Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

Volunteer Handbook 2014

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Welcome Thank you for considering volunteering at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Volunteers are at the very heart of our organization, helping with the day to day running of the Park as well as with a range of different fundraising and conservation activities

It’s our ambition to make sure everyone who gives their time to us feels valued, understood and proud to be part of Durrell. This handbook will help familiarise you with the history and mechanics of our organisation, and is here to explain the things you will need to know about volunteering with us. We hope you find it helpful. If you’d like more detailed information on any of the subjects covered, please contact us we will be happy to help.

Thank you once again for your interest.

Susie BrayshawVolunteer Coordinator01534 860045 susan.brayshaw@durrell.org

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“Durrell and all the staff have made my life so full in many ways. I now deal with the public in the Visitor Centre and go home feeling 'rewarded' and 'fulfilled' that I am part of such a great team and helping (in my small way) to keep our Planet and its wildlife safe for future generations!”

Photo: James Morgan

1. Who we areA brief history of DurrellThe author and naturalist Gerald Durrell founded the Jersey Zoo in 1959. It became a Charitable Trust in 1963 and was renamed Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in 1999, in honour of its founder. Gerald Durrell pioneered the concept that zoos have an essential role to play in the conservation of wildlife. His vision was of a safe haven for the world’s most endangered animals, where the public could learn about and engage with efforts required to save them. Gerald Durrell received the OBE for his work in 1983. He passed away in 1995, leaving behind a unique, powerful and enduring legacy in the field of biodiversity conservation.

Gerald Durrell with a young silky anteaterCyclopes didactylus.

Dr Lee Durrell succeeded her husband as Honorary Director of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in 1995, and still maintains an active and important involvement in the Trust's work, both in Jersey and overseas.

Currently at DurrellCurrently, the wildlife park in Jersey is home to 120 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, some of which are allowed to roam free and others thrive in spacious, naturalistic enclosures. Notable among the mammals are families of Western Lowland gorillas, various monkeys and lemurs, Sumatran orangutans and fruit bats. In the Amphibian and Reptile Breeding Centre live some of the rarest creatures in the world, such as Komodo dragons and the mountain chicken.The bird department works with over 40 species of bird and has, over the years, worked on the recovery programs of many species. These include the pink pigeon, Madagascar teal, Waldrapp ibis, Meller's duck, Mauritius kestrel, Bali starling, Montserrat oriole, St. Lucian parrot and Echo parakeet.

The wildlife park welcomes 175,000 visitors annually and the Durrell Training Academy, established in the early 1980s, now has 3,500 graduates from 135 different countries.

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Photo credit: James Morgan

The mountain chicken bred in Jersey and released on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. Photo: Sarah-Louise Adams Durrell

In the field, conservation projects are being undertaken all over the world (see map below), with a focus on two integrated themes:

• ‘Islands at Risk,’ as many of the most threatened species are found only in island ecosystems such as Montserrat and the Galapagos, and

• ‘Critical Species,’ groups of species which have a high risk of extinction and for which Durrell can have the greatest positive impact, such as the Sumatran orangutans, pictured right.

Sumatran orangutans. Photo: Jon Stark Durrell

The location of current Durrell field programmes

The Red-billed Chough. Photo: Andrew Kelly

As well as work abroad, Durrell has undertaken research and/or recovery programmes in Jersey for red squirrels, farmland birds, green and wall lizards, Jersey toads and agile frogs, orchids and several species of wildflower. The most recent programme is the restoration of the red-billed chough (a type of crow, pictured left), which became extinct in Jersey in the early 1900s.

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What volunteers do Incredibly we have ~250 volunteers at Durrell, helping the Trust in a variety of different ways. For example, there are opportunities to give guided tours to visitors, help with fundraising events, administration, work in the organic garden or help staff in daily tasks such as food preparation and caring for animals.

Helping in our Gerald Durrell exhibition Photo: Susie Brayshaw Durrell

Preparing food for the birds Photo: Colm Farrington Durrell

We have regular volunteers coming to Durrell weekly or daily, and irregular volunteers who come when they’d like to participate in a specific task or project. Please talk to the volunteer coordinator for information regarding current vacancies, or future projects.

