Indigo
young gorilla lndigo’s year to make travelled on the ferry to France and was then
the big move from Jersey Zoo. driven in the van to Pairi Diaza. He was very calm
and quiet throughout the journey. Chris, Indigo’s
His destination? Pairi Daiza zoo in keeper from Jersey Zoo, was already waiting at
Belgium. Here he would move in with the destination so that a familiar face was there to
help him settle in. As soon as Indigo was let into his
his uncle Lomako, brother of our new home, he came to see Chris and took his usual
silverback Badongo, and another breakfast before checking out his new bedroom.
The other young gorilla, Tebogo, had already been
young gorilla called Tebogo, who was there for a couple of days. The Pairi Daiza keepers
moving from Dublin Zoo. were very excited to meet Indigo and had his
favourite food of mango and grapes ready for him.
In preparation for Indigo’s big trip, our veterinary
team first needed to give him a full check-up to Later on that day, Indigo and Tebogo were
make sure he was in perfect health. Taking a gorilla introduced to each other. Although Indigo was still
to the vet is not an everyday occurrence, but they a little nervous, they soon began playing, wrestling
can be trained to make this process really easy. and chasing each other. It wasn’t long before they
Each morning the keepers would spend 20-30 became good friends.
minutes practising different training exercises to
prepare him. This meant that when the day arrived, When the time came for Chris to say his goodbyes,
Indigo was more than happy to present his shoulder Indigo was much more interested in playing with
to his keepers to receive an injection of anaesthetic. his new friend and didn’t even notice. Although
Once Indigo had fallen asleep, he was taken to the this can be hard for the keepers, Chris was happy
vet centre to have his check-up. They reported that knowing that Indigo would be well looked after and
Indigo was in excellent condition, so his move was would spend his days playing and having fun.
arranged for the 23rd March. Since Indigo moved, the keepers from Pairi Daiza
have sent lots of updates on how Indigo, Tebogo
and Lomako are getting on. Now they are all living
together happily and even share their home with a
group of colobus monkeys.
30 W IL D L I F E I SS U E 2 • 2 01 9D O D O D I S PAT C H
M Y Y E A R AT J E R S E Y Z O O
My name is Georgia, and I am one
of the newest zookeepers in the
mammal department. l started
working at the zoo in June 2018,
and this is my story so far!
I started out as a student, doing work experience
five days a week for 12 months. Working with
keepers helped me to understand how a zoo works
and allowed me to develop my own skills as a
zookeeper. When a job became available, I knew
I had to apply. After a nervous couple of months, I
got the phone call to say I’d got the job – all my hard
work had paid off!
In autumn last year, I trained to become an orangutan
keeper. It was a slow process as you have to build up
As a keeper, I get to look after a whole range of animals
a strong bond with the orangutans. At first, it was quite
from the tiny bokiboky and the gorgeous howler
scary. Dagu the adult male weighs over 130kg, and he
monkeys to the mischievous macaques and awesome
has a loud call he uses to establish his territory, but as I
Andean bears. During the summer, an essential part of
got to know him, I realised that he is really a gentle giant.
my job was helping the animals to keep cool. I would
One of my favourite moments was watching Dagu play
throw frozen fish into the moat for Chui, our male bear,
with his two children, Jantho and Kea. He is so gentle
to go and find. That way the water would help cool him
with them, even when they are really cheeky and bite at
down, but he’d also spend lots of time looking for food
his fingers or pull his hair.
like he would in the wild. We would also give them ice
lollies or freeze their favourite foods into big blocks of ice
In January, I had the opportunity to be trained in caring
for them to use their impressive claws to tear open.
for the gorillas and pigs! Everyone falls in love with our
gorilla family – they are absolutely amazing, but it is
our Visayan warty pigs that I adore. We have three
girls at Jersey Zoo: Penelope, Diosa and Babs and I do
my best to keep them busy. They have amazing noses
designed to help them rummage for food, so sometimes
I bury food in their enclosure to encourage them to go
digging. I also make them new toys like bamboo wind
chimes to play with. As a treat, they get flavoured water,
their favourite is cucumber and mint. They are quite
pampered piggies!
Over the past year spent at Jersey Zoo, I often look back
and think how when I was six-years-old, this was my
dream, and now it’s my reality. If you want something
badly enough, you can achieve it with a lot of hard work,
dedication, and bravery.
ISSU E 2 • 2019 W ILD LIFE 31You can also read
