Gerald Durrell

TV Show Host

Gerald Durrell was born in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India on January 7th, 1925 and is the TV Show Host. At the age of 70, Gerald Durrell biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.

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Other Names / Nick Names
Gerald Malcolm Durrell
Date of Birth
January 7, 1925
Nationality
United Kingdom
Place of Birth
Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India
Death Date
Jan 30, 1995 (age 70)
Zodiac Sign
Capricorn
Profession
Biologist, Conservationist, Presenter, Writer
Gerald Durrell Height, Weight, Eye Color and Hair Color

At 70 years old, Gerald Durrell has this physical status:

Height
183cm
Weight
Not Available
Hair Color
Not Available
Eye Color
Not Available
Build
Not Available
Measurements
Not Available
Gerald Durrell Religion, Education, and Hobbies
Religion
Not Available
Hobbies
Not Available
Education
Not Available
Gerald Durrell Spouse(s), Children, Affair, Parents, and Family
Spouse(s)
Jacquie Wolfenden, ​ ​(m. 1951; div. 1979)​, Lee Wilson, ​ ​(m. 1979, his death)​
Children
Not Available
Dating / Affair
Not Available
Parents
Lawrence Samuel Durrell, Louisa Florence Durrell (née Dixie)
Siblings
Lawrence Durrell (brother), Margaret Durrell (sister), Leslie Durrell (brother)
Gerald Durrell Life

Gerald Malcolm Durrell (January 1925–January 30, 1995) was a British naturalist, zookeeper, writer, and television presenter.

On the Channel Island of Jersey in 1959, he founded the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Jersey Zoo.

His family's years living in Greece were turned into two television series (My Family and Other Animals, 1987) and one television film (My Family and Other Animals, 2005).

He wrote about forty books, the most notable being My Family and Other Animals (1956).

He was Lawrence Durrell's youngest brother.

Early life and education

On January 7, 1925, Durrell was born in Jamshedpur, British India. Louisa Florence Dixie and Lawrence Samuel Durrell were the fifth and youngest child of his family (an elder brother who died in infancy) of India of English and Indian descent, both of whom were born in India of English and Irish descent. Durrell's father was a British engineer, and the infant Durrell spent the majority of his time in the company of an ayah (nursemaid). Durrell recalled his first visit to a zoo in India and attributed his lifelong passion of animals to this visit.

The family migrated to the United Kingdom shortly after his father's death in 1928 and settled in the Upper Norwood, Crystal Palace, neighborhood of South London. Durrell was enrolled in Wickwood School but stayed at home often, feigning illness.

Early animal expeditions

In May 1946, Durrell left Whipsnade Zoo in order to participate in wildlife research expeditions, but he was refused a spot in the voyages due to his lack of experience. His wildlife expeditions began in 1947 with a trip to the British Cameroons (now part of Cameroon) with ornithologist John Yealland, who was funded by a £3,000 inheritance from his father on turning 21. The animals he brought back were donated to London Zoo, Chester Zoo, Paignton Zoo, Bristol Zoo, Bristol Zoo, and Belle Vue Zoological Gardens. He and two others rode a repeat trip to the British Cameroon in 1949 and a trip to British Guiana (now Guyana) in 1950. On the first of these trips, he met Fon Bafut Achirimbi II, an autocratic West African chieftain who helped him plan future missions.

Durrell housed and fed his captives with the best available ingredients, not trapping animals that have only "show value" or ones that would sell for high prices from collectors. These activities were different from those of previous animal-collecting expeditions, and by the time of his third expedition, he was in financial trouble. Durrell was also in danger with George Cansdale, the London Zoo's superintendent, and the British zoo community had blackballed him and he was unable to find a job in the majority of zoos. He eventually secured a job at Belle Vue Zoo in Manchester, where he stayed for some time.

