Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Durrell management

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Madzooman

Member
{Note from mods - this thread split from here: Durrell news [Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust]}



[It seems the new guy] is fixing things that haven't been fixed in a while and getting the team into shape. I think that's a sign of good things. Durrell has a long history but needs a good shake up otherwise it won't ever achieve it's mission. It's been poorly financially managed for years and stuck in an ideology that it's better than everyone else. People leave organisations. It's not a bad thing. Fresh blood, fresh ideas, chances for people to grow. It's healthy for organisations to have change, but it's true people don't like change.

I'm a regular visitor and I can see nothing but good changes. I talk to the keepers and the entrance staff and they all like the changes. Not to mention the growth of the organisation. I see no evidence of a one man army. The whole site is buzzing. Higher standards of welfare, better exhibits, more conservation, more staff and a more professional organisation. Yes there are a few well known names left. If they are truly great they will easily walk into another zoo and do the same amazing work there. If they aren't and are just unhappy with change then they will get a job somewhere else. No big loss to Durrell.

I love the changes. Some don't but that's ok not everyone has to like change, but the world is changing and we need to adapt to it as well.
 
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Madzooman said:
If I read what you describe he is fixing things that haven't been fixed in a while and whipping the team into shape. I think that's a sign of good things. Durrell has a long history but needs a good shake up otherwise it won't ever achieve it's mission. It's been poorly financially managed for years and stuck in an ideology that it's better than everyone else. People leave organisations. It's not a bad thing. Fresh blood, fresh ideas, chances for people to grow. It's healthy for organisations to have change, but it's true people don't like change.

I'm a regular visitor and I can see nothing but good changes. I talk to the keepers and the entrance staff and they all like the changes. Not to mention the growth of the organisation. I see no evidence of a one man army. The whole site is buzzing. Higher standards of welfare, better exhibits, more conservation, more staff and a more professional organisation. Yes there are a few well known names left. If they are truly great they will easily walk into another zoo and do the same amazing work there. If they aren't and are just unhappy with change then they will get a job somewhere else. No big loss to Durrell.

I love the changes. Some don't but that's ok not everyone has to like change, but the world is changing and we need to adapt to it as well.
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Time will say how park evolves, but in this year 2 endangered species haven lost (hope that the replace will be equaly endangered taxa)

Have you got photos of the improved and new exhibits? Could be very interesting see the evolution of the park
 
Madzooman said:
If I read what you describe he is fixing things that haven't been fixed in a while and whipping the team into shape. I think that's a sign of good things. Durrell has a long history but needs a good shake up otherwise it won't ever achieve it's mission. It's been poorly financially managed for years and stuck in an ideology that it's better than everyone else. People leave organisations. It's not a bad thing. Fresh blood, fresh ideas, chances for people to grow. It's healthy for organisations to have change, but it's true people don't like change.

I'm a regular visitor and I can see nothing but good changes. I talk to the keepers and the entrance staff and they all like the changes. Not to mention the growth of the organisation. I see no evidence of a one man army. The whole site is buzzing. Higher standards of welfare, better exhibits, more conservation, more staff and a more professional organisation. Yes there are a few well known names left. If they are truly great they will easily walk into another zoo and do the same amazing work there. If they aren't and are just unhappy with change then they will get a job somewhere else. No big loss to Durrell.

I love the changes. Some don't but that's ok not everyone has to like change, but the world is changing and we need to adapt to it as well.
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It was more than an ideology… it led the way ans was ahead of the times in conservation and breeding programmes.

I guess ppl can be replaced but it’s a shame to lose knowledge & history & experience. From what I hear the new guy - who I hope isn’t whipping a team into shape bcuz they all worked hard b4 - doesn’t have much experience in conservation but I don’t no him.

change is good if it’s needed - if it’s so a person can make a name 4 them self it isn’t. I no it was a place we all wanted 2 work and that’s def changed.

I hope every1 there is still happy and there 4 the right reasons - longleat mark 2 isn’t a gr8 strategy & doesn’t support the learning side, which is what I thought it was all about

pleased it’s not a 1 man army - I was beginning to think u were Mr dICK the amount u blow his trumpet & ask questions about him, when u no so much about everything else goin on at Durrell! (A little bit of self promotion;))
 
Strathmorezoo said:
According to ITV news ,Graeme Dick has resigned to follow other opportunities, the third CEO to resign since August of last year
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Correction - Graeme Dick was not the CEO, he was the Director of Zoo Operations, and he was the third "high-profile manager" to leave since August - the other two being Head of Mammals Dominic Wormell and CEO Lesley Dickie.
 
