Gerald Durrell: A Hundred Years Since His Birth

Gerald Durrell was born on January 7, 1925, in colonial India, then under British rule. Today marks the 100th anniversary of his birth. This milestone is being celebrated across the globe by those who care about nature, wildlife, the protection of endangered species, or simply enjoy the works of this prolific and talented writer, whose numerous books have also been published in Hungarian.

Most people know Durrell primarily as an author and filmmaker. However, within the zoo community, he is celebrated as a revolutionary figure who transformed the concept of zoos, especially their role in wildlife conservation.

During the early days of modern zoos in the 18th and 19th centuries, these institutions were primarily established for educational, cultural, and scientific purposes. Conservation, as we understand it today, did not yet exist. However, by the early 20th century, it became increasingly evident that many species were at risk of extinction, requiring urgent efforts to save them. The first zoo-based conservation program, launched in the 1920s, aimed to save the European bison, with the Budapest Zoo already contributing to this effort. It was not until the 1960s that the global zoo community formally recognized conservation as a core mission—and Gerald Durrell was instrumental in shaping this vision.

Readers of Durrell’s books will know that he often expressed a lifelong dream of creating a unique zoo dedicated to the protection of endangered species. His plan was to use his inheritance to fund animal-collecting expeditions for zoos and, with the proceeds, establish his own zoo. To gain experience, he worked as a zookeeper trainee at the Whipsnade Zoo under the Zoological Society of London. After gaining access to his inheritance, he organized several expeditions to collect animals. Though these expeditions did not bring the financial success he had hoped for, his books—based on his childhood, Whipsnade, and expedition experiences—became hugely popular. The revenue and fame from these writings ultimately allowed him to establish his dream zoo. In 1959, the Jersey Zoo (now the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust) opened its doors.

At his zoo, Durrell pioneered innovative methods for keeping and breeding endangered species and launched programs to improve the long-term survival of species in their natural habitats.

Although Gerald Durrell passed away in 1995 at the age of 70, the zoo and conservation organization he founded continue to thrive. His books have inspired countless zookeepers and conservationists, and even 30 years after his death, his legacy remains highly respected worldwide. We, too, honor his memory. In this spirit, our zoo will host a commemorative session organized by the Zoological Section of the Hungarian Biological Society in a few weeks, marking the 100th anniversary of Gerald Durrell’s birth and the 30th anniversary of his passing.