Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Durrell news

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Kifaru Bwana said:
Good .. to hear Durrell is continuing with spectacled bears.
......Perhaps some of the lame ducks at South Lakes?
(new spectacled bears ... that is)
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Its possible they may be allocated at least one from there:)- each one that leaves SL is a plus IMO as I don't think it is a suitable exhibit for them at all. Perhaps its too much to hope for more than one leaving there though, (unless the recent bad publicity they've had has any effect on such a decision), which would still leave SL with e.g. one pair, but that is considerably better than the FIVE they had originally.:(
 
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Choughs at Durrell.

I've just been reading the Chough Blog update. It appears the release of the birds at Sorrell has been delayed because they are moulting so are not in peak fitness and could also lose their transmitters.

Also one pair at Durrell bred but the four chicks DNS. The 2nd pair appear to have only built a nest.
 
Pertinax said:
I've just been reading the Chough Blog update. It appears the release of the birds at Sorrell has been delayed because they are moulting so are not in peak fitmness and could also lose their transmitters.

Also one pair at Durrell bred but the four chicks DNS. The 2nd pair appear to have only built a nest.
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Very sad news about the chough chicks. The project is way more complex than most would imagine.
 
There is nothing more disheartening than getting a pair of birds to hatch chicks, only to have them die later.:( Hopefully they will re-nest successfully, next year if its too late for them again for this year.

Remarkable too that the original male on the Lizard in Cornwall (i've seen this pair) has been ousted by a younger male, apparently in the middle of the breeding season- very odd behaviour. :confused:
 
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Dana's infant is very big, seems to be suckling really well, and making Dana very tired! Confirmed officially as a female too... to be named soon.
 
Visit today

Visited Durrell today, my first ever visit. I felt somewhat emotional which surprised me....., may have been the Jambo statue, the Gerald Durrell story 'museum', seeing the manor house and walls and Lee Durrell walking around with guests. The great man himself had such an impact on me as a youth and I finally saw his park. I love Paigntons valley but this place took my breath away! A truly special day with lots of intimate encounters. I love the fact it was peaceful and designed so the animals were hard to spot.
The staff were busy unloading new tree trunks into the bear exhibit by crane in anticipation of the new female from Germany arriving soon. I was hugely impressed by the Orang islands where the whole group were very active.
Does anyone know where the Pygmy Hogs are held?
What a place, I'm still buzzing! Aloha.
 
TriDV said:
Visited Durrell today, my first ever visit. I felt somewhat emotional which surprised me.....
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I know what you mean! I remember being very excited in anticipation of my first visit some years ago, and I wasn't let down. I'm still thinking about my second visit in April when I could find nothing negative to say. They have such high standards, way ahead of some other zoos.
 
Gigit said:
I know what you mean! I remember being very excited in anticipation of my first visit some years ago, and I wasn't let down. I'm still thinking about my second visit in April when I could find nothing negative to say. They have such high standards, way ahead of some other zoos.
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My first and only visit was in 1984, with my Dad. I've not wanted to go back again since, as I don't want to tarnish that memory: a combination of the zoo itself (and the importance it had as I was growing up and 'discovering' what zoos were about), the role that Gerald Durrell had in my education (as we arrived at the zoo, he was getting out of a car in the car park; it is one of the very few times in my life when I have been genuinely speechless), and family stuff - nothing will ever come close to that childhood moment. I will go back, one day, I am sure - but, as with other posters above, it will be an emotional experience, for all sorts of reasons.
 
zoogiraffe said:
They don't keep any Pygmy Hogs and never have,they only work with them in-situ!
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I believe in the 1980s some were held in quarantine for Jersey, at Zurich Zoo but they died off without getting any further and so they never got them.
 
Gigit said:
They have such high standards, way ahead of some other zoos.
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They always have had, right from their very earliest days.

I've been about half a dozen times over the years, I hope to make maybe one more visit sometime.
 
TriDV said:
The staff were busy unloading new tree trunks into the bear exhibit by crane in anticipation of the new female from Germany arriving soon.
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Any idea which German zoo it will come from- or where a new male will be sourced from too?
 
Will check the IZY's tonight. Pretty sure Jersey maintained some, some breeding took place .. yet no sustainability in husbandry in the end. Hence, the entire program was relocated to Assam in India much later.
 
Pertinax said:
Any idea which German zoo it will come from- or where a new male will be sourced from too?
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I'll find out for you on Sunday.
I liked the mixed exhibit there for the bears (empty), coati's and howlers. I also enjoyed seeing the Orang/Gibbon mix - proving that it can be done (come on Paignton Curators!).
Durrell has the feel of a Shaldon but the organisational structure and fauna of a Paignton. I return in a few days for one more immersion.
*I had a thought last night that Shoebills would fit great in this collection, somewhere down in the valley?
 
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TriDV said:
I'll find out for you on Sunday.
I liked the mixed exhibit there for the bears (empty), coati's and howlers. I also enjoyed seeing the Orang/Gibbon mix - proving that it can be done (come on Paignton Curators!).
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Thankyou. I was rather hoping this was a chance for another bear to get moved from South Lakes;), but maybe not.:( I agree the Jersey exhibit is first class for them. It would be good to see another younger breeding pair established there.

IMO Jersey's interior/inside Orangutan house is among the very best I know- given its extreme height. Whereas Paignton's indoors is quite ordinary but their outdoor island with natural trees, pips Jersey's outside. A pity both can't be on one site!

Gibbons would look great on Paignton's Orang Island I agree.
 
Pertinax said:
Thankyou. I was rather hoping this was a chance for another bear to get moved from South Lakes;), but maybe not.:( I agree the Jersey exhibit is first class for them. It would be good to see another younger breeding pair established there.
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Personally I was hoping South Lakes would be forced to go out of the bears entirely, so that Jersey could get a new female and Chester a new male, but it isn't exactly going to happen ;)
 
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