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Ark on the Move
Provides an account of the critical plight of endangered species, the consequences of their extinction on the earth, and personal attempts to rescue imperiled wildlife
74 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
6 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Gerald Durrell
229 books1,718 followersGerald "Gerry" Malcolm Durrell was born in India in 1925. His elder siblings are Lawrence Durrell, Leslie Durrell, and Margaret Durrell. His family settled on Corfu when Gerald was a boy and he spent his time studying its wildlife. He relates these experiences in the trilogy beginning with My Family And Other Animals, and continuing with Birds, Beasts, And Relatives and The Garden Of The Gods. In his books he writes with wry humour and great perception about both the humans and the animals he meets.
On leaving Corfu he returned to England to work on the staff of Whipsnade Park as a student keeper. His adventures there are told with characteristic energy in Beasts In My Belfry. A few years later, Gerald began organising his own animal-collecting expeditions. The first, to the Cameroons, was followed by expeditions to Paraguay, Argentina and Sierra Leone. He recounts these experiences in a number of books, including The Drunken Forest. Gerald also visited many countries while shooting various television series, including An Amateur Naturalist. In 1958 Gerald Durrell realised a lifelong dream when he set up the Jersey Zoological Park, followed a few years later by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust.
Gerald was married twice; Jacquie Durrell (1951-1979), Lee Durrell (1979-1995).
Gerald Durrell's style is exuberant, passionate and acutely observed. He died in 1995.
On leaving Corfu he returned to England to work on the staff of Whipsnade Park as a student keeper. His adventures there are told with characteristic energy in Beasts In My Belfry. A few years later, Gerald began organising his own animal-collecting expeditions. The first, to the Cameroons, was followed by expeditions to Paraguay, Argentina and Sierra Leone. He recounts these experiences in a number of books, including The Drunken Forest. Gerald also visited many countries while shooting various television series, including An Amateur Naturalist. In 1958 Gerald Durrell realised a lifelong dream when he set up the Jersey Zoological Park, followed a few years later by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust.
Gerald was married twice; Jacquie Durrell (1951-1979), Lee Durrell (1979-1995).
Gerald Durrell's style is exuberant, passionate and acutely observed. He died in 1995.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 19, 2015
I am an ardent fan of Gerald Durrell and my previous experiences with his books like 'My Family and Other Animals’, ‘Birds, Beasts, and Relatives’, 'A Zoo in My Luggage' and 'The Drunken Forest' were immensely satisfying. Being a person who inspired humankind with his lifetime crusade for the conservation of the natural life on our planet, Gerald Durrell was always a true hero in my eyes. The level of detailing and the amount of warm humor that Durrell invests into his narrations while retelling his fascinating encounters with the animal and natural world makes his books brilliant reading material. And true-to his form, ‘Ark on the Move’ proves to be a hilarious and captivating narration of his experience during wildlife conservation efforts at the islands of Madagascar and Mauritius.
Durrell and his team of scientists and TV crew traces endangered plant and animal life in Mauritius, Rodrigues Island and Round Island in the Mascarenes and Madagascar while inspecting the results of previous efforts of rescue and breeding operations and collecting new specimens for captive breeding. It also inspects how the ecosystem and indigenous plant and animal life of the Islands are being wiped off due to the ill treatment of nature by human beings.
The book gives the reader insights in to the natural history and the unique flora & fauna found on Madagascar & Mauritius islands while describing the challenges faced by the delicate ecosystem of the islands and the wildlife conservation efforts, which are being implemented to rescue this ‘treasure-house of unique forms of life’.
By associating with the Mauritian Government, the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust had previously established many conservation colonies for indigenous animals with in the Islands and in the Trust’s facility in Jersey and through this book Durrell let the reader have a first-hand view of the these rescue operations.
Let's take a look at the impact of some of the rescue efforts that Durrell initiated in the 80s in these Islands from the current perspective.
The Indri, one of the largest living lemurs native to Madagascar, are still critically endangered due to the continuing habitat destruction and fragmentation through deforestation and hunting.
The Rodrigues flying fox or Rodrigues fruit bat, which is endemic to Rodrigues, was another critically endangered species in the wild due to human intervention and storm damage. Even though they are still in the brink of extinction on the wild, the captive breeding efforts of the trust has successfully resulted in having healthy colonies of bats in several zoos around the globe.
The Pink Pigeon - the only Mascarene pigeon that has not gone extinct - was on the brink of extinction with a population of only 10 birds due to habitat destruction and threats from nonnative predators. But the efforts of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust with its aviaries in Jersey and Black River, Mauritius has succeeded in raising the population to about 500.
Even after ardent rescue efforts and conservation many of the critically endangered animals and plant life in the Madagascar and Mauritius are in the brink of doom as deforestation and human intrusion continues and the descriptions of them from Durrell can really move the reader.
