We know that endangered species of animals are recorded in the Red Book and are under special control. However, about 20 years before the publication of this Book, the popular writer and naturalist Gerald Durrell was already trying to describe and systematize many rare species of animals.
Thanks to his selfless enthusiasm, many types of living beings have not completely disappeared on our planet. And Darrell's novels, imbued with an interest in life around, inspire new generations of naturalists.
Renowned scientist, zoologist and naturalist, Gerald Malcolm Durrell became famous as an amazingly talented writer. All his books convey the author's great love for all living things and the kind humor with which Darrell is used to looking at the world around him. In addition, he was able to organize a zoo, on the basis of which he later organized the Wildlife Conservation Trust,
Interesting youth
Gerald was born in one of the towns of India, then a British colony, on January 7, 1925. He was the youngest of four children of engineer Lawrence Durrell and his wife Louise.
Surprisingly, little Darrell began to be interested in the strange world of insects and animals at the age of two. This hobby was not very popular with his family members, because he could happily tinker with spiders, worms and other strange creatures.
Gerald's father died in 1028 and the family was forced to return home to Great Britain. But they did not like the climate of this country, and after 7 years the family moved to the Greek island of Kofru. The amazing nature of Greece influenced the formation of Gerald as a zoologist. In addition, there were no schools on the island and the boy was educated under the supervision of home teachers. One of them, the famous Greek naturalist Theodore Stephanides, helped turn the curious boy's interest in living things into an amazing career. Later Gerald often mentioned his beloved teacher in his works.
The family of the future zoologist spent only 4 years in Greece. Soon after the outbreak of World War II, they had to leave Greece. However, these years had a huge impact on young Gerald, determining his future destiny.
Travel and books
After the war, the young man began working in a small zoo. As a simple minister, he collected information about rare and endangered animals.
However, having received a small inheritance, Darrell decided to organize several expeditions: two to Cameroon and one to Guiana, which were then British colonies. The animals could not be taken out, the money ran out and Darrell was left without a livelihood.
It was at this time that his older brother Lawrence, whose novels were successful, invited his brother to try himself in the field of literature. To Gerald's surprise, his first book, The Overloaded Ark, about the journey to Cameroon, was a huge success.
In 1954, the already popular writer Gerald Durrell visited Kofru Island again. Under the influx of memories, he wrote the famous "Greek" trilogy. This made Darrell an internationally renowned writer.
In total, Darrell wrote more than 30 books, which were then filmed into many films. But the main goal of his life has always been the study and protection of wildlife.
Breeding rare species of animals
Thanks to the sincere enthusiasm of Gerald Durrell, many species of endangered animals have been preserved. Long before the International Red Data Book appeared, he actively fought for the protection of endangered animals. It was for this purpose that a zoo was created on the island of Jersey, which later became the Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Gerald Darrell died on January 30, 1995, at the age of seventy. However, the matter of protecting endangered animals and the love for wildlife, which the writer was able to convey in his books, has been worrying for several generations.
