Menagerie Manor

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Author: Gerald Durrell
Acquired in: December 2016


A life as a wildlife conservationist is not everybody's cup of tea. Dealing with animals- stuck, scared, enraged, injured- certainly seems eventful, maybe too much to my liking. But Gerald Durrell could do it all; from wishing for a zoo as a child, he went on to become a naturalist, writer, TV presenter and yes, a zoo owner. Does it still sound tame to you? That's because I've omitted the hilarious animal rescues of truant tapirs at night in the pouring rain, an incensed porcupine and a hungry bear. Menagerie Manor is just one among the many he wrote about his eventful life devoted to the care and conservation of animals. Ever since reading two excerpts from his books at school as part of the English course material, I've been itching to get my hands on a Durrell book. As far as first impressions go, I'm surprised by this book.


In this book, Durrell takes us through the founding of Jersey Zoological Park on the English Channel island of Jersey. After years of gaining experience, he set to build a haven for endangered animals to breed them. His idea of captive breeding to save these animals from extinction set his zoo apart; most zoos in his time mainly existed for public recreation. Penning down his hunt for a site, capital, facilities and even the animals, Durrell presents his mission so hilariously that I doubt it's autobiographical (narrowed eyes here). Putting aside my suspicions of larger-than-life 'non-fiction', I read this book and loved it from start to finish. It was so good that I couldn't wait to get my hands on another of his books. 


Other than the animal rescues mentioned earlier, he also writes about caring for animals he sourced globally. Most of them were kept in appalling conditions and were sick, injured and frightened of humans when Durrell got to them. Gaining their trust and rehabilitating them in his zoo is a painstakingly long task that sometimes, to my dismay, fails. Despite these failures, there are heart-warming anecdotes of animals successfully brought back to their original happy and healthy selves. 


Menagerie Manor marks the beginning of my foray into the humour genre and the beginning of my obsession with Durrell's books. It's distinct from Wodehousian humour, partly because it's non-fiction, partly because animals are the main attraction here, not the people. Humour has helped me through the rough days and echoed my joy during good times, and Menagerie Manor was no exception. I'm wholeheartedly recommending this book as a prescription-strength medicine to chase your blues away!


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