More than the bare necessities

Thursday 11 December 2014

Durrell's resident pair of Andean bears, Quechua and Bahia, are to receive two major upgrades to their enclosure thanks to sponsorship from ABN AMRO Bank Jersey

To help mark its 40th anniversary in Jersey, which takes place this month, the bank has been supporting Durrell throughout 2014. The improvements to the Andean's enclosure will round off the year’s activities, which have included community volunteer work and a number of event sponsorships.

The primary aim of the first refurbishment phase, which is now complete, was to provide a suitable isolated den area for the female bear, Bahia. The den area will provide a more private space to rear any potential new infants. The current internal cubbing area needed extensive refurbishment to make it suitable for Bahia’s use, and for Durrell to be able to manage Bahia’s needs, and those of any cubs, in a controlled and safe manner.

Bilal Majid, Country Executive and Head of ABN AMRO Bank Jersey, said: "We wanted to celebrate our landmark 40th anniversary in Jersey with a partnership that reflected our commitment to sustainable banking and to support responsible actions that benefit our clients, employees and the environment. Durrell’s ethical stance seemed a perfect fit to help mark this special occasion and we are all extremely proud of the support we have provided Durrell in 2014 to help conserve biodiversity and endangered species around the world."

Stephanie Moore, Corporate Relations from Durrell, added: "The first part of the sponsorship involved relocating the current den within the main room and affixing a slide to its entrance. This will enable the bears to be shut in or out as required and allow our keepers safe access to clean and maintain the enclosure facilities. The money will also be used to install camera monitoring equipment within the den so that keepers can monitor and record Bahia and any cubs from a distance, minimising disturbances and allowing her to express any natural rearing behaviour uninterrupted."

The second phase, which will take place in 2015, will involve "bear-proofing" the eastern enclosure to help integrate Quechua and Bahia with a group of black and gold howler monkeys and ring-tailed coatis that reside there.