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Giving information to visitors at Durrell Day.

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“Volunteering at Durrell means I get to meet some amazing people. We have an excellent hardworking team but our visitors are pretty special too.”

What you can expect from usWe want to make sure that you enjoy your role and get the most out of it. As part of our commitment to our volunteers we will:

Ensure you have a clear idea of your responsibilities, including the length of time we’d like you to be involved with various projects

Give you information about the training and support available to help you carry out your role

Offer you fair, honest and timely feedback on your work if required Update you on how your work has made a difference Always treat you with respect, consideration and appreciation

We are committed to a policy of treating all volunteers and volunteer applicants equally and fairly. We accept volunteers based on their suitability for the role. We won’t discriminate against any volunteers because of their age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.

What we expect from youTo ensure you get the most out of volunteering at Durrell we ask you to:

Assist Durrell to the best of your ability Please act in a professional way whenever you represent Durrell Please provide as much notice as possible if you are unable to fulfil your

volunteering commitment, or you no longer wish to be involved in a project Do ask for guidance if you don’t fully understand your role or

responsibilities Please read and adhere to the Volunteer Agreement, outlined in Section 2 Please be aware of, and comply with, all Durrell procedures and policies. Always treat Durrell students, supporters, visitors, staff and fellow

volunteers with respect, consideration and appreciation

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Galapagos giant tortoise. Photo: Georgina Sawyer

2. The Volunteer AgreementAs a volunteer it is important that you read and understand the volunteer agreement outlined below.

Volunteer hours Volunteers may assist at Durrell for as many hours as they are willing. Volunteers should always sign in and out at the visitor centre. This is

required for health and safety reasons and gives us information on how many total volunteer hours are worked over the course of a year.

UniformAs a volunteer for Durrell you’re an ambassador for the organisation. You’re responsible for presenting a positive image to visitors and the community. Please use your judgement to dress appropriately for the activities you’re asked to carry out. If you are unsure about what to wear for certain activities please ask your line manager. If required for your role we provide a Durrell branded polo shirt on commencement of volunteering. If additional Durrell branded items are required, they can be purchased from the volunteer manager.

Holidays and sickness Obviously volunteers may take holiday at any point during their time with Durrell. It is useful, however, if the department and volunteer manager are informed in advance. If volunteers are unwell and unable to attend as planned they should inform the volunteer manager. Volunteers with active cold sores, stomach bugs or other contagious conditions should not help in the primate departments.

ImmigrationAll volunteers helping at the wildlife park must provide a copy of their registration card, as required by the population office.

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Rubia the Howler Monkey.Photo: George Rogers

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“I am extremely lucky to be part of the team – and feel ‘I belong’. I am lucky to be part of an organisation where I feel valued and quite simply, I feel that in a small way, I am making a difference to the world.”

3. Acknowledging your contribution To show our appreciation for the amazing work done by our volunteers we organise the following:

Keeping in touchAs a volunteer with Durrell we want to keep you in the loop. We provide weekly animal updates and monthly volunteer bulletins which are packed with the latest information and developments on current projects. These are sent out via email so to help you keep in touch please make sure to supply us with an up to date email address.

We also organise regular coffee mornings and an annual Christmas party for volunteers to socialise with each other as well as meet Durrell staff.

MembershipAfter 3 months of volunteering, volunteers will receive a Durrell volunteer membership, allowing free access to the park.

Visitor Centre and Dodo CaféVolunteers receive a 30% discount on items purchased at the Visitor Centre and the Dodo Cafe. Unfortunately this privilege cannot be extended to guests of volunteers.

Other ActivitiesThe Trust frequently hosts visiting scientists and conservationists, many of whom give talks during their stay. Trust staff also give talks on their own work and organise discussion sessions on topics of interest. Volunteers are welcome to attend any of these activities and will be notified of them by email.

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Meerkat.Photo: Gregory Guida