Durrell Conservation Academy

🦉 Yesterday was International Owl Awareness Day

DESMAN 2026 graduate Jenna Kissel is known for her passion for all types of Aves, including the Northern Spotted Owl, a species she has worked with in the past.

Jenna is a wildlife conservationist and zookeeper from British Columbia, Canada, where she spent several years as a technician with the Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program (NSOBP). Northern spotted owls are critically endangered in Canada due to the loss and fragmentation of old growth forest habitat. The NSOBP is working to prevent their extirpation through captive breeding and release using conservation techniques including artificial incubation and chick hand-raising. Once they are old enough, eligible spotted owl offspring are released into protected old growth forest with the goal of establishing a self-sustaining wild population.

👇 Find out more about how you can get involved in DESMAN: https://www.durrell.org/conservation/training/courses/

📸 All photos courtesy of Jenna Kissel, WPC

🐅 To celebrate International Tiger Day, we caught up with DESMAN 2026 alumni Laksmi.

Laksmi is back in Indonesia where part of her role is to contribute to the development of Indonesia’s Sumatran Tiger Conservation Strategy and Action Plan.

When reflecting on her experience during the DESMAN course she said:

🗣 “One of the most valuable lessons from the DESMAN programme has been learning to view conservation through this broader systems perspective. DESMAN has strengthened my understanding that successful conservation depends not only on ecological knowledge, but also on leadership, policy, economics, stakeholder engagement, and the institutions that support long-term conservation outcomes.”

👉 See Laksmi’s full reflection here: https://durrellalumni.my.canva.site/

⭐️ Find out more about how you can get involved in our DESMAN course here: https://www.durrell.org/conservation/training/courses/

Highlights from Mauritius training Team!

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 Mauritius from 6th to 10th July 2026.


We had the pleasure of welcoming ten participants from Madagascar, Seychelles, and Mauritius. Although they came from diverse professional backgrounds, they shared a common commitment to restoring forests in their respective countries.

This one-week course, approved by the Mauritius Qualifications Authority (MQA), 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."

🌱 Are you the Future For Nature?

The foundation is looking for young, passionate conservationists with unlimited dedication and willpower to protect wild species.

Apply now to win the , €50,000 and join the growing FFN Family!

👉 Apply now at futurefornature.org/apply/

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

🦧 Endangered Species Recovery

📆 2nd-6th November 2026

📍 Online

Durrell has an extensive history of leading the conservation of highly threatened species, through research and breeding programmes at our headquarters and in our overseas field conservation programmes.

During the course you will have the opportunity to connect with Durrell’s world-leading projects such as the Mountain Chicken Frog as well as hear from our talented and passionate group of speakers including Professor Carl Jones (Durrell’s Chief Scientist) and Dr Lee Durrell MBE (Durrell’s honorary director).

👉Find out more in our course brochure and sign up now!

📩 Email [email protected] for an application form.

Are you thinking about signing up to our next DESMAN course?

Our most recent cohort may have finished, but we still have lots to share about what they got up to during their 3 months here...

🦇 Senior Mammal Keeper Alice Hudson gave a lecture on the captive management of Fruit Bats – highlighting the challenges these types of projects can face and how we respond to them.

🩺 We learned about emerging infectious diseases in a fascinating lecture from our Head Vet, Nic Masters, followed by an exclusive tour of the vet department.

🐦 We also had Durrell’s Chief Scientist – Professor Carl Jones – who joined us here in Jersey to share his incredible experience from years in the field and spark some very interesting discussions.
Did you know Carl Jones helped to bring the Mauritius Kestrel back from the edge of extinction with just 4 individuals left!?

✨ We are so grateful to the wider Durrell team who generously give their time and expertise and for doing so enthusiastically.

Does this sound like something you could benefit from? Find out more 👇

https://www.durrell.org/conservation/training/

📩 Email [email protected] for an application form.

🦦 WORLD OTTER DAY 🦦

Here, at Durrell’s HQ in Jersey Zoo, we have two beautiful Giant Otters – mum and daughter duo Alexandra and Fia.

📋 Playful and noisy, they made a great subject for one of our DESMAN groups to practice their behaviour observation skills, learned during our Research and Analytical Skills week.

👇 Find out more about our Giant Otters: https://www.durrell.org/visit-jersey-zoo/meet-our-animals/mammals/giant-otter/

👇 Find out more about our DESMAN course: https://www.durrell.org/conservation/training/courses/

ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY

🌍 Durrell’s mission is Saving Species from Extinction — it’s literally written in stone at the headquarters of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Jersey Zoo.

⭐️ Today, we’re celebrating the incredible work our alumni are doing to protect endangered species around the world. From primate conservation to reptile recovery, from community education to policy development — effective conservation depends on a wide range of skills and passionate people.

Did you know we offer not one, but two courses focused on endangered species conservation?

🦧 Endangered Species Recovery (ESR)
Perfect for early-career conservationists, students or career switchers, this 5-day course introduces the practical skills involved in endangered species recovery and conservation action. https://www.durrell.org/conservation/training/courses/

🦍 Durrell Endangered Species Management Graduate Certificate (DESMAN)
Accredited by the University of Kent, this intensive 3-month programme explores the key principles of endangered species management and conservation practice. Students stay on-site at the Durrell Wildlife Hostel for a truly immersive learning experience. https://www.durrell.org/conservation/training/courses/

Whether you can spare 3 months or just 5 days, we invite you to join us and become part of the next generation of conservation leaders.

📩 Apply now and help save species from extinction.

https://www.durrell.org/conservation/training/courses/

🟢 Conservation Standards are a worldwide framework often used when planning and managing conservation projects.

🟪 We had our amazing Impact Team – Becca Young and Zoe White – join us to lead us through the use of Conservation Standards. There were lots of post-its and colour coding but don’t let these diagrams fool you – there is method to the madness.

📊 We looked at project planning, implementation, monitoring & evaluation and the various factors that can influence the success of a conservation project.

COS is another course that you can join as an independent 5-day course. Find out more here: https://www.durrell.org/conservation/training/courses/