Gerald Durrell

This is the story of author and naturalist Gerald Durrell, founder of Jersey Zoo and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. The story is told by Gerald himself, HRH The Princess Royal, who is patron of the Trust, and actor and writer John Cleese. The programme is introduced by Sir David Attenborough.

A film crew follows Gerald and Lee Durrell on a trip to Madagascar, as they go in search of the rare and elusive aye-aye in order to set up a captive breeding programme. Won a Gold Award at New York International Film and Television Festival.

Jambo, who weighed in at nearly 200 kilos, became an international celebrity when a little boy fell into the gorilla compound at Jersey Zoo. The horror of spectators turned to wonder and amazement as Jambo approached the unconscious boy, gently touched him, and then protected him from the rest of the gorilla family until help arrived. Unique film of the event was shown around the world, and destroyed the King Kong image of the gorilla as a fierce and aggressive animal. This video, narrated by John Nettles, tells the full story of the Jersey Zoo gorilla family and includes the dramatic pictures of Jambo guarding the boy and his rescue.