Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust is one of the charities my family and I have supported for many years (including through The ROB Trust) because of their impressive work on various projects around the world, saving endangered species and protecting their habitats.

Will you support me in raising funds to help Durrell with their unique work in the north-east of India? Once thought to be extinct, the pygmy hog is the world's smallest pig and one of the most threatened mammals on Earth. Living only in the tall grasslands of Assam, they were rediscovered in 1971 when a group was found in a neighbouring tea plantation sheltering from a grassland fire. Since then, Durrell have been working in Assam to save the pygmy hog from extinction through captive breeding and release programmes as well as grassland restoration and management.

As part of this, I've signed up to participate in the "Founder’s Trek" in March/April 2025, celebrating 100 years since the birth of the charity's visionary founder, Gerald Durrell. This will include hiking at altitudes of up to 4,500 metres and camping near Kanchenjunga, the world's 3rd highest mountain. It should give me behind-the-scenes insight into Durrell's vital wildlife conservation work - including the chance to meet the pygmy hogs as well as the passionate team saving them from extinction.

I'll need to be in good shape to complete the 60 km trek at those altitudes, so I've already been testing my abilities since starting my fund-raising (see photos below):

- In August I visited Durrell's Dalnacardoch Estate in Scotland (together with some family members and friends), including to climb two Munros - Càrn na Caim (941 metres) and A' Bhuidheanach Bheag (936 metres). It was a grand day out, including meeting Kevin and Sam from the Durrell team (who drove us to the point near Sronphadruig Lodge from where we started our walk).

- In September I completed the Hagelandse 101 - a 101km walk through the Flemish countryside (low-level altitudes at least!) - within the 24 hour time limit. I've never experienced such big and painful blisters on my feet. My efforts to reach the finish line were helped by knowing I had already reached 60% of my fund-raising target of £5,050 (€6,000) from people who were expecting me to complete this Belgian challenge.

- I'm continuing to attend regular outdoor fitness training (cardio, strength and conditioning) in Tervuren Park with my bootcamp friends, now rebranded as the Crunch Bunch! And I've started the New Year by signing up to do Small Group Training and Strongman Training at the Dan Hunter Transformation Centre.

On behalf of Durrell, I thank you all for your support as I continue trying to reach 100% of my target!

John

PS Please watch this video to meet Panna the pygmy hog:

On our walk in Dalnacardoch (6 August):

On the Hagelandse 101 (6-7 September):

In the gym: