Lee Durrell calls for 'stability' as Jersey Zoo members vote to keep trustees

Gerald Durrell's widow Dr Lee Durrell says the conversation group needs 'stability' following a unsuccessful attempt to remove the board of trustees.

Durrell’s 10 trustees have kept their positions following an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) attended by around 450 people.

The 'We Love the Zoo' group had brought a resolution, demanding the resignation of the board of trustees and an independent investigation into the way the zoo is run.

The resolution: "Because the members have lost confidence in the ability of the Board of Trustees of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust to protect and maintain the legacy of Gerald Durrell, the Board of Trustees should resign and an independent investigation should be carried out into all aspects of the current and recent management's running of the zoo."

READ: More than 100 members of Jersey Zoo say it is 'under threat'

The results are overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the board, with 710 for and 1,985 against the resolution.  Members who had not been able to attend the meeting had been able to submit their ballot in advance.

16,000 of Durrell's 21,000 members had been eligible to vote.

Nine trustees were in attendance, including Dr Lee Durrell, a permanent board member and widow of, founder, Gerald Durrell.

During the closing statements, the board apologised to staff negatively-affected by events and responded to criticisms that complaints had fallen on 'deaf ears'.

Chair of Trustees, Matthew Hatchwell says they are listening.

“We know that no employer is perfect, no organisation is perfect.

"We're in a constant process of professionalising our management systems and we've committed in the room tonight to engage better with staff than we have done in the past.”

Durrell's Jersey Zoo entrance

Professor Carl Jones, Chief Scientist at Durrell, told Channel 103 it was  a 'great shame' things had reached this stage (an EGM), but said it was good that people had been able to express their opinions.

"I feel very happy about the result because we've been able to identify that there have been a number of problems over recent years, that we've identified, and we now have a strategy moving forward."

Peter Derek, a member of the ‘We Love the Zoo’ group, Peter Derek, believes the meeting was productive:

"A lot of things have been said, and a lot of information has come out, and this is probably a record attendance for any Durrell meeting. That will hold the trustees to account."

Mr Hatchwell did not share those sentiments:

"I'm not sure I agree it was good to air things in the way they have been aired. A lot of staff, particularly animal managers, have felt unfairly criticised for reasons that were not of their making. So, no, I'm afraid I don't agree that it was a positive exercise in any respect."

Other members, who did not wish to be named, shared their feelings with Channel 103 outside the meeting:

I feel that whatever happens 700 unhappy people isn't something to be celebrating.

Everybody is about cute animals. But this empowerment factor of local leaders in other countries... Durrell does that in a way that no other organisation does, and that's why I think it is so important.

Hopefully everyone can kind of move forward from here and this can all get put in the past.

People can just do what they're meant to be doing and people can go to their job at the zoo without being harassed and accused of things.

I'm just looking forward to it ending now.

Trustee Naill Husbands believes the most important thing now is recognising the outcome and moving forward together.

"Durrell is such an astonishing organisation, everybody is very passionate about it and what we really need to do is make the most of everybody's passion for it in order to grow

Jersey politician Deputy David Warr was also in attendance, and says he is pleased so many people turned out.

"It's a real relief that people really do care about this. It's a good positive result.

"I think the alternative, there was no Plan B as far as the opposition was concerned if you're going to be serious about these things you have to have an alternative proposal there and I don't think there was that confidence in the audience tonight."

During the meeting, some members said that ousting the board would not benefit the zoo, and an ex-trustee of six years said the resolution was fundamentally-floored.

"When you become a trustee you bring certain skills. As you go along you learn a h**l of a lot, there’s a transfer of knowledge.

“If you get rid of them all you’ve got a ship without a runner.”

Founder, Gerald Durrell with the Princess Royal, Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, a patron of the organisation, in 1972.

Following the meeting Dr Lee Durrell said:

“As David Attenborough said, ‘the world needs Durrell’. And what Durrell needs now is stability. I am sure we will emerge from this period more united than ever, fully committed to the mission we all believe in. I am truly optimistic for the future of Durrell, and I hope you are, too.”

In terms of moving forward, the board of trustees has revealed Jersey Zoo is due an independent investigation at the end of 2024.

Rebecca Brewer, Interim CEO at Durrell, said:

“Starting now, our focus is on bringing staff together and moving forward positively as a team. The Trustees, Senior Management Team and I are committed to supporting staff and rebuilding the trust and unity of purpose within the organisation, which is so important to us all. We know that the outcome of the EGM is not what everyone wanted, but we are devoted to creating stability within the Trust and working together to build on Gerald Durrell’s legacy of saving species from extinction. We have much to look forward to, including the celebration of our founder’s centenary year in 2025, and planning for Durrell’s new strategy.”