Durrell Conservation Academy

🚨 Durrell Training Mauritius - Applications Now Open! 🚨

🌱 Durrell Professional Development Training for Conservation Practitioners (Southwest Indian Ocean Region)

We are delighted to announce that applications are now open for our upcoming FREE professional development training programme, funded by the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF)!

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

🗣 Conservation practitioners from civil society organisations (CSOs), NGOs and other conservation organisations in Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles.
Particularly suited to practitioners who facilitate discussions, work in teams, or engage with local communities, government, NGOs and other stakeholders.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 5th October 2026

👇 Find out more: https://www.durrell.org/conservation/training/development-training/

🦍 WORLD GORILLA DAY 🦍

It’s been a huge year for all things Gorilla at Jersey Zoo. From the completion of our new Gorilla House and its official opening during a royal visit, to welcoming a new female to the troop, it’s been an exciting year for our Gorillas and Mammal Team.

🎥 There’s also been plenty going on behind the scenes.

📋 We have had two incredible research interns with us conducting different research studies on our Gorilla troop, under the supervision of Dr Lauren Moore – Durrell's Science and Research Coordinator.

We caught up with Chiara after she returned home to Italy to hear about her experience completing a research project with Durrell, and to discover more about the important and fascinating data she collected.

👉 Read Chiara’s story here: https://durrellalumni.my.canva.site/international-tiger-day

📎 Would you be interested in completing a research project at Durrell? Find out more: https://durrellalumni.my.canva.site/durrell-research-and-science and get in touch: [email protected]

📸: Chiara Conte

🦧 Endangered Species Recovery Course – HOW TO APPLY

📍 ONLINE
📆 2nd-6th November 2026

To apply for a place on our next ESR course, simply fill out the application form here https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/Xz22WAnRYM

We are grateful to our ESR alumni who provide feedback on our course to allow us to continue improving year on year and make it the best we can for future cohorts. See an alumni quote below...

"Had an amazing week learning so much from skilled professionals working within Durrell conservation projects! Their lectures were invaluable for focusing on my future career and I would highly recommend to anyone interested in taking a course or internship with them!"

ESR Course Participant
https://www.durrell.org/conservation/training/courses/

Courses | Durrell Get up close to some of our amazing animals by booking an animal experience! It's the perfect way to make a day at Jersey Zoo even more special.

🌍 Starting this week, our Leadership course is shaping up to be a memorable one, with participants joining us online from more than 10 different countries and bringing a diverse range of professional backgrounds and expertise.

🗣 With so many different perspectives, we’re looking forward to some fascinating discussions, fresh ideas and plenty of opportunities to learn from one another.

📎 Find out more about what we will be learning over the next nine weeks https://training.durrell.org/course/view.php?id=14

📚 Zoo Internships – Learning Department

As well as the Jersey Zoo animal departments, we offer internships in our Conservation Learning department. From supporting the delivery of school sessions to supporting zoo outreach, you’ll gain experience helping the next generation connect with nature and understand why conservation matters.

This is a valuable skill in any conservation role as the better connected to nature people are, the more likely they are to take positive conservation action.

💬 Hear a testimonial from Cath who went from Conservation Learning Intern to a member of the Durrell team.

📎 Find out more about our internships here: https://www.durrell.org/conservation/training/internships/

📋 Apply now: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/Xz22WAnRYM

🚨 DESMAN 2027 – APPLICATIONS CLOSING SOON! 🚨

Ready to take your conservation skills to the next level?

⭐️Our award-winning DESMAN course is returning in Spring 2027, offering conservation professionals the opportunity to develop practical skills and knowledge to maximise their effectiveness in the field.

🦍 Whether you’re currently working on a conservation project or looking to strengthen your toolkit, DESMAN could be the next step in your conservation journey.

🏝 Study on the beautiful island of Jersey where you will live on-site at Durrell Wildlife Hostel right on the doorstep of Jersey Zoo — giving you the chance to immerse yourself in conservation while experiencing a change of scenery.

