Durrell << DOOR uhl >>, Gerald (1925-1995), was a British naturalist and author. He was best known for his work in wildlife preservation and his books on animals. Durrell described his experiences with animals in light-hearted stories. Many are popular with young readers.
Durrell was born on Jan. 7, 1925, in Jamshedpur, India, of British parents. He was educated in Europe by private tutors. In 1947, Durrell began a career of leading zoological expeditions. He traveled to Cameroon, Madagascar, Mexico, Australia, and other places to collect animals for zoos in Europe and North America. Durrell began writing to help finance his expeditions. His first book was The Overloaded Ark (1953).
In the mid-1950’s, Durrell decided to create his own zoo. He opened his zoo in Jersey, England, in 1959 and dedicated it to breeding endangered species. This zoo, originally called the Jersey Zoological Park, is now operated by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Durrell eventually wrote more than 30 books. Besides The Overloaded Ark, they include A Zoo in My Luggage (1960) and The Stationary Ark (1976). He also wrote The Amateur Naturalist (1983) with his wife, Lee. He died on Jan. 30, 1995. The novelist Lawrence Durrell was his brother.
