News about Gerald Durrell

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.

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.

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.

For good reason, the Princess Royal, 73, is regarded as the UK's most hardworking monarch; she is active with more than 300 charities, organisations, and military regiments. One of these is the Whitley Fund for Nature, which was established as the Whitley Awards in 1993 and has since raised £20 million for over 200 conservationists in 80 countries. Anne's involvement with the charity reveals her deep love for nature, one she brings home to her 18th-century manor estate in Gatcombe Park, Gloucestershire, England. She told The Telegraph that she isn't sure that rewilding at scale is a good idea - it's likely that it is in corners, but if you're not careful, rewild all the wrong things because they are the things that are most profitable at growing.'