The only disappointing factor about the book for me is that when compared to other volumes from Durrell, ‘Ark on the Move’ is a rather slim one, which makes the reader feel that the fascinating joyride through the natural life of the island paradise ends too soon.
The enchanting manner in which Durrell educates the reader about the delicate balance of the Islands ecosystem; it’s magical natural world teeming with an array of curious, charming animals and the importance of preserving them make ‘Ark on the Move’ a book worth reading for all nature lovers.
Durrell and his team of scientists and TV crew traces endangered plant and animal life in Mauritius, Rodrigues Island and Round Island in the Mascarenes and Madagascar while inspecting the results of previous efforts of rescue and breeding operations and collecting new specimens for captive breeding. It also inspects how the ecosystem and indigenous plant and animal life of the Islands are being wiped off due to the ill treatment of nature by human beings.
The book gives the reader insights in to the natural history and the unique flora & fauna found on Madagascar & Mauritius islands while describing the challenges faced by the delicate ecosystem of the islands and the wildlife conservation efforts, which are being implemented to rescue this ‘treasure-house of unique forms of life’.
By associating with the Mauritian Government, the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust had previously established many conservation colonies for indigenous animals with in the Islands and in the Trust’s facility in Jersey and through this book Durrell let the reader have a first-hand view of the these rescue operations.
Let's take a look at the impact of some of the rescue efforts that Durrell initiated in the 80s in these Islands from the current perspective.
The Indri, one of the largest living lemurs native to Madagascar, are still critically endangered due to the continuing habitat destruction and fragmentation through deforestation and hunting.
The Rodrigues flying fox or Rodrigues fruit bat, which is endemic to Rodrigues, was another critically endangered species in the wild due to human intervention and storm damage. Even though they are still in the brink of extinction on the wild, the captive breeding efforts of the trust has successfully resulted in having healthy colonies of bats in several zoos around the globe.
The Pink Pigeon - the only Mascarene pigeon that has not gone extinct - was on the brink of extinction with a population of only 10 birds due to habitat destruction and threats from nonnative predators. But the efforts of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust with its aviaries in Jersey and Black River, Mauritius has succeeded in raising the population to about 500.
Even after ardent rescue efforts and conservation many of the critically endangered animals and plant life in the Madagascar and Mauritius are in the brink of doom as deforestation and human intrusion continues and the descriptions of them from Durrell can really move the reader.
The only disappointing factor about the book for me is that when compared to other volumes from Durrell, ‘Ark on the Move’ is a rather slim one, which makes the reader feel that the fascinating joyride through the natural life of the island paradise ends too soon.
The enchanting manner in which Durrell educates the reader about the delicate balance of the Islands ecosystem; it’s magical natural world teeming with an array of curious, charming animals and the importance of preserving them make ‘Ark on the Move’ a book worth reading for all nature lovers.
February 6, 2019
I love Gerard Durrell and his books. However, I didn’t find this one so captivating because he here focuses on the various animals that fascinate him, and there wasn’t so much room for humour, though Gerry just can’t avoid being funny, so he did elicit a few chuckles from me nonetheless.
G’s descriptions of the various searches for the specific species he was interested in, how they first seemed invisible, but later dramatically appeared, were fascinating, As a whole, his prose is superb.
The book deals with Gerry’s visit to Madagascar together with his wife, Lee. They also visited the Mascarene Islands, one of them Mauritius, being the island where the famed dodo lived and was exterminated – a sad tale. The dodo became the symbol of the Jersey Trust, founded by Gerry.
The book is filled with beautiful photographs, some taken by Lee, both of animal species which they found and the surrounding landscape.
Previously Gerald had been absorbed with capturing and thus saving the pink pigeon whose nesting site is also in Mauritius. It has now been bred in captivity. This time on the tiny volcanic Round Island they found some endangered Telfair’s skinks. On Rodrigues they attempted to catch some little fruit-bats, the rarest bats in the world, though as far as I could make out, failed to do so.
On Madagascar itself, Gerald’s main fascination was the lemurs, the ring-tailed lemur, the woolly ruffed lemur, the mouse lemur, and the sifaka. There were also the indris, the biggest and most spectacular of the lemurs.
If you’re a keen zoologist/naturalist I would recommend that you read this book too, otherwise perhaps not.
G’s descriptions of the various searches for the specific species he was interested in, how they first seemed invisible, but later dramatically appeared, were fascinating, As a whole, his prose is superb.
The book deals with Gerry’s visit to Madagascar together with his wife, Lee. They also visited the Mascarene Islands, one of them Mauritius, being the island where the famed dodo lived and was exterminated – a sad tale. The dodo became the symbol of the Jersey Trust, founded by Gerry.
