ISLANDERS and visitors will be invited to take a ‘shellfie’ next summer when Durrell launches its new sculpture trail.
Following the success of the Go Wild Gorillas trail – which saw 50 large sculptures depicting the iconic silverback painted by artists and placed in locations around the Island in 2019 – the Zoo’s chief executive, Dr Lesley Dickie, has announced the animal which will be immortalised in the initiative’s 2023 incarnation.
Next summer, it will be giant tortoise artworks that people will be able to visit in different parts of Jersey for the Tortoise Takeover. Dr Dickie said that the animal had been chosen because of Durrell’s long association with it and because, despite being around for hundreds of millions of years, it was now critically endangered.
‘Tortoises are incredibly important to Durrell,’ she explained.
The tortoise sculptures, an example of which was unveiled at an event at Government House on Tuesday evening, stand about three feet tall.
Dr Dickie said that the trails, which have been popular in cities and other locations around the world, got people out into nature and looking at nature.
‘People were so excited when they walked from place to place or cycled with their friends or their family,’ she said of the Go Wild Gorillas trail, adding that seeing how excited people got being able to see the artworks was ‘just wonderful’.
An auction held at the end of the initiative raised more than £1 million for the Zoo and its conservation work. That money has been used to fund the building of a new gorilla house, work on which, Dr Dickie said, was just starting.
‘We are about to see the tangible results,’ she added.
Turning to the tortoise sculptures, Dr Dickie explained: ‘It’s an amazing blank canvas for the artists. It’s a fabulous shape to paint and we are very excited to see what the artists come up with.’
Durrell are now looking for sponsors and artists to get involved.
Money raised from the trail and subsequent auction will fund a new tropical house for the Zoo’s reptiles and amphibians.
It was also revealed at the event that one of the sculptures will be given to Princess Anne, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her patronage of Durrell.
At the event, Dr Dickie presented the Lieutenant Governor, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, and Lady Dalton with lifetime membership of the organisation to say thank you for the support they had given during the past five years. Sir Stephen is due to stand down shortly and is moving with his wife to Scotland.