The Bailiwick Express has now published its own piece going into significantly more detail, including the fact that around a hundred members of the charity have signed a letter calling for an Extraordinary General Meeting:
INSIGHT: Key resignation and campaigner concerns pile pressure on Jersey Zoo
Jersey Zoo's Director of Operations has resigned, as the beloved institution faces pressure from staff – past and present – to shake up management amid fears it has lost its way from the legacy left by Gerald Durrell.

Graeme Dick, who has been second-in-command at the Zoo since October 2021, told staff this week that he would leave on Thursday 28 March.

It comes as members have geared up to request an Extraordinary General Meeting to declare that they have "lost confidence" in the trustees, and that there should be an independent investigation into the past and present running of Jersey Zoo.

Sharing news of his departure in a message to Zoo staff this week seen by Express, Mr Dick said that his decision to step away had not been easy and confirmed that his final date of departure at the end of the month. Express has asked if his notice period had been waived.

It comes as Jersey Zoo is facing significant local and national scrutiny around its animal collections and working culture, while also undergoing a period of transition with the departure of several senior team members, including its CEO, Head of Mammals, and the Chair of its trustees.

In this week's announcement confirming he was moving onto "pastures new", Mr Dick mentioned criticism of the Zoo, which he said had made "the last few months" a "challenging" period.

He went on to cite improvements at Durrell, ranging from growing the team of zookeepers, carrying out world-leading procedures, and developing better signage.

He added: "This wasn’t an easy decision, and I am not leaving the zoo because I do not care for the animals, the work of Durrell or the team.

"In fact, quite the opposite. I am leaving because I care deeply, and I feel this is the right decision for me and also the Trust at this time."

The departure comes as supporters of Jersey Zoo have been coming together to demand a shake-up at the top level of the organisation.

Throughout February, a group asking members to sign a letter asking the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust to call for an Extraordinary General Meeting to allow them to oust the charity's trustee board.

Signatories say they have lost confidence in the trustees' ability to maintain Gerald Durrell's legacy.

To be able to call an EGM 60 members need to sign a resolution, and the letter has received around 100 signatures, Express understands.

The resolution due to be put forward by signatories reads: "The members have lost confidence in the ability of the Trustees to protect and maintain the legacy of Gerald Durrell. We call for the resignation of the board and an independent investigation into all aspects of the current and recent management’s running of the zoo."

Express understands that Durrell is aware of the impending request for an EGM and has asked for a comment on this.
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This situation reminds me of the upheaval of London Zoo in 1991 when closure seemed a very real possibility and how the staff fought hard with the Fellow's to turn things around to achieve a positive outcome. Obviously ,I'm not saying that Durrell is on the verge of closing, it just reminds me of the similarities. Let's hope that this situation has a positive outcome as London has.
 
More on the unfolding situation from Bailiwick Express and ITV:
https://www.itv.com/news/channel/20...r-board-to-be-ousted-amid-welfare-allegations
More than 100 members of Durrell's Wildlife Conservation Trust have called for Jersey Zoo's board of trustees to be ousted amid allegations about the poor treatment of animals, staff bullying and concerns over the direction of the charity.

Some of the allegations shared with ITV News include that nocturnal animals were put on show in the daytime and woken up for cuddles on VIP visits, and goats were put in an inappropriate environment that led to them getting footrot.

In response, Matthew Hatchwell, Chair of Trustees at Durrell, says: "Animal welfare is and has always been Durrell's priority.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy on bullying. The picture that's being painted to my mind, as far as it's possible to tell as a Trustee, is not representative of the attitude to the Trust among employees as a whole."

Members have collected enough signatures for an 'Extraordinary General Meeting' which could see senior figures pushed out and prompt an investigation into the running of the zoo.

Mr Hatchwell adds: "The requisition for an Extraordinary General Meeting has come from less than 1% of the membership, we don't believe that they're representative of the 20,000 or so members that we have around the world and we welcome the opportunity to speak to both the supporters and the critics when the time comes."

Unite the Union's Jersey office confirmed on social media that concerns about the zoo have been raised with them over "the past year or more".

It added: "Unite will do anything in its power to support and protect the membership and staff in this long-standing employer from the treatments reported to us."
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Zoo's Ops Director left "by mutual consent"
The departure of Jersey Zoo's Director of Operations was "by mutual consent" with Durrell, it has been confirmed – but it is not clear if any exit payment from charity funds will be made.

Graeme Dick, who had overseen the running of the Zoo since October 2021, told staff on Monday that he would be leaving 10 days later on Thursday 28 March.

The organisation has been facing increased pressure from members and staff, who claim the Zoo has lost its way from Gerald Durrell's legacy.

They have collected, Express understands, more 100 signatures to call for an EGM where members would vote on asking Durrell's trustees to resign.

