Class VIII: The Ark's Anniversary

The Ark’s Anniversary

About the story:

The story is an extract taken from the book named ‘The Ark’s Anniversary’ in which the writer Gerald Durrell shares some of the incidences from the early days of his zoo. He mentions about an incident which involves the chimpanzees visiting his mother’s cottage and his mother welcoming them and treating them like guests. The story ends with a note on why Durrell wants to have a zoo because he wanted to save those species of animals which are endangered due to human activities.

Textbook Exercise:

1.       What was Durrell sure of at the age of six?

At the age of six, Durrell was sure of having his own zoo when he would grow up.

2.       What did Durrell promise to his mother and what was her reaction to it?

Durrell promised his mother that one day he would have his own zoo and he would give his mother a cottage to live in its ground.

3.       How did Durrell fulfill his promise?

Durrell fulfilled his promise by taking his mother to live in the manor house built in the zoo ground.

4.       What did he fill his matchboxes with?

Durrell filled his matchboxes with the wide variety of smaller flora that came his way.

5.       When was the Jersey Zoological Park founded?

On March 15, 1959, Jersey Zoological Park was founded.

6.       Why does the author not consider the ‘bizarre happenings’ to be interruptions?

The author doesn’t consider the ‘bizarre happening’ to be an interruption because such weird incidences have become a part of his life as he has been working as a caretaker and the owner of a zoo.

Explain with reference to context:

1.       My sister’s neighbours heaved a collective sigh of relief.

Answer: This line is from Gerald Durrell’s ‘The Ark’s Anniversay’ which tells us how Gerald realized his dream of a perfect zoo and how he manages to make it.

When Gerald was planning for making the zoo, on March 14, 1959, he brought an assortment of beasts (chimpanzees) from West Africa and stashed them away in his sister’s back garden in Bournemouth. These chimpanzees were a big trouble for the neighbourhood. When the chimpanzees were shipped to Jersey, the neigbours heaved a sigh of relief from the trouble given by the chimpanzees.

2.       This they proceeded to do one afternoon when no one was around.

Answer: This line is from Gerald Durrell’s ‘The Ark’s Anniversay’ which tells us how handling chimpanzees was a herculean task for Gerald.

The half-grown chimpanzees, Chumley and Lulu, had discovered that interlink wire – if one could find a free end – could be unraveled like an old sweater and almost as quickly. They decided to do the same one afternoon when no one was around.

3.       They had jolly sight better manner than some of the people you’ve had up here.

Answer: This line is from Gerald Durrell’s ‘The Ark’s Anniversay’ which tells us how the chimpanzees are more civilized than human beings in many ways.

One day, the two half-grown Chumley and Lulum came to the house where Gerald’s mother used to stay. They came to call her. When she opened the door, they were so happy and enthusiastic, Gerald’s mother invited them and offered them the box of chocolates and a tin of biscuits. They did not trouble Gerald’s mother nor did they harm her which wild animals are known for. This made Gerald’s mother say that they are far better and civilized in behavior than most of the people around her.

4.       In spite of thinking us eccentric in the extreme – they are impressed.

Answer: This line is from Gerald Durrell’s ‘The Ark’s Anniversay’ which tells us how tells us how people used to get amused looking at the friendly relationship between Gerald and the animals in his zoo.

Gerald was the owner and the zookeeper of his zoo. For him, the bizarre happening (the mischievousness of the animals and their weird behavior), was a part of his everyday life. But whenever he used to have visitors in his zoo, instead of thinking the animals behavior weird, they (visitors) used to get amazed and impressed seeing the friendly relationship between the wild animals and human being.

5.       One raison d’être is to provide sanctuary for these creatures, and this is the reason I wanted my own zoo.

Answer: This line is from Gerald Durrell’s ‘The Ark’s Anniversay’ which tells us about Gerald’s intention and purpose behind building up a zoo.

When people would ask Gerald about how and why he set the zoo up, Gerald used to answer that 80% of the population of the animals in zoo are the animals which are on the verge of their extinction. Their existence is threatened primarily by man’s activity. He would say that to save them from getting extinct by providing them with a sanctuary is the only reason for setting up a zoo.