Gerald Durrell’s early years in India shaped his passion for wildlife, says Lee Durrell

At the Kolkata Literary Meet, Lee Durrell revealed that Gerald Durrell’s deep love for animals was sparked during his early years in India, where he was born. In conversation with Malavika Banerjee, Lee shared insights into his formative experiences and plans to commemorate his centenary, a project she has been working on since 2019.

“Gerald was born with superpowers of imagination,” Lee remarked, recalling how his fascination with wildlife began not with grand creatures like tigers or cheetahs, but with the tiny, often-overlooked animals he saw around him in India. In fact, his very first spoken word was not “Mama” or “Papa” but “Zoo”—a sign of the lifelong passion that would shape his work.