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Jersey Zoo Founder On £50 Note?

Credit: Durrell

The wife of Jersey Zoo's founder Gerald Durrell says he would have been 'amused' to be nominated as the new face of the new £50 note.

Gerald is one of a number of people suggested for his contribution to Science in the UK.

Professor Stephen Hawking, Alexander Fleming and Margaret Thatcher are also among those in the running.

Lee Durrell says this shows how respected Gerald was.

"He always ensured that his staff took a scientific attitude to writing down all their observations and publishing their research, which really paid off!

"His legacy to the field of conservation and biology is enormous."

Gerald opened Jersey Zoo on 26th March 1959. He passed away in the island in 1995.

Lee says Gerald would have wanted this to further the cause of conservation.

"He would have been enormously proud, but what I think he'd have been prouder of would be the fact that being nominated brings the whole field of conservation into the mainstream.

"This is really important to the world - to be able to save species, save habitats and the whole great biodiversity of this planet."

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