Tortoise Gift For Princess Anne

Wednesday, 17 August 2022 10:33

Princess Anne pictured opening the zoo's butterfly enclosure in 2021.

Durrell is giving a tortoise sculpture to Princess Anne.

It's to mark the 50th anniversary of Her Royal Highness becoming patron of the Wildlife Conservation Trust.

A tortoise sculpture trail will take over Jersey next summer.

Doctor Lesley Dickie says the tortoise is symbolic of The Princess Royal's support of the Trust as the reptile represents good luck and wisdom.

A small number of artists have been invited to submit a design for the royal gift.

One will be selected and commissioned and will join the trail of 50 tortoises in July and August 2023.

After that, it will be presented to the princess.

Princess Anne has made numerous visits to Jersey zoo in the past half-century and is a committed support of Durrell's work saving endangered species from extinction.

The Princess Royal pictured with Jersey Zoo's founder Gerald Durrell in 1972.

“Over the last five decades, The Princess has visited our projects around the world, including Mauritius, Brazil and Madagascar.

Her Royal Highness’s knowledge, passion and belief in our mission to save species from extinction is an inspiration to the Durrell team and our loyal supporters.

We feel the tortoise is symbolic of the longevity of HRH’s support of the Trust, and as tortoises represent good luck, wisdom and the creation of the Earth in many cultures, there is even further resonance for HRH’s patronage." - Dr Leslie Dickie.

HRH will receive one of the giant tortoise sculptures. A small number of artists have been invited to submit a design for the royal gift.