The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (often referred to as the Durrell Foundation or simply "Durrell") is an international charity dedicated to saving species from extinction through a "wilder, healthier, more colourful world"
. Founded by author and naturalist Gerald Durrell in 1959, the organization is headquartered at Jersey Zoo in the Channel Islands and focuses on intensive, hands-on conservation, habitat restoration, and training.
Key Areas of Work
Species Protection and Recovery: Durrell focuses on rescuing highly threatened species, bringing them back from the brink of extinction through captive breeding, and, where possible, reintroducing them into the wild. Key successes include saving the Mauritius kestrel, pink pigeon, and the Pygmy hog.
Rewilding and Habitat Restoration: The trust works to restore damaged ecosystems by removing invasive species and managing habitats to allow native wildlife to thrive.
Jersey Zoo: Serving as a "window into the wild" and a centre of excellence for animal husbandry, the zoo acts as a specialized facility for breeding endangered species and educating the public.
Conservation Training: Through its academies in Jersey and Mauritius, Durrell provides specialist, in-person and online training for early-career and professional conservationists, particularly in regions where the pressures on wildlife are high.
Conservation Science: The Trust uses scientific research to guide its strategies, monitor threats, and measure the impact of its conservation actions.
Key Regional Projects and Focus Areas
Mauritius: Long-term work to restore ecosystems, such as on Round Island, and save endangered reptiles and birds.
Madagascar: Focuses on protecting endangered lemurs, tortoises, and the Madagascar pochard, while supporting local communities with sustainable, climate-smart agriculture.
Caribbean: Known for the "mountain chicken" frog recovery programme and efforts to tackle Chytrid fungus.
UK (Scotland): Initiated a 100-year rewilding project at the Dalnacardoch Estate in the Cairngorms, focusing on habitat restoration and bringing back native species.
Approach and Vision
Durrell emphasizes a long-term commitment to saving species, often in threatened, high-stakes environments. Their work involves close collaboration with local communities, ensuring that conservation efforts also support the well-being of people who rely on these ecosystems. The trust is also increasingly involved in large-scale rewilding projects to create more resilient landscapes.