The Zoo has said they had held an in-person mediation with some of these members and representatives of the trustee board, in which they said they sought to "provide clarity on the issues at hand and find a mutually acceptable way forward". But talks collapsed when solutions could not be agreed.

Rebel members have since accelerated efforts to oust Durrell's trustees and push for an independent investigation into the running of the charity, while Gerald Durrell's widow Lee Durrell has urged them to "stop using Gerald's name and legacy" to justify their criticisms and warned of the destabilising effect on Durrell.
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I feel the problem may be the current lack of prestige the collection has due to its recent focus on more commonly kept animals ie domestics.
Also the noticeable reduction in species.
Somebody is needed who will kick start a return to Durrell's championing of the more charismatic Little Brown Jobs, as Jersey will never hold ABC animals.
Some of their stories are interesting enough to spark a resurgence of interest in this collection, and the inevitable return of the general public to visit what was once a world renowned collection.
Sadly I think that the lack of a Durrell heir has taken its toll, as no new books mean his fame has dimmed somewhat, even allowing for the TV show of MFAOA a few years back.
Hopefully it can be turned around, somewhat like Marwell now seems to be on the up after years of poor stewardship.
 
Pertinax said:
Me too... a Sloth kept in a place where it can be disturbed or handled(?), the addition of Guernsey Goats and Capybaras, surely these aren't significant enough for all this fuss? Must be something deeper...
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I agree...., where there is smoke there is fire.
 
GaryA said:
I feel the problem may be the current lack of prestige the collection has due to its recent focus on more commonly kept animals ie domestics.
Also the noticeable reduction in species.
Somebody is needed who will kick start a return to Durrell's championing of the more charismatic Little Brown Jobs, as Jersey will never hold ABC animals.
Some of their stories are interesting enough to spark a resurgence of interest in this collection, and the inevitable return of the general public to visit what was once a world renowned collection.
Sadly I think that the lack of a Durrell heir has taken its toll, as no new books mean his fame has dimmed somewhat, even allowing for the TV show of MFAOA a few years back.
Hopefully it can be turned around, somewhat like Marwell now seems to be on the up after years of poor stewardship.
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I cannot add on more that first and foremost you need an inspired director at the helm with a vision and a fired up team of curators to drive collection planning with an eye both on the wider general public and sticking to the notions of the LBJ and conservation action for smaller species in the context of Durrell.
 
GaryA said:
Sadly I think that the lack of a Durrell heir has taken its toll, as no new books mean his fame has dimmed somewhat, even allowing for the TV show of MFAOA a few years back.
Hopefully it can be turned around, somewhat like Marwell now seems to be on the up after years of poor stewardship.
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This is so important in privately run collections. When the founder goes, so, often, does the identity.
 
GaryA said:
Hopefully it can be turned around, somewhat like Marwell now seems to be on the up after years of poor stewardship.
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Can Marwell be directly compared, my question is?
The way I understand it Marwell's decline per se was caused by the struggle of Cretney's office to maintain exhibits that had been recently opened - something admittedly spaced out some by the addition of new exhibits - though these often met the same fate. And it was Cretney's office at the very end who started to turn things around after the pandemic. And Read seems to have intent to move the torch forward so to speak.
Could such a recession be seen at Durrell too? From what I understand it was mainly the bigger-name species that Durrell had gone out of
 
GaryA said:
Sadly I think that the lack of a Durrell heir has taken its toll, as no new books mean his fame has dimmed somewhat, even allowing for the TV show of MFAOA a few years back.
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I’m assuming Lee Durrell only has limited influence now? Didn’t the zoo also use some of “The Durrells” cast as ambassadors?

Personally, this could also be levelled at other collections, Slimbridge and the Aspinall parks come to mind. I remember speaking to a Keeper at Howletts many years ago who said that Aspinall Snr would be spinning in his grave if they ever housed meerkats. There was a group at Port Lympne!:p
 
Panthera1981 said:
I’m assuming Lee Durrell only has limited influence now?:p
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Afaik she's an 'honorary director' still...but she doesn't live there, lives abroad in Corfu I believe, that's hardly a 'hands-on' situation or at least on the outside, reflecting real comittment, despite having the all important name.
 
I used Marwell as an example given that its founder was a contemporary of Durrell and indeed, Aspinall (all proper "zoo men") and their replacements until recently have led to a period of stagnation (if not outright freefall). Aspinall unusually remained with the family but it seems that many/most wish it had not, and still seems to be hurtling downward with some badly conceived plans.
Lee is now an older lady and after guarding her late husband's legacy for many years, it is understandable that she felt the need to step away. Similarly with his contemporaries in the staff, they have either died or retired, and no strong guiding hand remains.
Perhaps zoos, like some countries, seem to flourish under a dictatorship!
 
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