Advertisements
Advertisements
प्रश्न
‘A Zoo in My Luggage’ by Gerald Durrell
Advertisements
उत्तर
A Zoo in My Luggage
A Zoo in My Luggage is a delightful, true-life adventure written by the naturalist Gerald Durrell. The story takes place in the British Cameroons in West Africa, where Durrell has travelled with the specific goal of collecting animals for his own, soon-to-be-founded private zoo in Jersey.
The narrative follows the humorous and often chaotic process of capturing and caring for a variety of exotic creatures. Durrell describes the jungle as a place teeming with life, from the tiny, rare angwantibos (a type of slow-moving, wide-eyed primate) to the unpredictable and ill-tempered duikers. The story is not just about the animals; it is also about the people he encounters, including the local hunters who assist him, and the quirky, endearing personalities of the animals themselves.
One of the most memorable parts of the book is the logistical nightmare of preparing for the journey home. Durrell has to transform his quiet home into a bustling, noisy menagerie. He fills his living space with cages, crates, and specialised enclosures to keep his new charges safe and fed. The house becomes a world of strange sounds, peculiar smells, and constant activity, much to the bewilderment of the local colonial officials and neighbours who visit him.
The climax of the story is the long, nerve-wracking journey back to England. Durrell has to act as a one-man zoo manager, navigating customs, ensuring the animals survive the long trip, and managing their specific dietary needs on board ships and trains. He faces constant mishaps: animals escaping, cages breaking, and officials who have no idea how to handle a shipment of African wildlife.
When he finally arrives in England, the adventure isn't over. He still has to find a permanent home for his “luggage.” The story concludes with the heartwarming and slightly frantic effort to secure a site for his collection, which eventually becomes the foundation of the world-famous Jersey Zoo. It is a story that captures the deep bond between humans and animals, showing that while creating a zoo is a messy, exhausting, and often hilarious endeavour, it is fueled by a profound love for the natural world and a desperate desire to protect the creatures that inhabit it.
