Jambo - 1961-1992
The magnificent sculpture of Jambo by David Cemmick was acquired
by the Seymour Group at auction in the UK during October 2010,
to commemorate the opening of the Merton Suites at The Merton
Hotel, Jersey's longest established holiday hotel. Jambo is
proudly on display in the Hotel gardens. He was unveiled by
Doctor Lee Durrell MBE in a ceremony on June 17
2011.
"A magnificent individual, courteous and gentle"
Gerald Durrell
Jambo shot to international news stardom overnight on August 31,
1986, when five-year-old Levan Merritt fell into the gorilla
enclosure and lost consciousness. Jambo stood guard over the boy,
placing himself between the boy and other gorillas in what many
experts believe to have been a protective gesture. He later
stroked the unconscious boy. When the boy regained consciousness
and started to cry, the other gorillas panicked and the giant
silverback lead them away. Most of the drama was filmed on home
video and extensively photographed by zoo visitors. The publicity
on major news channels and newspapers helped ease public fears
about the perceived violent nature of gorillas.
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust,
Trinity, Jersey, Channel Islands
The Seymour Group has had a very long and close relationship
with Durrell since the Trust was founded in Jersey by the world
famous author and naturalist Gerald Durrell in 1959. Gerald Durrell
had a vision to create a stationary ark where animals in need of
protection could be kept and bred. Today, Durrell Wildlife
Conservation Trust, based in the rural Parish of Trinity, has
gained a worldwide reputation for its pioneering conservation
techniques and has made a significant difference to more than 30
endangered species worldwide.
Gerald Durrell's choice of the now extinct Dodo
as the emblem for Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust serves as a
reminder to highlight the importance of conservation action and as
a warning that, should this not be heeded, many more animals will
face the same fate as the Dodo.
The Merton Suites offer guests a variety of different room
configurations and are named in celebration of the fantastic work
of the Trust:
Dodo Suite - one bedroom unit
Durrell Suite - one bedroom unit (larger with
dividing screen)
Jambo Suite - two bedroom unit
Trinity Suite - three bedroom unit
A visit to Durrell is an absolute must when spending time in
Jersey - enlightening, educational and personally rewarding.
WORD FOR IT...