It is only quite recently that conservationists and zoological gardens have become aware of these facts of life, and the majority of zoos now realise that their function is no longer to exist as places of interest and amusement, but that their primary object must be to keep and breed these threatened species. They must, in fact, act as reservoirs to prevent hundreds of animals from becoming extinct.
In 1959 I started a zoo in Jersey, in the Channel Islands, with just such an objective in mind. Once the zoo was established, I turned it into the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust. The purposes of the Trust are quite straightforward: firstly, to try to build up breeding colonies of those species which, in their natural state, receive either no protection or merely token paper protection, thus ensuring that they do not vanish for ever. We live in hopes, at the same time, that eventually breeding pairs might be re-introduced to their country of origin. The second purpose is to try to explain the urgent need for conservation – but sensible conservation, based on what we know about the way the world functions and bearing in mind the needs of mankind. Although we are small, we are the very first zoo in the world to devote all our efforts to this sort of conservation and because we are small, we need your help.
If you enjoyed this book and have read and enjoyed some of my other books, then you will realise that it is the animals that have made it enjoyable. I am now asking you to help me to save some of these animals. You might never, in your lifetime, see the creatures that you are helping, but does this matter? Do you feel cheated on Poppy Day because you cannot actually see the maimed victim that your half-crown is helping?
Unlike us, animals have no control over their future. They cannot ask for home rule, they cannot worry their M.P.s with their grievances, they cannot even get their unions to agree to a strike for better conditions. Their future and their very existence depends on us. The Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust has created a sanctuary for the innumerable threatened species, a place where they can live and breed without fear of enemies – human or animal. Eventually, we hope, when conditions in their native countries permit, they and their offspring can be reintroduced to their natural habitat. In effect, then, we have created a sort of stationary Noah’s Ark. The need for such work is terribly urgent. In the case of many animals, help in five or ten years will be too late – they will have vanished. In order to survive they need your help, but they need it now. By becoming a member of the Trust you will be helping them immeasurably, so put this book down and write to me at the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust, Les Augres Manor, Trinity, Jersey, Channel Islands, and say you will join, and then get all your relatives and friends (even your enemies) to join as well. With your help dozens of species may be saved.
A MESSAGE FROM
THE DURRELL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION TRUST
The end of this book isn’t the end of Gerald Durrell’s story. The various experiences you have just read about gave impetus and inspiration to his lifetime crusade to preserve the rich diversity of animal life on this planet.
Although he died in 1995, the words of Gerald Durrell in this and his other books will continue to inspire people everywhere with love and respect for what he called ‘this magical world’. His work goes on through the untiring efforts of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Over the years many readers of Gerald Durrell’s books have been so motivated by his experiences and vision that they have wanted to continue the story for themselves by supporting the work of his Trust. We hope that you will feel the same way today because through his books and life, Gerald Durrell set us all a challenge. ‘Animals are the great voteless and voiceless majority,’ he wrote, ‘who can only survive with our help.’
Please don’t let your interest in conservation end when you turn this page. Write to us now and we’ll tell you how you can be part of our crusade to save animals from extinction. For further information, or to send a donation, write to:
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Les Augrès Manor
La Profonde Rue
Trinity
Jersey, Channel Islands
JE3 5BP
Or visit the website:
www.durrell.org
Bello:
hidden talent rediscovered!
Bello is a digital only imprint of Pan Macmillan, established to breathe new life into previously published, classic books.
At Bello we believe in the timeless power of the imagination, of good story, narrative and entertainment and we want to use digital technology to ensure that many more readers can enjoy these books into the future.
We publish in ebook and Print on Demand formats to bring these wonderful books to new audiences.
About Bello:
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By Gerald Durrell
My Family and Other Animals
A Zoo in My Luggage
Birds, Beasts and Relatives
Garden of the Gods
The Overloaded Ark
The Talking Parcel
The Mockery Bird
The Donkey Rustlers
Catch me A Colobus
Beasts In My Belfry
The New Noah
The Drunken Forest
The Whispering Land
Rosy is My Relative
Two in the Bush
Three Singles to Adventure
The Ark’s Anniversary
Golden Bats and Pink Pigeons
Menagerie Manor
The Picnic and Suchlike Pandemonium
The Bafut Beagles
Marrying off Mother and Other Stories
The Aye-Aye And I
Fillets of Plaice
Ark on the Move
Encounters with Animals
The Stationary Ark
Two in the Bush
Two in the Bush is a record of a six-month journey which took Gerald Durrell, his wife Jacquie, and two cameramen through New Zealand, Australia and Malaya. The object was, first, to see what was being done about the conservation of wildlife in these countries, and, secondly, to make a series of television films for the BBC. They were introduced to many rare and remarkable animals – Royal Albatrosses, Tuataras, Duck-Billed Platypuses, Flying Lizards and Long-Nosed Bandicoots, as well as to some equally unusual humans.
Anyone who has read The Overloaded Ark, The Bafut Beagles or The Whispering Land will have enjoyed Gerald Durrell’s enthusiastic adventuring and his delight in the absurdity of the situations in which he finds himself. His observation of animal – and human – behaviour is always informative and often hilarious.
First published in 1970 by Collins
This edition published 2012 by Bello
an imprint of Pan Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited
Pan Macmillan, 20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR
Basingstoke and Oxford
Associated companies throughout the world
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ISBN 978-1-4472-1453-3 EPUB
ISBN 978-1-4472-1452-6 POD
Copyright © Gerald Durrell, 1970
The right of Gerald Durrell to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Every effort has been made to contact the copyright holders of the material reproduced in this book. If any have been inadvertently overlooked, the publisher will be pleased to make restitution at the earliest opportunity.
You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
The Macmillan Group has no responsibility for the information provided by any author websites whose address you obtain from this book (‘author websites’). The inclusion of author website addresses in this book does not constitute an endorsement by or association with us of such sites or the content, products, advertising or other materials presented on such sites.
This book remains true to the original in every way. Some aspects may appear out-of-date to modern-day readers. Bello makes no apology for this, as to retrospectively change any content would be anachronistic and undermine the authenticity of the original. Bello has no responsibility for the content of the material in this book. The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not constitute an endorsement by, or association with, us of the characterisation and content.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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