Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Durrell management

Strathmorezoo said:
If I was management and read the opinions of Quenton Bloxham and Russel Tofts I would have to think that there is something really WRONG
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Have you seen prof.Carl Jones' 'rebuttal' to Quentins statement? I found there to be a few Interesting points.
It was in a balliwick express article. Can't seem to find it right now
 
jersey_insider said:
Report from BBC:
Concerns raised about the future of Jersey Zoo
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Interesting to hear Quentins veiws, I for one was pleased to see the bears go, there hasn't been a pair of bears in that exhibit that didn't stereotype. The last male was regularly seen swaying in the water for hours everyday, for an exhibit called 'first impressions', through pretty, left alot to be desired. As for the macaque, 3 males and a female were hardly contributing to the species survival. And with the recent aim of the stud books to form larger more natural troop sizes, the transition to Whipsnade is understandable (if you havent seen the Whipsnade troop yet, it is a sight to behold). There is no denying that these changes should have been translated better. Stepping out of species should always be a considered process but if it is for the betterment of welfare or breeding program success it will always be the right call. For me these icon species leaving Durrell has been rapid and jarring to saying the least, at best its the sign an ambitious management team with an end goal that we will never see come to fruition and at worst a management team that were more 'reactive' to issues and events than considered.
 
[QUOTE="Jpbirds, post: 1542242, member: 21453 [QUOTE ] As for the macaque, 3 males and a female were hardly contributing to the species survival. And with the recent aim of the stud books to form larger more natural troop sizes, the transition to Whipsnade is understandable (if you havent seen the Whipsnade troop yet, it is a sight to behold). [/QUOTE]

Certainly agree with that statement about the Macaques.... I can remember when their group was 20+ strong...perhaps a fuller explanation of the reasons behind their departure- any, or all of; 1. the tiny number left and uneven sex ratio, 2. the need(difficulty?) to add additional females if they were continuing with them, 3. that they are(were) being recruited to join a much bigger group at Whipsnade, would present a more balanced picture of this decision.

I personally find this current furore at Jersey amazing. I have visited several times in the past and knew a few of the people involved with it, so I would never have expected this from there of all places, but times change don't they... I can't believe its all simply over the management of aardvarks and a sloth (and a few other examples) either.. it must go deeper than that.
 
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Pertinax said:
[QUOTE="Jpbirds, post: 1542242, member: 21453 [QUOTE ] As for the macaque, 3 males and a female were hardly contributing to the species survival. And with the recent aim of the stud books to form larger more natural troop sizes, the transition to Whipsnade is understandable (if you havent seen the Whipsnade troop yet, it is a sight to behold).

Certainly agree with that statement about the Macaques.... I can remember when their group was 20+ strong...perhaps a fuller explanation of the reasons behind their departure- any, or all of; 1. the tiny number left and uneven sex ratio, 2. the need(difficulty?) to add additional females if they were continuing with them, 3. that they are(were) being recruited to join a much bigger group at Whipsnade, would present a more balanced picture of this decision.

I personally find this current furore at Jersey amazing. I have visited several times in the past and knew a few of the people involved with it, so I would never have expected this from there of all places, but times change don't they... I can't believe its all simply over the management of aardvarks and a sloth (and a few other examples) either.. it must go deeper than that.
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Agree on the macaques (and it’s not about them being at Whipsnade obviously one of my favourite places I would agree with the same move if it was the opposite way round.

This whole Jersey mess appears to be a fallout from
organisational change.

Change is generally deeply unpopular and coupled with the spectacles, tinted or not, with 'it was always better round here betore particularly when I worked here and change was done by me not to me' it is just one massive power struggle.

It's not a single issue problem. And as it's a zoo it plays out in public. All pretty unpleasant.

All I have learned so far is I don't trust the information from the polarisers on either side.
 
Durrell is the overall loser here as indeed it hurts the image and will impact the income and that might impact the rest of the work. It was clear that the organisation had to improve, but there are two clashing visions about how and where they should develop into. And with people very passionate about the work this become a difficult and very painful process.
 
Jpbirds said:
I hope this signals an end to all of this but I have a feeling like it will continue on.
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I guess nothing changes for the 710 who voted for a change, there will still be continuing unrest I think until more gets resolved.
 
Given they already forced out the disliked management, this now really devolves into 'he said/she said'.

It would be for the insurgents to put in candidates for the board at a future time, I guess?

They really do now need to pull together to get past this, and some sensible decisions need to be made going forward tor animals and people alike.
 
Lafone said:
Agree on the macaques (and it’s not about them being at Whipsnade obviously one of my favourite places I would agree with the same move if it was the opposite way round.

This whole Jersey mess appears to be a fallout from
organisational change.

Change is generally deeply unpopular and coupled with the spectacles, tinted or not, with 'it was always better round here betore particularly when I worked here and change was done by me not to me' it is just one massive power struggle.

It's not a single issue problem. And as it's a zoo it plays out in public. All pretty unpleasant.

All I have learned so far is I don't trust the information from the polarisers on either side.
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I’m not sure it is about change - went to the Egm and there were stories of discrimination and sexually inappropriate comments to young keepers and students.

they didn’t get 2 talk about animal welfare too much other than people asking why sloths are in a “rusty stairwell”.

It was a spicy debate! Pleased I was there. I think the first person who stood up used to hr manager there and she said why her party wanted the meeting.

then it was Durrell.

then questions.

Then a man from the other side, then Durrell
 
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GaryA said:
Given they already forced out the disliked management, this now really devolves into 'he said/she said'.

It would be for the insurgents to put in candidates for the board at a future time, I guess?

They really do now need to pull together to get past this, and some sensible decisions need to be made going forward tor animals and people alike.
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I worry a precedent has been set and that Jersey is now locked into what people outside/no longer in the industry think the direction of the zoo should be. Will there be a media campaign and EMG everytime the management makes an unpopular decision or are perseved to stray from the golden path?
As long as they leave the field projects alone.
I hope future, honest and open communication does the trick, though I see people are recruiting for private Facebook group dedicated to removing the board.
 
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