Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Jersey Zoo/Durrell 2025

Linne’s two-toed sloth born at Jersey Zoo on 15th January. Rio, their 23yo ex-Bristol male sloth, was put to sleep yesterday (23rd) due to various pre-existing health issues.

Is that the one that created all the bad headlines about its housing?
 
The very same. I haven’t been to Jersey in a few years, before the sloths so I can’t comment on the enclosure first hand, but I do know that they can be very picky with breeding when it comes to their environment.
Out of interest: Have any of the regular Zoochat UK forumsters actually visited Durrell Institute or Jersey Zoo recently?

I quite like a more in-depth review of the site and the zoo experience these days!
(NOTA BENE: As an ex Durrell/Jersey Zoo Conservation Academy scholar ... I REMAIN a very fond / avid advocate and supporter of the whole LBJ/Jersey Zoo conservation work in situ with supporting ambassador zoo animals and ex situ breeding activities and connection to in situ work).
 
Out of interest: Have any of the regular Zoochat UK forumsters actually visited Durrell Institute or Jersey Zoo recently?

I quite like a more in-depth review of the site and the zoo experience these days!
(NOTA BENE: As an ex Durrell/Jersey Zoo Conservation Academy scholar ... I REMAIN a very fond / avid advocate and supporter of the whole LBJ/Jersey Zoo conservation work in situ with supporting ambassador zoo animals and ex situ breeding activities and connection to in situ work).
Likewise. I hope to visit when the new gorilla facility is open and up and running, hopefully end of this year or early ‘26.
 
Today would have been Gerald Durrell’s 100th birthday. Consequentially, the zoo has posted a short archival video of Gerry being interviewed about his work, whilst his widow, Lee, has unveiled a commemorative plaque in the zoo grounds.
A special edition stamp set to mark the 100th birthday of Gerald Durrell has been issued by Jersey Post. The stamps were issued on January 28th are the first of a two part series. The stamps feature images of endangered species that have benefited from conservation efforts.
 
Just seen on Instagram that the goats will be leaving!

• Good luck to the Golden Guernsey Goats! *

Belle, Gypsy, Lily, and Elvis will be leaving in March. They are heading to @jimmysfarmha, which specialises in rare breeds and were looking for more Guernsey goats to add to their already successful breeding herd.

• This is a great opportunity to extend the breed's gene pool by having the goats join an off-island herd, as it's been a long time since their genetic line left the Channel Islands.
 
Out of curiosity has anyone seen what the First Impressions enclosure is like without the bears? I assume it seems pretty empty with the pigs in their new enclosure, the three howler monkeys always indoors, and one anteater? Is there still a bushdog or coati?

I remember when the bears left they said multiple species will be replacing them, has anything else arrived that I missed?
 
The Livingstone's fruit bats have all been relocated off-show and divided up into smaller groups, following a diagnosis of a Pasteurellosis infection in the colony. Although all individuals received antibiotics, ten bats died as a result.

A total of seventy bats were successfully moved in one day, and divided up between four enclosures. Early signs have been positive since then, with the bats adapting well to their new enclosures and treated by the veterinary team. The zoo is currently collaborating on the production of a vaccine to protect the colony in the future.

The zoo is also taking the opportunity to renovate the ageing Bat Tunnel while it is empty.

More information has been provided by the zoo in the link here.
 
5000 flower sculptures are now on display to mark 100 years since Gerald Durrell was born. Lee Durrell said, looking at Gerry's books, we found what were his favourite wild flowers. The sculptures are made from 100%renewable plant based ingredients and would be on display until 30th September.

Zoo founder honoured with sea of flower sculptures https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxk7vxqkpvo
 
Livingston Fruit Bats, 12 pups were born a couple of weeks after the deaths of 10 adults from pasteurellosis.
A good breeding result there!

Is it known what the sex age ratio for the bats was before break up and after? Any news on the sex of the pups?

BTW: I have an inkling - not suggestive of any definite fact nor based on actual data/information - that the Pasteurellosis became an issue bc of density of the bats into one space. Now the group has been broken up into 4 or more parts ..., I do not think it is still a risk. But this is just mere self -perhaps somewhat speculative - own observation.
 
A good breeding result there!

Is it known what the sex age ratio for the bats was before break up and after? Any news on the sex of the pups?

BTW: I have an inkling - not suggestive of any definite fact nor based on actual data/information - that the Pasteurellosis became an issue bc of density of the bats into one space. Now the group has been broken up into 4 or more parts ..., I do not think it is still a risk. But this is just mere self -perhaps somewhat speculative - own observation.
I have no idea either of the sex ratio of the bats before they were split up or of the pups,I'm afraid. However,,I think that the density of the bat population prior to being split up ,pasteurellosis may have been an issue because, as I understand it ,pasteurellosis is usually spread between animals, usually by bites and scratches and there could well have been conflict within the colony.
 
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