The book is filled with beautiful photographs, some taken by Lee, both of animal species which they found and the surrounding landscape.
Previously Gerald had been absorbed with capturing and thus saving the pink pigeon whose nesting site is also in Mauritius. It has now been bred in captivity. This time on the tiny volcanic Round Island they found some endangered Telfair’s skinks. On Rodrigues they attempted to catch some little fruit-bats, the rarest bats in the world, though as far as I could make out, failed to do so.
On Madagascar itself, Gerald’s main fascination was the lemurs, the ring-tailed lemur, the woolly ruffed lemur, the mouse lemur, and the sifaka. There were also the indris, the biggest and most spectacular of the lemurs.
If you’re a keen zoologist/naturalist I would recommend that you read this book too, otherwise perhaps not.
May 26, 2015
Reading Gerald Durrell is always a pleasure. Apart from the most endearing descriptions of flora and fauna, Durrell introduces one to the wide varieties of wildlife that even NatGeo or Discovery Channel cannot. Nothing drives home the message of environmental conservation better than writing about the nature in its true, enchanting beauty. In fact, the episode of a school's attempt to save a last surviving hibiscus species in Mauritius brought tears to my eyes. Who else but Durrell can make you cry for a hibiscus?! I rate it a 4/5 only because I think Ark On The Move should have been longer!
February 28, 2022
Here’s yet another journey I embarked upon as I read the travel account of Gerald Durrell. It was beautiful because we revisited islands lying in the Indian Ocean. And in the words of Durrell, ”Even the most cautious of travellers would, I think, be thrilled at the idea of visiting a remote tropical island. There seems to be something about tropical islands that stirs the blood of even the most unadventurous souls.”
We visited the islands of Madagascar and Mauritius, lying in the Indian Ocean. These islands have a unique flora and fauna, so different from the rest of the world. For a change Durrell is not out to collect animals but to film certain projects to protect the endangered species of birds and animals on these islands. It was interesting to revisit the places I had earlier read about in his travel accounts in the book ‘Golden Bats and Pink Pigeons’. It is heartening to note that their efforts for breeding endangered species in captivity have borne positive results.
I wasn’t aware of the fact that humans have been responsible in eradication of certain native flora and fauna not only by hunting them but in their ignorance too. Wherever homo sapiens went they introduced few animals and plants, which created imbalance in the ecosystem and thus led to the extinction of indigenous plants and animals. This book talks about the work done by their team and the local conservationists to save these plants too.
This book is slim and it seems that Durrell had written it in a rush; maybe to raise money or publish just another book. I was a tad disappointed especially in the first part where he covers Mauritius with his wife Lee. The descriptions are too short as per his standards but things become better as he travels to Mascarene islands and Madagascar. Here his fascination for lemurs rubbed onto me too - the ring-tailed lemur, the wooly ruffed lemur, the mouse lemur and sifaka!
I wish the journey wouldn’t have ended so soon!
We visited the islands of Madagascar and Mauritius, lying in the Indian Ocean. These islands have a unique flora and fauna, so different from the rest of the world. For a change Durrell is not out to collect animals but to film certain projects to protect the endangered species of birds and animals on these islands. It was interesting to revisit the places I had earlier read about in his travel accounts in the book ‘Golden Bats and Pink Pigeons’. It is heartening to note that their efforts for breeding endangered species in captivity have borne positive results.
I wasn’t aware of the fact that humans have been responsible in eradication of certain native flora and fauna not only by hunting them but in their ignorance too. Wherever homo sapiens went they introduced few animals and plants, which created imbalance in the ecosystem and thus led to the extinction of indigenous plants and animals. This book talks about the work done by their team and the local conservationists to save these plants too.
This book is slim and it seems that Durrell had written it in a rush; maybe to raise money or publish just another book. I was a tad disappointed especially in the first part where he covers Mauritius with his wife Lee. The descriptions are too short as per his standards but things become better as he travels to Mascarene islands and Madagascar. Here his fascination for lemurs rubbed onto me too - the ring-tailed lemur, the wooly ruffed lemur, the mouse lemur and sifaka!
I wish the journey wouldn’t have ended so soon!
May 6, 2021
As part of a television miniseries, Gerald Durrell, along with his wife Lee Durrell, travels to Mauritius and Madagascar to highlight what’s being done for wildlife conservation in these two very (zoologically speaking, at least) interesting islands. Their first port of call is Mauritius, where they go on the trail of fruit bats, pink pigeons, various lizards, and more. Then, they head over to Madagascar, where—besides the famous lemurs, several species of them—they encounter other rare and intriguing species of both animals as well as plants.
Since Durrell was fairly long in the tooth by the time Ark on the Move happened (in 1982), all the carefree athleticism and mad adventure that typifies his earlier books, where he’s more vigorously involved in animal-collecting, this one is rather more sedate. They still do have adventures, like trudging through a prickly allaudia forest and getting poked and pierced at every misstep; or staying at a hotel in the backwaters of Madagascar. But these adventures are tame in comparison to some of Durrell’s earlier journeys.
