The trust

Four years after Gerald Durrell opened Jersey Zoo, the wildlife park was turned into a charitable trust. Since 1963, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has established breeding groups of many species of endangered mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and pioneered the return of their progeny to the wild.

Our strength is commitment to achieving practical results by integrating what we do at our Jersey headquarters with what we do in our sites around the world. Broadly speaking, the Trust’s international work takes place on two levels, one being the direct work undertaken in the animals’ home countries, and the other being the work conducted in Jersey, with innovative results in breeding and research on endangered species, as well as the training of conservation professionals.

Our International Training Centre has seen more than 1700 graduates from over 120 countries pass through its doors, taking much-needed conservation expertise back to their home countries.

Overall, Durrell’s conservation programme is currently focusing on more than 40 projects, working with 48 species, in 17 countries. At present, the Trust is undertaking wildlife conservation projects in the following areas: Caribbean Islands, Galapagos, India, Indian Ocean, Madagascar and Jersey.

Ultimately, our aim is to:

Save more endangered species worldwide

Enable Our own cadre of world-class specialist conservationists across all Durrell sites to become more effective in saving species

Train more conservationists worldwide in the theory and practice of rescuing species "the Durrell way"

Teach children and adults, who visit Durrell in Jersey, to understand why biodiversity is vital, and encourage them to make their personal pledges to protect life on earth.

By giving a voice and a future to those animal species that we as human beings have brought to the brink of extinction, Durrell is sounding an alarm from our base in Jersey to every corner of the world. Durrell is saying “It’s time to make a difference. It’s time to act now!”