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Jersey will tomorrow wake up to a trail of 40 life-size gorilla sculptures designed by local and international artists - and Express can exclusively reveal their locations, from Corbiere to Gorey.
Launched by Durrell in partnership with Wild in Art, the 'Go Wild Gorillas' public art trail celebrates the charity’s 60th anniversary and aims to raise funds for a new state-of-the-art gorilla house at Jersey Zoo.
Local and international artists – some of them completely new to sculpture trails - took up the challenge of imagining designs for a gorilla and submitted them for Durrell’s troop of sponsors to select from.
CLICK: See the full set of locations by tapping on the image.
From banks to coffee shops, hotels and law firms, each gorilla has been ‘adopted’ by a local business.
Express, which is supporting the initiative as its media partner, has also joined in, adopting businessman Mr G.Rilla painted by Donna Newman.
Pictured - clockwise from left: Designs by Andy Countanche, Louise Le Luyer, Abi Overland, Lauren Radley, Gabriella Street and Will Bertram.
The gorillas will soon take their position around the island, from Plemont headland to La Hocq and La Corbière to Fliquet Bay, forming a free sculpture trail that the whole community can enjoy this summer.
Residents and visitors can explore the sculpture trail using the Go Wild Gorillas printed map - exclusively revealed by Express above - or the Go Wild Gorillas app, which will help them navigate the island, discover new places and unlock exciting rewards provided by local companies with every new gorilla they find.
Video: Milo Parker, who plays young Gerald Durrell in 'The Durrells' TV series talks about his favourite gorilla.
“Go Wild Gorillas combines art and conservation with the ultimate aim of raising funds to build a state-of-the -art gorilla house for our beloved family of western lowland gorillas at Jersey Zoo," Dr Lesley Dickie, Durrell's CEO, explained. "The first mammal on our records, M1, was N’pongo, a young female gorilla, so it seems fitting to mark our 60th year with a gorilla themed project.
“As well as raising vital funds for the gorillas, this trail will also encourage people of all ages, both visitors and locals, to get outside and explore our beautiful island. As part of our ‘Rewild our World’ strategy, we want to reconnect one million people to nature and Go Wild Gorillas is the perfect way to get people outside enjoying nature."
Pictured: Dr Lesley Dickie and Charlie Langhorne, Co-founder and Director of Wild in Art, with the gorilla.
The 40 life-size silverback gorilla sculptures will join the 43 young gorilla sculptures that were created by schools, colleges, nurseries and community groups and have been on display in shop windows and indoor locations since 9 July.
Another two young gorillas, created by artists and sponsored by a local business, will also go out on the trail on the 27 July, making the total gorillas on the trail 85.
Video: Gordon Hunt talks about the new gorilla house Jersey Zoo wants to build.
When the trail ends, all 85 sculptures will appear at the ‘Goodbye Gorillas’ farewell weekend at Jersey Zoo from 1 to 4 November, which will give everyone the chance to take one last selfie before the gorillas go to their forever homes.
On 6 November, the 40 silverbacks, plus two of the young gorillas, will then go under the hammer at the Grand Gorilla Auction at The Royal Yacht to raise funds for the new, state-of-the-art indoor home for the gorillas at Jersey Zoo.
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