In the interests of strict accuracy, Jersey's website tends to refer to the trust as Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, and the zoo simply as 'Durrell'. ('Visit Durrell', 'Map of Durrell' etc).
'Marwell Wildlife' feels to me like an incomplete thought. Needs something on the end of it. I'm not going to be losing any sleep over it though!
Reasons for the new name as given on the official site:
Marwell Zoological Park was owned by the Marwell Preservation Trust Limited, a charity dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and other natural resources. But the charity had another side - that of an international conservation organisation working predominantly in Africa.
This duality created a gap between how we’re perceived and what we actually deliver. So following several months of consultation with both our staff and external stakeholders examining what and who we are and how we can better realise our aspirations for the future, we have developed a new brand which better reflects the breadth of our work, and has a strong, coherent and recognisable look which will engage with our diverse audience.
That new brand is Marwell Wildlife.
We are confident that through uniting both parts of our charity under one name we will be able to:
More accurately describe the breadth and depth of what we do. As well as the animal kingdom our work encompasses the conservation of biological and other natural resources.
Better promote who we are. We employ many people overseas who are also part of the Marwell team, beyond the staff we employ at our park in Hampshire, UK.
Develop new income streams and reduce our reliance on gate admissions, which are weather dependent. A more strategic approach to fundraising under the new brand will bring us in line with other international conservation charities.
Showcase the challenges that affect our planet’s biodiversity and focus our charitable work in support of these issues.
Originally, I didn't think much of the name change, but its really grown on me, and with the new logo and changes to the site itself, if makes the park come across as much more... natural. More environmentally concerned. Marwell Zoo seems a bit more commercial and touristy.
And on the topic of the Vicuna, I'm very glad to see them return to the park. Did they not once live where the Anoas are now near the Gibbons? I remember one watching me eat my lunch quite attentatively.
