Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust - International Training Centre

International Training Centre

In 1978 Gerald Durrell created what he called 'a mini-university' at Les Noyers, adjacent to Les Augrès Manor, to provide intensive training to conservation workers, so that they could begin the process of saving species in their country of origin. Today Durrell is internationally acclaimed for its contribution to the professional training of zoologists and conservation biologists, particularly those from the developing countries of the world. Over 3,500 students from more than 135 countries have now successfully graduated from the International Training Centre, to create a global network of “New Noahs” dedicated to supporting the mission of the Trust. These graduates have gone on to train their colleagues at home, who in turn have trained the people they work with. This has created a highly effective network of good conservationists where they are most needed around the world.

As of November 2012, the former International Training Centre will be re-named and re-branded as 'Durrell Conservation Academy', in homage to founder Gerald Durrell, and to reflect some of the prestige that the facility has grown to embody. The strapline 'Blending the art and science of conservation' is to be employed in communications, and can be taken as a mission statement. The first overseas branch of Durrell Conservation Academy is scheduled to open in Mauritius in late 2012.