AN estimated £200,000 worth of damage was caused at Jersey Zoo by Storm Ciarán, according to Durrell, which has launched a fundraising appeal to help in the recovery.
A flamingo and a chestnut-backed thrush died following last week’s storm, Durrell said in an email to its members yesterday, while many trees were felled, as well as damage to enclosures and buildings, including the Zoo’s onsite organic farm which provides food for many of the animals.
Closed since the storm with resulting losses in revenue, the Zoo said it would admit the public again on Saturday, with the Café Firefly, gift shop and its charity shop having reopened yesterday[Wed]. Although Durrell hope that most of the cost of the repairs will be covered by insurance, they say this is not guaranteed and it will take some time to lodge claims.
Launching their fundraising appeal, Durrell said: “The destruction of our onsite organic farm will have immediate and long-term consequences.
“Last year, the use of eco-friendly farming methods resulted in the harvest of over 3,000kg of produce. The loss of our organic farm will mean that we will need to purchase additional food to feed our animals.”
Durrell said that Islanders could help in several ways: by joining as a member, by shopping with them and by helping fundraise. Donations of any size to their fundraising appeal would make a huge difference to them at this time, they added.
Anyone wanting to help can contact: supportercare@durrell.org or call 860111 for information. Further details of are available on the JustGiving page: justgiving.com/campaign/loveyourzoo.
