What a hero! I've followed Gerald since I was 8 or 9 years old. Read every one of books. And the books of his wives, brother, sister. I'm now in my 60's and how I grieved when he passed away. He is still an inspiration to me.
If you have read The Durrells of Corfu he states that he owes his Brother Lawrence for the compassion of writing books. Such an amazing extraordinary humble Zoologist. RIP Gerald Durrell.
My mum started me off with the Gerald Durrell set of books I'd often pick off the bookshelf to look at. I absolutely love anything Durrell and being potty about animals this film is very emotional a wonderful keepsake to watch. It's uplifting and shows what an incredible man he was to be so way infront with conservation. Without Gerald Durrell a great number of endangered species wouldn't exist today. Thank you, incredible.
I’m sad I missed learning from this lovely man when he was alive, and have only learned of him from watching the PBS series Durrells in Corfu and reading his books. Thank you for sharing this documentary.
There was also another movie that was made on the Durrell's and a t.v. series too The movie and series is called My family and the Animals...not a bad movie/series...!! Not quite as elegant as the Durrell's in Corfu but has the same story line with a different cast....
His passion is clear to us all especially when he once referred to some big cats as 'These lovely creatures (as he strokes a big cat) are killed for their furs to make coats for rather unlovely women!' Very true.
Gerald Durrell you were an amazing man. Definitely world famous and so deserved of all the recognition you achieved. A caring man of conservation, a lover of wildlife and a loving family man. Outstanding author of books. Your life in Corfu was significant in your life, not only for the beginning of caring for animals and wildlife, but making you a number one author with the book My Family and other animals which has also been made into several movies and the massively popular and ratings winner 'The Durrells of Corfu' which lasted four series. Your dream of providing a home for preserving animals was finally realised with the opening of Jersey Zoo. You had a richly deserved OBE and the same day being surprised by Eamomn Andrews for 'This is your Life'. The boy from Bournemouth and Corfu to a man of the highest distinction for the fantastic work you achieved as a conservationist.
The man was a giant... a beautiful one! He also wrote on of the most eerie and haunting horror short stories: the Entrance. As a child, after reading that story I never dared look into mirrors at night!
I was lucky to have met my hero, not once, but twice. The first time at a reception at Jersey in May, 1989, and then again in London in 1991, I think,at the Natural History Museum at the book signing for his last book “The Aye Aye and I”. He is responsible for my life-long interest in wildlife, thanks to his wonderfully funny books, and my interest in conservation
Reading one of his books....i.n which in my latest chapter read he's returned to Corfu after 20 some years !!!!( I haven't been back to Corfu(Kerkyra) since 1972... aching to go back ever since we had "Durrells in Corfu"on our local PBS's !!! Thanks for sharing with us ITV..
I was walking towards my car which was parked in the garden when a lady in a jip stopped and started talking to me in english. "I am looking for Chrysida villa, I am Gerald Durrells' second wife". It was astonishing how it happened and the most astonishing thing was that opposite my garden there was a hill with pine trees with a villa built amongst them. Apparently the Durrells lived in that villa years ago. We walked up the hill together, so I had the chance to see the huge house. The most amazing thing of all was that in Mon Repos where Prince Philip was born and with whom I have been coresponding, there is a framed picture of the design of a villa which I had no idea that belonged to the house on the hill in Chrysida area opposite my house.
Wonderful documentary, have watched this several times. Recently uploaded to my channel two 1976 documentaries on Lawrence Durrell in Corfu and Aegean Islands.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, #henrycavill ! Especially for introducing Gerald Durell to me💗 I'm enjoying learning about him and what an amazing person he was 💗 Stay well and keep xo Stay well and keep safe!
