Did anybody here ever meet Gerald Durrell?

[DavidBrown]

In a recent discussion of chevrotains it came up that Gerald Durrell brought some African chevrotains back to the London Zoo on one of his expeditions in 1949.

This got me wondering if anyone here ever got to meet him and what he was like. I first remember learning who he was when I was a kid and saw one of his television shows and then read his books.

Was he ever around to meet visitors to Jersey Zoo?

 

[Michael]

Gerald Durrell

I met him in 1972 in Los Angeles, he was at a speaking engagement sponsered by the Los Angeles Zoo. Very nice and easy to talk to. I spoke to him years later at the Endangered Species Conference in Holland and he rememered our earlier meeting.

 

[Hix]

I met him a couple of times, in 1982 and again in 1988. As Michael said, very personable and easy to talk to. He autographed several of my books for me.

A very, very sad loss in 1995.



Hix

 

[zoogiraffe]

I had the pleasure of meeting the man,in the Gorilla house at Jersey the week before he went on the first trip,to catch Aye-aye for the zoo.As a result I got the chance to see the wonderfull Jambo just that little bit closer,I will admit that it was after closing time for the zoo,and I was doing a fourth loop round the zoo,seeing as they didn't seem to be in a rush to kick me,I just went for a last look at the Gorillas and went into the House,when I saw who was in I was half expecting to be asked to leave,but I actually got told it was alright I could stay and watch the Gorillas getting their night time drinks and food,and of course a chance to have a brief chat with a person that will always be a hero of mine!

 

[Pertinax]

I was doing a fourth loop round the zoo,seeing as they didn't seem to be in a rush to kick me,

On my several visits to Jersey, including at least one staying overnight (with staff) in the grounds, he was always away except once I saw him on a golf-buggy motoring cross the lawn. It was nice to wander round the empty zoo in the evening.

Jersey never seem very bothered about their visitors leaving on time. Howletts is a bit like that too.

 

[karoocheetah]

Yes - as a child of about 7 I was on holiday in Jersey whilst we were stationed in Germany and I met Mr Durrell with a copy of one of his books in my pocket that I was most upset had been misprinted and I couldn't read it. I did tell him about it and he not only replaced the book from the shop but he signed it for me too :O)
Great man to talk to - I remember having a chat about the exhibits and asking if I could help him if he went looking for tigers again...!!! I'd have gone if he'd have said yes....

 

[DDcorvus]

Jersey never seem very bothered about their visitors leaving on time. Howletts is a bit like that too.

Unfortunately I never met Gerald Durrell, but I love Jersey. I was there for a couple of days for a training course last year and had a great time. Staff being very open to discuss (in my case) birds and no worries about staying when the park is closing. Also I can recommend everybody Josh' cooking .

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Jersey never seem very bothered about their visitors leaving on time. Howletts is a bit like that too.

Quite unlike Bristol Zoo last time I was there, in March, the zoo was due to close at 5pm. At 4.30pm I was taking photographs at the Canadian Otters when a keeper came up to us and told me off for being in a closed area of the zoo - despite this not being promoted anywhere on the zoo website, maps or timetables, I was informed that the whole of that half of the zoo closes half an hour earlier than the other half!

I can only assume this unpromoted policy is to ensure visitors are funnelled towards the exit well in advance of closing time

 

[Chris Furley]

meeting Gerald Durrell

Yes I met him in Canterbury when he came over from Jersey for the ceremonial opening of the Durrell Institute of Ecology (DICE) at University of Kent in Canterbury. He was smaller than I had imagined him and was having trouble walking but was otherwise very friendly and easy to talk to.

 

[Pertinax]

I can only assume this unpromoted policy is to ensure visitors are funnelled towards the exit well in advance of closing time

This sort of thing fascinates me-it has to be cultural for certain zoos!- even in the 1950's I can remember keepers at Bristol Zoo going through the animal houses calling out 'closing time' and herding people out and locking the doors-and seems like its little different in 2012. Of course Bristol is a small city zoo enclosed within walls and people could easily get locked in- at Jersey and Howletts the rural atmosphere produces a more laid back approach- with staff living on site after hours anyone late visitors locked in could get help if need be.

 

[zooman64]

Quite unlike Bristol Zoo last time I was there, in March, the zoo was due to close at 5pm. At 4.30pm I was taking photographs at the Canadian Otters when a keeper came up to us and told me off for being in a closed area of the zoo - despite this not being promoted anywhere on the zoo website, maps or timetables, I was informed that the whole of that half of the zoo closes half an hour earlier than the other half!

I can only assume this unpromoted policy is to ensure visitors are funnelled towards the exit well in advance of closing time

I've had that experience too. They started roping off the paths in one half of the zoo well in advance of closing time, and then a member of staff went round to everybody, including myself, and asked us to start making our way towards the exit.

At Africa Alive! I was actually asked to leave immediately as it was gone closing time!

 

[zooman64]

I must say all the staff I've met at Jersey have been very polite and helpful without exception. Once, I was intrigued by the name of the Livingstone's Fruit Bat. I wasn't aware Livingstone had ever been to the Comoros. One of the staff went back to his office and checked on the Internet and was able to tell me that, yes, Livingstone had indeed been to the Comoro Islands.

On my last visit to Jersey in 2004, I stayed so long that it looked as if I would miss my flight home as all the taxis were fully booked, so one of the staff in the Visitor Centre at the Zoo offered to drive me to the airport.

 

[Chungri Putki]

I met him in Calcutta during a talk in 1978. He traveled from Calcutta to Assam and Bhutan. Many people in the audience thought he was aloof and not very sociable. I talked to him for some time, he was just fine, but not overly friendly.

 

[Pertinax]

On my last visit to Jersey in 2004, I stayed so long that it looked as if I would miss my flight home as all the taxis were fully booked, so one of the staff in the Visitor Centre at the Zoo offered to drive me to the airport.

That's the charm of Jersey (both the island and the Zoo). I can't see that happening on the UK mainland.

 

[Rhinopithecus]

I met Gerald Durrell in the 1986/87 during my training course and even had a chance to spend one afternoon (that developed into late evening) during Christmas with him at his house. We had a great chat both being taxonomy freaks and discussed posible husbandry of lesser grison and other south american mustelids in zoos. He was a fanatastic speaker but could also listen.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Unfortunately I never met Gerald Durrell, but I love Jersey. I was there for a couple of days for a training course last year and had a great time. Staff being very open to discuss (in my case) birds and no worries about staying when the park is closing. Also I can recommend everybody Josh' cooking .

Yup, both men are a legend in their trade!