WATCH: Shell-ection process begins ahead of this summer's Tortoise Takeover

Wednesday 18 January 2023

More than 80 designs which could form part of the upcoming Tortoise Trail have been revealed for the first time.

The 'Tortoise Takeover' - for which Express is official media partner - is an island-wide sculpture trail by Durrell in partnership with Wild in Art that will lead people on a trail of discovery through Jersey's parks, wild spaces and coastline.

Each one of the 50 fibreglass sculptures will be sponsored by a local business and, on 12 January, sponsors were invited to attend a 'shell-ection' event to choose a unique design for their tortoise.

There were over 80 designs to chose from, with each having been created by both well-known and unknown artists from across the world.

In addition to this, there will be a series of smaller 'young tortoises', designed by schools and community groups, which will form their own trail in the windows of local shops.

When the 'Takeover' ends, the giant tortoise sculptures will be auctioned to raise funds to build a new Tropical House at Jersey Zoo for the many species of threatened reptiles and amphibians looked after by Durrell’s expert team of herpetologists. The young tortoises will all return to their respective school and community groups.

It follows the success of 2019's 'Go Wild Gorillas' sculpture trail, which raised enough money to fund a new enclosure for Jersey Zoo's gorillas, which is currently under construction.

Video: The 'shell-ection' process.

Commenting on the ‘Shell-ection’ process, CEO of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Dr Lesley Dickie commented: “It was fantastic to see all the shortlisted designs and feel the excitement building for the trail.

"I am not envious of the sponsors who have a tough decision ahead of them for choosing their winning tortoise design.

"These sponsors play a huge part in getting the trail off the ground, which will help us fundraise for the new reptile house at Jersey Zoo, which urgently needs improving. Quite simply, we wouldn’t be able to do Tortoise Takeover without them. We’re all really looking forward to watching the trail develop over the next few months, ahead of its launch in July.”

Pictured: A bedazzled gorilla from 2019's 'Gorilla Trail'.

Charlie Langhorne MD and Co-Founder of Wild in Art said: “As always, we are bowled over by the quality of the design submissions and I really would like to thank the artists for their creativity and sheer brilliance.

"The tortoise is a new Wild in Art sculpture, and I can’t wait to see it transformed into a magical canvas. A canvas that will engage with public, drive a sense of discovery and perhaps encourage us all to slow down and 'be more tortoise'”

Tortoise Takeover trail across Jersey from Saturday 1 July until the end of August 2023. 

Bailiwick Express is proud to be the official media partner for the 'Tortoise Trail', so follow us online and on social media for all the latest updates....