Durrell investigating after reckless stunt drivers hit car park

Tuesday 15 August 2017

Durrell is investigating CCTV footage after a group of reckless drivers were spotted performing dangerous stunt moves near its campsite in an allegedly alcohol-fuelled incident.

Multiple drivers - thought to be teenagers – were witnessed attempting 360-degree ‘donut’ car spins in the Zoo’s car park on Saturday night, leaving circular tyre tracks in the grass.

‘Glampers’ on the site were first alerted to the dangerous driving after hearing revving in the distance, as one eyewitness reported on social media: “We were up at Durrell at the glamping site when suddenly we heard a car engine revving. Thinking they are stuck on the grass, we ignore it at first. It then becomes apparent that they aren’t stuck… It turns out there were a group of teens in a car doing donuts and racing around the Durrell car park.” 

The erratic driving was subsequently reported to Zoo staff. They are now in the process of investigating, and will be handing any pertinent information gleaned from CCTV footage analysis – including licence plate numbers – to the Police. 

Pictured: A critical post on social media showed the extent of the damage to Durrell's car park.

In a statement, Durrell CEO Dr Lesley Dickie has since condemned the “stupid behaviour”.

"We are aware of the incident which took place in the Zoo car park on Saturday night and we would like to assure the public that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated by Durrell. It was reported to Zoo staff that a grey/silver Honda Civic was being driven recklessly in the car park. It additionally was reported that there was more than one driver and that alcohol was involved,” she said.

She later added: “Not only is this behaviour damaging to Durrell as a charity because it costs us to maintain the Zoo grounds, it is disrespectful to our visitors and their children who are staying nearby at Durrell Wildlife Camp. The actions of these few individuals do not portray the island in a good light. At a time when the whole tourism community is doing its best to attract more people to visit our beautiful island, this kind of stupid behaviour does not help.” 

Pictured: Dr Lesley Dickie, Durrell CEO.

The news comes just months after a 17-year-old girl was sentenced to 130 hours of community service for performing the same stunt moves on the Albert Pier. In handing down her sentence, Magistrate Bridget Shaw denounced the erratic driving, commenting: “There [is] no reason why somebody should suffer injury, possibly serious injury or quite possibly be killed because you want to mess around… You have to grasp how serious driving is and what a risk bad driving can pose to innocent people and members of the public.”

Anyone with information that might help to identify those responsible for the dangerous driving at Durrell are asked to get in touch so that the information can be passed to the Police.