- Introduction
- Script
- Quiz
- Discussion
- Resources
Introduction
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust is an organization with a mission to save species from extinction. Gerald Durrell founded the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust as a charitable institution in 1963 with the dodo as its symbol.
Script
Narrator: What a ride it has been. I am finally here at the end of my journey traveling around the UK meeting some incredible people with inspiring stories from in-car karaoke, coastal walkers, tandem tourers and human hamsters. This is a series of videos for Just Giving the crowd-funding and fundraiser platform. In fact it’s Just Giving who have sent me here to Durrell Wildlife Park in Jersey to meet Henry Cavill aka Superman. Now I have a super man-crush on Henry Cavill because I think he’s amazing and he’s going to be here in a few hours so until that point I’m gonna have a wander around the park, see some of the wildlife here and hopefully keep my cool before Henry arrives. So let’s go and have an explore.
Now you might be wondering why I’m at a wildlife park. It’s because Henry grew up here on Jersey and spent his childhood wandering around the park with his brothers fascinated by the animals. Even as an adult the fascination doesn’t wear off. There are so many incredible animals here each with their own personality. We’ve got some access to see the baby bear so let’s check him out. Behind the scenes.
Durrel employee: So this is Rainey and this is Mama here. He’s almost as big as his Mom now. Do you want to feed them?
Narrator: Yeah…so do I…just…
Durrel employee: Just poke it through there.
Narrator: Oh my god! How big do they….do they get massive?
Durrel employee: No. I mean she’s fully grown.
Narrator: Oh this is full size?
Durrel employee: This is full size for a female. Males are a little bit bigger. They’re one of the smallest species in the wild so they are a bit small.
Narrator: Really?
Narrator: I was getting carried away with the animals and before I knew it, it was time to meet Henry. I met Henry and his manager along with the management from Durrell. We went to the manor house to discuss the filming plans. So we just chatted with Henry about what we’re gonna do and we’re heading over to the orangutan area which is where we’re going to ask him the interview questions.
So it was really cool to meet him. He seemed like a nice, chilled out, cool person, like, you know, just a genuinely nice guy. Totally think I wish I was Henry Cavill, definitely have not changed wanting to be him. We just need to set up before he arrives so we don’t waste his time and that’s pretty much it for the moment. Cameraman Ben and I set out the cameras and then I asked Henry someinterview questions. It was interesting to hear in his own words why he supports Durrell and his genuine concern for wildlife.
Henry Cavill: I raise money for Durrell because it’s been part of my childhood for a long, long time and I’ve always had a fondness for animals and the animal kingdom. What Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust does is they are trying to stop animal species from going to extinction especially those on the Red List. They…the way they go about it is that they either have people working directly to save species by putting them into captivity and breeding them then re-releasing them to the wild or they will educate locals on how to go about their daily lives and their livelihoods without damaging the ecosystems which these animals live within.
Narrator: We finished the interview with Henry. He himself is just cool. I mean I’ve said I’ve had a man-crush on him and it holds to reason. He’s a cool dude – he’s focused, he’s direct, he’s honest so it was lovely meeting him in real life. And of course someone with those qualities has a bit of rub off. He is an inspiring guy and I think if he’s raised money via Just Giving for a cause that he believes in then maybe I could too and maybe you could, crowdfund, fundraise…something. So if you’ve got any ideas let me know below, otherwise I will see you on another adventure in another part of the globe.
Quiz
1. This is a series of videos for Just Giving the ________ and fundraiser platform. 2. Henry ________ here on Jersey and spent his childhood wandering around the park.3. Even as an adult, the fascination with the animals doesn't ________. 4. I was getting ________ with the animals and before I knew it, it was time to meet Henry.5. The way the Durrell ________ protecting endangered species is by breeding them in captivity and re-releasing them back into the wild.Discussion
- Have you ever visited a wildlife preservation center? How did it differ from a traditional zoo?
- Do zoos provide a useful role in society that merits the captivity of the animals or do you think that the conditions the animals must live under are cruel and unjustified simply for the pleasure of humans?
- How have conditions at zoos improved over the last several decades and what are some of the ways that zoos can actually help to protect and restore populations of endangered species?