Wildlife Preservation Canada established the Gerald Durrell Society to recognize individuals who have made legacy gifts.

Durrell, founder of Wildlife Preservation Canada, was born in Jamshedpur, India, in 1925. In 1928 his family returned to England and in 1933 they went to live on the Continent (Europe). Eventually they settled on the island of Corfu, where they lived until 1939. During this time he made a special study of zoology, and kept a large number of the local wild animals as pets. In 1945 he joined the staff of the Whipsnade Park as a student keeper. In 1947 he financed, organized, and led his first animal-collecting expedition to the Cameroons. This was followed by a expeditions in 1948 and 1949, this time to British Guiana. He also made expeditions to Paraguay, Argentina, Sierra Leone, Mauritius, Assam, Mexico, and Madagascar. In 1962 he and his wife went to New Zealand, Australia and Malaya to film a TV series, Two in the Bush. In 1959 he founded the Jersey Zoological Park, and in 1985 he helped to found Wildlife Preservation Canada.

Sadly, Gerald died in January 1995. His spirit will live on in his books, the Jersey Zoo, and by members in the Gerald Durrell Society and their support for the work of Wildlife Preservation Canada.

Legacy gifts to Wildlife Preservation Canada ensure that the work Gerald Durrell helped to begin can continue. Donors of legacy gifts are immediately awarded membership in the Gerald Durrell Society.

$1,000
Will help us build nest boxes to protect Burrowing Owls or breeding aviaries for Eastern Loggerhead Shrike in Ontario

$5,000
Will produce substantial results for the recovery of endangered species - through applied research projects such as studying turtle nesting behaviour or the reproductive behaviour of a marmot.

$35,000
Will enable one young Canadian biologist to receive unique hands-on training in saving endangered animals through the Canada's New Noah program. The future of Canada's most endangered species rests in the hands of these young scientists.

$100,000 +
Will allow animals like the Swift Fox to continue roaming the Canadian prairies, by giving WPC biologiststhe means to devote years of their lives in the field, tracking and studying the foxes.

Interested in learning more?
If you are about to have a will drafted for the first time, or are considering making changes to your current will, your lawyer can include a bequest to Wildlife Preservation Canada.

WPC has policies and procedures in place to accept bequests and planned gifts. We would be pleased to send sample wording and more information to you or your legal representative to make it as easy as possible.

Donors are strongly encouraged to seek their own professional advice with respect to any bequest, and if they wish to explore tax-advantageous alternatives to bequests, such as charitable gift annuities, life insurance, gifts of RRSP/RRIFs, and charitable remainder trusts.

There are different ways to make a bequest to Wildlife Preservation Canada:

Specific bequest
A gift of a fixed amount of cash or a particular asset;

Percentage share or residual share
A gift of a percentage share of the whole or residual estate;

Contingent bequest
A gift that will take effect only in the event of the prior death of other named beneficiaries.

Charitable gifts made in a will are deemed made in the year of death. Therefore, the charitable tax credit is received by the estate and can offset any tax owing from the estate.

The information you provide to WPC is kept entirely confidential. You are not obligated to maintain your bequest should your circumstances or intentions change. A bequest is a revocable gift. You can modify and amend your will at any time.

To learn more about making a bequest or other planned gift, please contact Ellen Reinhart at 1-800-956-6608 or email admin@wildlifepreservation.ca.

MORE WAYS TO HELP > Join The Friends of Wildlife! You owe it to yourself to become involved in saving endangered animals and the diversity of life on this plant for generations to come. Enjoy the benefits of supporting Endangered Species Recovery Work. Find out more about The Friends of Wildlife. > Wildlife Guardians are a special group who provide critical help by making donations on a monthly basis. Find out more about becoming a Wildlife Guardian.