The Land of Whispers

Gerald Durrell (1925–1995) is a famous British zoologist and researcher—one of the iconic figures of the twentieth century. His works have long been included in the classics of world literature and continue to be popular with readers all over the world.

Dreaming since childhood of his own zoo, Durrell rented an estate on the island of Jersey, where he settled the first animals brought from West Africa. However, to expand the collection with representatives of South American fauna, he and his wife Jackie and his secretary Sophie had to travel to Argentina. In the book “The Land of Shivers,” their eight-month journey through this country is described, including long drives along the coast in search of penguins, sea lions, and the main goal of their expedition—elephant seals. Along the way, Durrell and his companions also encountered many other animals inhabiting the Argentine pampas: from insects to parrots, from armadillos to penelopes. Some of these animals later joined the collection of the Jersey Zoo.