Durrell started writing amusing autobiographical books to raise funds with Jacquie's encouragement and assistance, as well as Lawrence's advice. He started this because he and Jacquie were in need of money after their marriage and he had no source of income, and he later wrote to finance his expeditions and conservation efforts. His first book, The Overloaded Ark, was a huge success, prompting him to follow up with other similar stories. He only made £50 from British rights (Faber and Faber), but the author earned £500 from the United States rights (Viking Press) for the book, which enabled him to raise money for a fourth expedition to South America in 1954. This, however, was carried out during a political coup d'état in Paraguay and was unsuccessful.

Personal life

After a lengthy courtship, Durrell married Manchester resident Jacqueline ('Jacquie') Wolfenden, who eloped when she was 21 years old due to her father's resistance. In Durrell's sister Margaret's Bournemouth boarding house, the couple lived in a tiny bedsitter. Jacquie joined him on most of his safari trips and helped establish and operate the Jersey Zoo. In addition, she wrote two amusing, best-selling memoirs based on Durrell's books in order to raise funds for conservation efforts. They separated and divorced in 1979, blaming the pressures of his job and their alcoholism.

Gerald married American Lee McGeorge Wilson, who attended a lecture at Duke University in North Carolina in 1977, where she was a doctoral student. He was 52 years old when he was born in Berlin, and she was 28 years old. Both were enthusiastic naturalists. They were married until his death.

Source

Jersey Zoo in crisis over animal welfare concerns: Directors and senior staff quit as critics say reserve set up by David Attenborough's friend Gerald Durrell has turned its back on its ethos

www.dailymail.co.uk, May 7, 2024
Conservationists have raised concerns about the conditions exotic animals are being kept in at the zoo following the publication of a number of distressing photos from inside. One image showed a Sloth, which are usually found lounging about in tall trees, lying on the floor of a public stairwell, allegedly close to children. While another image appeared to show a bloody aardvark with scratches down its back. Critics of Jersey Zoo have cited the newly surfaced pictures as illustrative of the ongoing crisis at the zoo which has seen in recent months staff, with a combined career at the zoo spanning over 250 years, quit en masse.

Inspirational fighting spirit of boy given a gift by King Charles: Eleven-year-old cancer sufferer has battled the disease for half his life - and had 'biggest lung tumour doctors had ever seen'

www.dailymail.co.uk, April 30, 2024
Adorable Ellis Edwards, 11, won the hearts of the nation as the smartly dressed schoolboy proudly told of how he was very excited to meet the 75-year-old monarch as Charles made his return to public-facing duties. But beneath the smiles, like the King, Ellis is facing his own cancer battle and has been fighting the disease for half of his life. For a brief moment, Ellis and Charles could forget their health worries together as the little boy charmed Queen Camilla with details about his visits to Hamleys and the cinema. The youngster's mother, Carly, said the meet outside the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London - where inside he is receiving radiotherapy treatment - was a 'nice distraction' for him.

A gift from the King! Young cancer sufferer, 11, tells of his excitement as he's handed presents from Charles and Camilla outside hospital - after monarch met and held hands with chemotherapy patients on return to public duties

www.dailymail.co.uk, April 30, 2024
An 11-year-old cancer patient said today it was 'very exciting' meeting the King and Queen after they gave him three books and a Buckingham Palace chocolate coin. Ellis Edwards was among those gathered at the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London as Charles and Camilla visited this morning. The boy from Southampton, who is receiving radiotherapy at the hospital, greeted the King and Queen with his mother Carly Edwards and gave them flowers. Ellis was given Swallows And Amazons by Arthur Ransome, The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono and My Family And Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. He later said: 'I was telling her (Camilla) about my treatment and my trip to Leicester Square, going to Hamleys and the cinemas. It was very exciting meeting them.' Ms Edwards added: 'It's a really nice distraction this. I'm really proud of him, he's really brave and a superstar so it's great he can do something nice. He deserves it.' Ellis and another girl, six-year-old Della Thomas, presented Charles and Camilla with posies as they left the hospital around noon after meeting cancer patients. The royals gave Della of a large stuffed toy Jack Russell dog, based on the Queen's own pet Beth, and some Beefeater stationery - as well as a large chocolate coin.