I would like to hope that all his work was not in vain, but the world is a much more greedy, self-centered, uncaring place with far too many humans. Things are not going to get better for wild animals. Every country should have such a facility as his. The UN should mandate it!!!.
gerald was well known for his books, and he was amazing. i am glad that the serie has made people more aware of his work and life style! i am glad for one of the reasons i was privalaged to live in Jersey. But unfortunately Jersey now only thinks of capitalism and materialism.
i am dutch but lived in Jersey, come and join my channel charlies angel tarot and meet me in real life i would love to meet u as you love animals and people
The best bit was when Jambo stood over the kid. In 'The Stationary Ark' Mr. D relates when Jambo was introduced to Nandi, (love story) so to see him here was bliss. Got into reading at college, 'my family and other animals' was on the list. Never stopped reading since, Mr. D is a joy to read.
Haben sie die Wilden Tiere extra aus der " WILDNIS" gehold, um sie den Menschen zu zeigen ? Ich verstehe nicht so gut englisch , so verstehe ich auch nicht den Sinn , der GEHEHE ? " Die wilden Tiere verstehen die Welt auch nicht mehr ?"😢❤❤ I love the family of all Durrells . I read some books , eventhe korrespondenz between , Durrell with Mr. Henry Miller ❤ 😊
Where do l begin? An intro from Sir David A and help from 2 gentlemen l HUGELY admired & miss, Sir David Niven & Jimmy Stewart!! There are so many wonderful things & surprizing new facts l hadn't known before, even though I watched "The Stationary Ark" when l was a kid. Now at 60, I most of my viewing is still UK shows, so l LOVED "The Durrells Of Corfu", but I was a few episodes in before l realized it was about Gerald Durrell's childhood years in Greece, where ut all started...duh!🤦lol. Anyways l will be rewatching this, my son will love it too I'm sure!👍l am also writing that address down at the end! 👍💖🐾🌈🇨🇦☘️
I'm conflicted in my feelings towards Gerald Durrell's conservation methods. I agree of course, with his efforts and concern for their welfare and continuing healthy existence but I disagree aggressively with his going into the wild, capturing various wildlife and condemning them to captivity, either stuffing them in cages or selling them to people who abuse and neglect them. His actions are selfish. I love animals too but I hate zoos. Very few of them are adequate to house properly all the animals kept in them. A miserable existence to be sure. Gerald's energy would be better spent working towards saving those animals natural homes. Course I realize that's futile because money is king in the world, not the welfare of living beings, even humans. Gerald was doing what he could and what he felt was right. He cared and I love and respect him for that.
You can dislike his methods but he did save dozens of species from extinction and his methods of doing it are responsible for hundreds of other species being saved by zoos.
Posez-vous la question : vous qu'avez-vous fait pour sauver les espèces en voie d'extinction de la déforestation et de leur massacre sur toute la planète ?
I echo John Davies remark below and add that he became a dedicated and respected wildlife biologist who spent his life promoting ecology, the preservation of endangered species and educating others.
Yes he was cruel, he was also cruel when he chased a hippopotamus along the river and shot it for fun. Read some of the biographies on him and his brother and see the other side to him and his family: a very unpleasant side.
@@laurajay1571 Agree that zoos are not ideal. However it is a catch-22 situation. Wild life habitats are not ideal either. Loss of natural habitat due to de-forestation, drought, floods, fires or farming, and poaching, and subsequent dwindling opportunity to breed naturally, are the biggest threats to life in the wild. At least in a controlled environment there is a better chance to maintain breeding at a survivable level. There are many grand open range refuges for elephants, wild cats, simians etc, that provide as natural environments as possible while still protecting the species and providing more care than is possible in the real wild. Ideally there should be balance, but in this reality ideal is rarely achievable.
Do you realise that in the wild their habitats are being destroyed. I would rather have them in the wild too ,but they can't live of what little they have left forever@@laurajay1571
dont agree with evolutionay biology, but the marvel and miracles of the vastness of crated genious is indeed sttaggering, Gerald trulyn exuded this wonder and awe!
Animal lovers should watch a wonderful TV series about the Bronx Zoo in New York which reveals how carefully and thoughtfully and caringly animals can be housed and bred and cared for in beautifully designed and managed naturalistic environments in zoos. It airs on a channel called Animal Planet in the US.
