The organisation recently won two ‘Zoo Oscars’ at the annual awards ceremony held by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Gold awards were presented to the group in the research and conservation categories. They recognised Durrell’s project to save the mountain chicken – a large frog native to the Caribbean islands of Dominica and Montserrat – and research it has carried out about the impact of conservation work done by zoos.
Mark Brayshaw, the head of animal collection at Durrell, which has a mountain chicken captive-breeding programme that is helping to increase numbers of the endangered amphibian, said: ‘We are delighted to receive these two awards that highlight all the hard work that both our staff, and also our international partners, have put into these important conservation initiatives.
‘While we do not undertake the work that we do for recognition, it is always pleasing to receive validation such as this is, and collectively it drives the zoo community to even greater achievements.’
Mr Brayshaw explained that Durrell’s work to help save the mountain chicken could not have been achieved without the help of London Zoo, Chester Zoo, Swedish zoo Nordens Ark and the governments of Dominica and Montserrat.
‘There is still a long way to go to secure the survival of this threatened amphibian and it is only through collaborative conservation partnerships such as these that we stand a chance of success,’ he added.
This year’s BIAZA awards were held at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire, where 100 people gathered to celebrate different institutions’ contribution to animal welfare, wildlife conservation and the public understanding of horticulture.
MASCOTS for the 2015 NatWest Island Games that are modelled on Durrell’s youngest silverback gorilla went on sale in December last year.
Two-year-old Indigo was the first gorilla to be born at the park in more than a decade and was chosen as the mascot for the games because of his youth and energy.
And following the decision to name the gorilla as the first living ambassador in the history of the games, Islanders can now buy a limited-edition replica soft toy in order to raise funds for the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
The mascots are on sale at Durrell wildlife park, the Tourist Information Centre and at the Island’s three Waitrose branches. Kelly Barker, head of marketing and commercial at Durrell, said that the trust was very excited that Indigo had been chosen for the role of mascot.
‘He has an engaging character that resonates with visitors from all around the world and we hope him being mascot will bring further awareness and important funds to continue to help save species from extinction,’ she said.