The first part of the book, set in Mauritius, read like a somewhat diluted version of Golden Bats and Pink Pigeons: the same locale, many of the same species. The second part, in Madagascar, was more interesting, not just because the animals were more interesting, but because there were occasional (too few, too far between, sadly) interactions with people who sounded delightful.
Not as much joy as Durrell’s earlier books, but still very readable.
Since Durrell was fairly long in the tooth by the time Ark on the Move happened (in 1982), all the carefree athleticism and mad adventure that typifies his earlier books, where he’s more vigorously involved in animal-collecting, this one is rather more sedate. They still do have adventures, like trudging through a prickly allaudia forest and getting poked and pierced at every misstep; or staying at a hotel in the backwaters of Madagascar. But these adventures are tame in comparison to some of Durrell’s earlier journeys.
The first part of the book, set in Mauritius, read like a somewhat diluted version of Golden Bats and Pink Pigeons: the same locale, many of the same species. The second part, in Madagascar, was more interesting, not just because the animals were more interesting, but because there were occasional (too few, too far between, sadly) interactions with people who sounded delightful.
Not as much joy as Durrell’s earlier books, but still very readable.
March 9, 2018
Снова Даррелл на Маскаренских островах, им посещены Маврикий, Родригес и Круглый. Пришло время сравнить, насколько изменилось положение находящихся на грани вымирания видов. К радости Джеральда – динамика положительная. После его визита правительство Маврикия заинтересовалось работой по сохранению флоры и фауны, теперь всеми силами помогая Дарреллу пополнить коллекцию Джерсийского зоопарка. На этот раз поездка оказалась более насыщенной, так как дополнительно посещён Мадагаскар, интересовавший уникальностью природы и, самое главное, лемурами.
(c) Trounin
(c) Trounin
February 16, 2024
Not sure why or how this review failed to save but will try again.
A brief revisit to Mauritius several years after "Golden bats and Pink Pigeons" for a Canadian TV series airing in 1982. A kind of brief update for the time of Mauritius and then on to Madagascar, new territory for the author.
The book is somewhat cursory due to the rapid pace and demands of filming, so the animals are discussed rather briefly although with the expected delight of the author, with a lament about the threats facing the rare and diverse flora and fauna of Madagascar. This book does provide a variety of photos of uneven quality to illustrate many of the animals observed.
A brief revisit to Mauritius several years after "Golden bats and Pink Pigeons" for a Canadian TV series airing in 1982. A kind of brief update for the time of Mauritius and then on to Madagascar, new territory for the author.
The book is somewhat cursory due to the rapid pace and demands of filming, so the animals are discussed rather briefly although with the expected delight of the author, with a lament about the threats facing the rare and diverse flora and fauna of Madagascar. This book does provide a variety of photos of uneven quality to illustrate many of the animals observed.
November 2, 2022
Durrell and his crew travel to Mauritius with the intention of capturing some animals. They will bring them to their zoo in Jersey with the hope of breeding them and increasing their numbers. Lots of color photos.
November 8, 2019
Durrell is such a joy to read, and this particular book also featured a surfeit of excellent lemur pictures. (No aye-ayes though.)
April 23, 2025
He is in love with the island Mauritius, and helps conserve the animals there.
Joyful and exuberant!
Joyful and exuberant!
January 4, 2026
Gerald was a master of words, and his description of worlds and wildlife
September 17, 2022
One of the least substantial and less significant of Durrell's books, but enjoyable none the less. Only 80 pages, I finished the book in less than 2 hours. Originally published as more of a photo book to accompany the TV series 'Ark in the Move'. The book was recently republished in a text only version. The first part covers Durrell's revisit to Mauritius with his wife Lee, the content of this first part acts more like an Afterword to his earlier book - Golden Bats & Pink Pigeons, as it touches on the same endangered species and gives an update on the breeding program started earlier. The 2nd part of the book is more interesting as they head to Madagascar and encounter various lemurs. But overall, as the book is shorter and the text designed more to accompany the original photo book and tv series, the content is lacking in those rich details that Durrell's other books have. Still an interesting read with some nice moments, but probably only of interest if you are working your way through Durrell's works.
May 11, 2016
Beautiful book by the legendary naturalist Gerald Durrell (from 1983) about efforts to save rare animals in Mauritius and Madagascar but removing endangered specimens from stressed habitats to a sanctuary on the channel island of Jersey. Durrell's efforts effectively saved several species from probable extinction.
August 7, 2015
I usually enjoy Durrell's books, but so much of this one was just repetition of his previous books. Nice to have pictures though.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews