Here is a report on the Durrell Wildlife Trust which I received earlier this year. It seems although there is not much happening in the zoo, the Trust's field work is expanding.
Durrell Wildlife Trust has been credited with saving 7 out of the 26 bird species which would have become extinct without the actions of conservationists. The seven species are Mauritius Kestrel (Falco punctatus), Rodrigues Fody (Foudica flavicans), Rodrigues Warbler (Acrocephalus rodericanus), Mauritius Pink Pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri), Echo Parrakeet (Psittacula equees), Bali Starling (Leucopsar rothschildi) and the Waldrapp Ibis (Geronticus eremita).
Measures pioneered by the Trust are currently being used to aid the conservation of Mauritius Fody (Foudia rubra), Round Island Petrel (Pterodroma arminjoniana) and Olive White-eye (Zosterops chloronothus).
A survey on Montserrat in 2005-2006 revealed the presence of the Montserrat Galliwasp (Diploglossus montisserrati), Guadeloupe Big-eyed Bat (Chiroderma improvisum) and Yellow-shouldered Volcano Bat (Sturnira thomasi), all previously thought to be extinct, together with the re-discovery of a shrub and an orchid which were also thought to be extinct.
An in-situ plan to conserve the Madagascan Pochard (Aythya innotata) is being inaugarated.
20 Ploughshare Tortoises (Angonoka yniphora) bred at the Ampijoroa breeding centre in Madagascar were released into the wild. The Trust has now released 45 young tortoises back into their natural habitat.
The St Lucia Whiptail Lizard (Cnemidophorus vanzoi) was successfully released onto Praslin Island in 1995 and the population now numbers 335. The Trust are investigating the possibility of creating two new colonies on Rat Island and Dennery Island. The known range of this lizard is only 12 hectares, all of it on islands off the eastern coast of St Lucia.
The Trust has achieved a protection order for 125000 hectares of Madagascan habitat at Menabe, including dry forest, mangrove swamps and wetlands. Included in this total is a 30000 hectare total conservation area. The reserve contains Flat-tailed Tortoises (Pyxis planicauda), Madagascan Giant Jumping Rats (Hypogeomys antimena) , Narrow-striped Mongooses (Mungotictis decemlineata) and Berthe's Mouse Lemurs (Microcebus berthae).
Durrell Wildlife are investigation projects to conserve Atelopus frogs in Lake Negra, Venezuela and another un-named (in the magazine that is, not an undescribed species) critically endangered frog in the Merida region of Venezuela.
A conservation programme has doubled the wild population of Grand Cayman Blue Iguanas (Cyclura lewisi). These lizards are raised in captivity until they are three years old, and then they are released into the wild. Two releses of 92 and 103 lizards have taken place.
An in-situ breeding programme has begun for the Mangrove Finch (Camarhynchus heliobates), in conjunction with the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapágos National Park.
An attempt is being made to count the number of St Lucia Parrots (Amazona versicolor) in the wild.
The Olive White-eye (Zosterops chloronothus) has been successfully bred in captivity and 15 chicks have been released on to Ils aux Aigrettes, off the coast of Mauritius. This project is jointly run by Durrell Wildlife, Chester Zoo and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation.
Durrell Wildlife is monitoring the effects of development within the range of the White-breasted Thrasher (Ramphocinclus brachyurus) on behalf of the St Lucia Forestry Department. The known population is less than 1100 birds.
Births at the zoo (winter 2006)
White-chinned Emperor Tamarins (Saguinus imperator subgriscens)
Spiny Hill Turtle (Heosemys spinosa)
Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii)
Bartlett's Bleeding Heart Pigeon (Gallicolumba criniger)
Births at the zoo (spring 2007)
Madagascan Giant Jumping Rat (Hypogeomys antimena)
Bartlett's Bleeding Heart Pigeon (Gallicolumba criniger)
Pied Tamarin (Saguinus bicolor)