Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Description
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust is an international charity working to save species from extinction.
It was established by author and conservationist Gerald Durrell in 1959 and is headquartered at Jersey Zoo in the Channel Islands. The trust runs conservation programmes in a number of countries, breeding and recovering threatened species and restoring habitats and ecological functions. Jersey Zoo itself serves as a centre for animal husbandry, research, training and education, and as a way to connect visitors with nature.
The organization pursues its mission through four operational pillars: rewilding sites in the field, the zoo, conservation training, and science. Its academies in Jersey and Mauritius train aspiring and early-career conservationists through online and in-person courses. A dedicated conservation science team provides evidence to guide strategy, monitor the effectiveness of actions, and evaluate impact across the trust’s work.
Latest news
Healthy new generation of world's rarest duck gives fresh hope for species recovery
Six Madagascar pochards successfully reared after eggs were collected from the wild and carried 44km on foot - a conservation breakthrough that gives scientists a powerful new tool to help protect the species.
21 Aug 2026
‘Jamaican me intrigued’ - new iguanas at Jersey Zoo
Last week, after months of planning, we welcomed two Critically Endangered Jamaican iguanas to Jersey Zoo.
10 Aug 2026
Madagascar mongoose joins Jersey Zoo
Jersey Zoo has welcomed yet another set of arrivals to its site this summer, this time in the form of two ring-tailed vontsira called Agnes and Vonathan. The species is native to Madagascar, where they are known for their striking reddish-brown fur and ringed tail. Vontsira are excellent...
7 Aug 2026
A 40-year commitment to protect the world’s most threatened tortoise
In 1986, Gerald and Lee Durrell launched an ambitious project to save the world’s most threatened tortoise, the ploughshare, also known as the ‘Angonoka’ in Malagasy. Forty years later, we are still there.
23 Jul 2026
Successful second translocation of lesser night geckos, despite predation from invasive species
Despite unexpected challenges, another 104 lesser night geckos have returned to Mauritius thanks to the quick response of Durrell and our partners from the Mauritius Island Restoration Programme.
22 Jul 2026
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