Durrell's conservation work in Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia and its offshore islands in the Caribbean are home to several highly threatened species found nowhere else on Earth.

Invasive species, residential development, land conversion for agriculture and illegal logging have all led to the decline in populations of wildlife and the destruction of precious dry forests across the islands. We’re working in Saint Lucia to save these forests and their species and empower local communities to protect their native wildlife.

1986

Durrell's work starts

target species

offshore islands

Our conservation work

What we're doing to help in Saint Lucia

Protecting offshore islands

Ensuring invasive species such as rats and mongoose do not get onto Saint Lucia’s precious offshore islands is vital to ensuring the survival of key native species.

What we're doing to help

Alongside our partners, we used our experience of creating successful biosecurity measures in Mauritius to revise and strengthen the protocols in place in Saint Lucia. We continue to support our partners undertaking monthly biosecurity checks on all of Saint Lucia's offshore islands.
Removal of invasive species

The introduction of invasive species such as rats and goats to Saint Lucia’s offshore islands contributed to the decline in populations of native species.

What we’re doing to help

Rats were removed from Praslin Island in 1993, making the island a safe place to reintroduce Saint Lucia whiptail lizards. The lizards were able to thrive, with their population increasing by almost 800% within 10 years.
Establishing a mainland area for native wildlife

Much of Saint Lucia’s endangered and endemic species live on isolated offshore islands as they have been made extinct on the mainland. On isolated offshore islands they are threatened by a lak of genetic diversity and extreme weather events.

What we're doing to help

We’re working with Fauna and Flora International, Saint Lucia National Trust and Saint Lucia Forestry Department to establish a predator-free mainland reserve for threatened species. This will allow us to establish secure populations of threatened species and enable more people to enjoy Saint Lucia’s precious wildlife.
Protecting the Saint Lucia racer

Saint Lucia racers are one of the rarest snakes in the world and found only on the island of Maria Major. The estimated global population is just 50 individuals, under threat from habitat loss and invasive predators.

What we're doing to help

We are establishing a captive breeding facility in Saint Lucia to secure a safety net population of the Saint Lucia racer. We also carry out regular surveys on Maria Major to monitor current racer populations, and we are trialling habitat enhancement measures to try and help the racers. Whilst the population remains critically low, sightings of juveniles means they are reproducing.
Empowering local communities

80% of the endangered white-breasted thrasher population is found on Saint Lucia, living on the east coast in fragmented forests.

What we're doing to help

We’re working with local communities to promote the protection of Saint Lucia’s dry forests and their threatened species. Through outreach in schools and local communities we hope to inspire people to protect th dry forests, white-breasted thrashers and other species that live there.

Our partners

Saint Lucia National Trust | Saint Lucia Forestry Department | Fauna and Flora International

Species we're helping

Saint Lucia racer

Saint Lucia whiptail

White-breasted thrasher

Saint Lucia iguana

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Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia and its offshore islands in the Caribbean are home to several highly threatened species found nowhere else on Earth.

Our conservation work

What we're doing to help in Saint Lucia

Protecting offshore islands

Ensuring invasive species such as rats and mongoose do not get onto Saint Lucia’s precious offshore islands is vital to ensuring the survival of key native species.

What we're doing to help

Alongside our partners, we used our experience of creating successful biosecurity measures in Mauritius to revise and strengthen the protocols in place in Saint Lucia. We continue to support our partners undertaking monthly biosecurity checks on all of Saint Lucia's offshore islands.

Removal of invasive species

The introduction of invasive species such as rats and goats to Saint Lucia’s offshore islands contributed to the decline in populations of native species.

What we’re doing to help

Rats were removed from Praslin Island in 1993, making the island a safe place to reintroduce Saint Lucia whiptail lizards. The lizards were able to thrive, with their population increasing by almost 800% within 10 years.

Establishing a mainland area for native wildlife

Much of Saint Lucia’s endangered and endemic species live on isolated offshore islands as they have been made extinct on the mainland. On isolated offshore islands they are threatened by a lak of genetic diversity and extreme weather events.

What we're doing to help

Protecting the Saint Lucia racer

Saint Lucia racers are one of the rarest snakes in the world and found only on the island of Maria Major. The estimated global population is just 50 individuals, under threat from habitat loss and invasive predators.

What we're doing to help

Empowering local communities

80% of the endangered white-breasted thrasher population is found on Saint Lucia, living on the east coast in fragmented forests.

What we're doing to help

We’re working with local communities to promote the protection of Saint Lucia’s dry forests and their threatened species. Through outreach in schools and local communities we hope to inspire people to protect th dry forests, white-breasted thrashers and other species that live there.

Our partners

Species we're helping

Where we work

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