Applications are closing soon – don’t miss your chance to join us in Spring 2027!

📎 Find out more: https://training.durrell.org/course/view.php?id=23 and apply now Durrell Training Academy Course Application Forms – Fill out form

Durrell Conservation Academy | Durrell Discover the Durrell Conservation Academy and explore our wide range of conservation training courses, scholarships, internships and more.

🦧 ESR – WHAT IS IT?

Our Endangered Species Recovery course is a 5-day, online course that introduces the issues and practical skills involved in saving threatened species from extinction. You will develop a critical understanding of biodiversity conservation, the issues it raises and how they may be addressed, as well as practical research skills to inform conservation action.

Does this sound like something you’d be interested in joining?

👉 Find out more here https://www.durrell.org/conservation/training/

📩 Apply now! Durrell Training Academy Course Application Forms

🥾 Red-billed Chough Conservation Internship | Jersey

Looking for a more specialised conservation experience?

We’re offering a unique opportunity to join Durrell’s Red-billed Chough reintroduction project in Jersey, gaining hands-on experience working across both field and zoo environments to support this successful, award-winning species conservation programme.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to develop practical skills in reintroduction projects, population monitoring and species conservation, while contributing directly to supporting a newly established reintroduced population.

As a Red-billed Chough Intern, you’ll have the opportunity to get involved in a range of practical conservation activities, including:

🪶 Supplementary feeding and husbandry

🔭 Monitoring the reintroduced population

🪺 Nest checks (seasonal)

🦜 Zoo-based experience

📊 Record keeping data entry and reporting

📍 Location: Jersey, Channel Islands
📅 Available from: April 2027
⏳ Applications: Rolling recruitment — applications will remain open until a suitable candidate is appointed

Applicants must:
- Be aged 21 or over
- Hold a clean, valid driving licence for at least 2 years

Students should be studying/or have studied a relevant degree or diploma and have an interest in reintroductions or field-based programmes and captive animal care and is looking to advance their skills in this area.

Apply now and become part of the team supporting the future of Jersey’s red-billed chough population.

👉 Role Description:https://www.durrell.org/media/m4qbr15c/field-programme-intern-role-description-2026.pdf

📋 Application Form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/8qK8zVix5h

🌳 As part of our CEPF-funded project, Developing an Upskilled Community of Conservation Practitioners in the MADIO Region, the Durrell Conservation Training Mauritius team delivered the Forest Restoration and Ecosystem-based Adaptation training course in Comoros from 4th to the 7th of August 2026 .

🌱We had the pleasure of training 11 participants in Comoros, Moroni. Although they came from diverse professional backgrounds, they shared a common commitment to restoring forests in their respective countries. This one-week course, was led by our Head of Training, Martine Goder. Throughout the week, we were delighted by the rich exchange of knowledge, experiences, and perspectives among the participants.

We take this opportunity to thank all the participants, partners and our funder CEPF (Critical Ecosystem and partnership Fund)

"The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a joint initiative of l’Agence

Française de Développement (AFD), Conservation International, the European

Union (EU), Fondation Hans Wilsdorf, the Global Environment Facility, the

Government of Canada, the Government of Japan, and the World Bank. Its

fundamental objective is to ensure that civil society is engaged in biodiversity

conservation."

🐒

🔎 Today we hear from DESMAN 2026 alumni Joydeep who works at a Primate Research Centre in Northeast India, carrying out important monitoring and habitat restoration work for two endangered primate species – the Golden langur (Trachypithecus geei) and the Western Hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock).

He highlights the threats these animals are facing, what his work involves and how the DESMAN course has benefited his work since returning home earlier this year.

👉 Ready Joydeep’s story here: https://durrellalumni.my.canva.site/international-primate-day

We alwayslove to see what our alumni are up to and the incredible conservation work they are a part of. Do you have anything to share? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]

Would you like to join the next DESMAN cohort? Find out more here: https://training.durrell.org/course/view.php?id=23

📸 PHOTOS: Joydeep Shil, DESMAN 2026