Our approach

‘Thus the Trust would become a form of university ...where people can get the correct training...and then take their talents back to form conservation units throughout the world’
Gerald Durrell, 1976, The Stationary Ark

Based in the International Training Centre at the Durrell wildlife park in Jersey, the Training programme has capitalized upon the organisation’s experience in wildlife conservation.

Durrell's island restoration work in the Mascarenes, community-based conservation initiatives in Madagascar, and reintroduction projects worldwide provide the Training Programme with an unrivalled training resource.

Universities can offer the theory of conservation biology; whereas our Training Programme can offer the practice. Our courses are designed to challenge your understanding of the natural world, hone your problem-solving skills and equip you with the people and animal management skills necessary to save more species from extinction.

Participants on our courses will be exposed to the realities of endangered species and habitat recovery projects through lectures, seminars, problem-solving activities and skills training direct from our field staff.

Durrell's International Training Centre (ITC)

Since its establishment in 1984 the ITC has trained over 2700 conservationists from more than 128 countries in the management of endangered species and habitat recovery.

Participants on our courses at ITC will spend time in the wildlife park. You will learn first-hand from Durrell’s animal staff about the husbandry techniques, veterinary care and welfare of our exotic collection. Most importantly you will learn how ex-situ management of endangered species can support their recovery in the wild.

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In situ training

Time and financial constraints mean that not everyone can make it to Jersey to attend a course.  In response we have designed a series of short courses which we can tailor to meet the needs of particular groups of conservation professionals in particular parts of the world.

We have now run training courses in Mexico, Belize, Argentina, Mauritius, Galapagos Islands, Bolivia, Guam, St. Lucia, Madagascar and India. 

By running courses in the same locations as our field programmes we can show participants first-hand the realities of endangered species recovery projects and the skills required to achieve success.

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Partners

In order to extend the programme of training we can offer to meet the needs of conservation professionals and students worldwide, the ITC partners with other leading organisations and we have links with some of the UK’s leading universities.

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Photos: (listed from top to bottom)

• ITC lecture room Copyright James Morgan
• ISLA course, Fiji, 2009