Jersey Summer 2008
Mauritius
Durrell Wildlife Trust, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation and the Mauritian National Parks service have been re-introducing reptiles on to several islands which over the last 30 years have been cleared of rats and other introduced species, and alien vegetation.
The southern subspecies of Bojer's Skink (Gongylomorphus bojerii fontenayi), now found only on the small (1 hectare) island of Ilot Vacoas, has been released onto the neighbouring Ilot Fouquets. The total popoulation was only 350 lizards and 40 were releases onto Ilot Fouquets. Both populations are doing well and furthur transfers to other islands are planned.
Telfair's Skink (Leilopisma telfairi), once found only on Round Island, now lives on Ile aux Aigrettes anf Gunners Quoin also. 510 skinks were transferred from Round Island. One benefit of this project is the skinks have a liking for the flesh of introduced snails.
Gunners Quoin is also the home of 70 Orange-tailed Skinks (Gongylomorphus sp.), removed from Flat Island. This project was only recently undertaken, however one baby skink has been recorded.
Ilot Chat is a very small rock in the Indian Ocean, measuring 15x25 metres. 30 specimens each of Durrell's Night Gecko (Nactus durrelli) and Lesser Night Gecko (Nasctus coindemirensis) were released and established themselves. Sadly a rat made its way to the rock and ate all the geckos before it could be trapped.
West Indies
Durrell Wildlife Trust and the Hispaniolan Ornithological Society have been conducting a population survey of the Hispaniolan Solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus) and Hispaniolan Hutia (Plagiodonta aedium).
During a twelve day period only one solenodon was trapped, but signs of a large population were evident in the form of scats and burrows.
Hutia proved to be even more elusive with none trapped but several observed by the researchers.
Durrell and the Zoological Society of London are jointly sponsoring field work for these two species.
The Grand Cayman Blue Iguana (Cyclura lewisi) programme suffered a setback when vandals broke into the breeding centre and killed seven iguanas in May 2008. In August 2008 two more specimens were killed by feral dogs.
Comoros Islands
A new roost of the Livingstone's Fruit Bat (Pteropus livingstonei) was discovered on Mohéli. As is normally the case it was shared with the much smaller Seychelles Fruit Bat (Pteropus seychellensis).
United Kingdom
Durrell plan to carry out in-situ conservation of South American frogs. Data is already being collected for a 2009 start.
The Agile Frog (Rana dalmatina) has its most northerly distribution point in Jersey and the trust released 2700 captive bred tadpoles into the wild in 2008. The Amphibian ark has a capacity of 10000 tadpoles and it is hoped to release even more specimens in 2009, when a trial will be undertaken to rear the young to the frog stage also.
Sumatran Orang Utan (Pongo abelii) Dana arrived during the summer from Hanover Zoo. She has settled in extremely well and is already great friends with the young female Mawar and baby Gempa. The old female Gina is more aloof, but Dana has been accepted by Dagu the male.
Durrell now owns a DNA sequencer which will be used for genetic research into populations of endangered species.
Not forgetting the plant kingdom Durrell have also been active in flora conservation. In 2006 only one specimen of the Jersey Pink (Dianthus gallicus), endemic to Jersey survived. Durrell obtained permission to take 19 cuttings from the plant which were propogated at the zoo. Early in 2008 18 new plats were put back into the wild. Specimens are also on view in the Trust's grounds. Durrell are now trying to grow them from seed.
A project to grow more endangered Jersey plats is taking place, these are Jersey Fern (Anogramma leptophylla), Jersety Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis sicula) and Pale Flax (Linum bienne).
2009 will be the 50th anniversary of Jersey Zoo.
India
16 Pygmy Hogs (Porcula savalina) have been released into the wild at the Sonai rupai Wildlife Sactuary at Potasali, Assam. One female has already had a litter.
Mauritius
The Peregrine Fund, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Madagascan Government and Durrell are participating in the Madagascan Pochard (Aythya innotata) programme.
The Peregrine Fund will undertake a study of the wild birds, while Durrell are going to set up a local breeding centre, and also to bring some specimens of the world's rarest duck back to Jersey once they are breeding at the in-situ centre.
Colombia
The mortality rate of captive White-footed Tamarins (Saguinus leucopus) has reduced from 90% to 20% as a direct result of a campaign to educate people in tamarin husbandry. 20 young were successfully reared in Colombian zoos in 2007.
