Lemurs & Lee Durrell at Whipsnade Zoo

Tonight sees the start of ‘The Durrells’,  ITV’s new six part series based on the conservationist Gerald Durrell’s famous book ‘ My Family & Other Animals’, which was first published sixty years ago. The story is set in Corfu where a young Gerald, his mum, sister and two brothers moved to in 1935 and stayed until the outbreak of World War Two. From a very young age Durrell had been obsessed with animals and the book tells us of his adventures with the local wildlife and the exploits of his rather eccentric family too!

Back in 1987 I watched the BBC’s adaptation of the book and loved it so much I rushed out to buy myself a copy. I was particularly interested in Gerald Durrell as he had worked as a student zoo keeper for two years at Whipsnade Zoo after the war, which brings me to the point of why I’m writing this blog post! https://www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo

My photo is of Gerald’s second wife, Dr Lee Durrell opening the new Lemur Island at Whipsnade Zoo back in 1998, sadly Gerald had died three years earlier and the Island was dedicated to his memory. Lee is a famous zoologist in her own right and they had married in 1979 and worked together in animal conservation. Gerald had earlier founded Jersey Zoo and Lee today carries on Gerald’s legacy through her work with the zoo and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust https://www.durrell.org/wildlife/conservation/

I remember being really excited about going to the opening to photograph Lee and the Lemurs and I was not disappointed as she was lovely, waiting very patiently until the Lemurs kindly obliged to give me a front page photo for the Dunstable Gazette!

Over the years I’ve since been back to Whipsnade to photograph the Lemurs many times and always think of the day when Lee opened their new home! I’ll be watching tonight for sure when it starts at 8pm!