So long, London
Posted onAugust 17, 2026byJenna Kissel|Canada's New Noahs, News and Events, Overseas Species
What is the Canada’s New Noah Program? Since 1988, the Canada’s New Noah program has provided conservation biologists in Canada the opportunity of a lifetime. Each year, WPC selects a dedicated biologist from applicants across Canada to undertake a 3-month course at the Durrell Conservation Academy in the U.K. followed by a 6-month internship on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. This is an opportunity unlike any other for young Canadians to learn firsthand how the world’s most successful conservation recovery programs are managed and to bring this knowledge and experience back to improve Canada’s conservation capacity.
For the first time ever, WPC is offering this placement to two biologists. Our 2026 New Noahs are Jenna Kissel – WPC’s 35th Canada’s New Noah, and Daryn Farrant – WPC’s 36th Canada’s New Noah. Both report on their experiences and how they will apply them upon return to Canada. Thank you to the Alan & Patricia Koval Foundation for their many years supporting the Canada’s New Noah Program and for going above and beyond supporting two Koval Foundation New Noah Internships in 2026.
Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower of London, these are the tourist attractions that come to mind when one thinks of London. Being my first time in the UK, I did visit these iconic sites, but they were not my main draw to the royal city.
Due to some delays with my Mauritian visa, I had some time to travel around the UK after leaving Jersey. Thanks to WPC and the Alan and Patricia Koval Foundation who paid for my extended travel costs, I spent a few days in London, where I visited the London Zoo, the Hertfordshire Zoo, and the Hawk Conservancy Trust. I love getting to connect with other zookeepers and conservationists in this field, and was able to arrange to spend time with keepers at both the Hertfordshire Zoo and the Hawk Conservancy Trust.
At the Hertfordshire Zoo, I spent most of the day with the bird department. I met Kedua, the most adorable black hornbill, and did some station training with her. I also got to feed African penguins (literally a dream come true), and saw my first Eurasian griffon vulture in the zoo’s new vulture aviary, which also features an Egyptian vulture and black kites.
(Left) Jenna rewarding Kedua the black hornbill with a blueberry and (right) Jenna feeding African penguins. Photos by Paul and C. Eley.
I couldn’t come to the UK without visiting the Hawk Conservancy Trust, an incredible charity dedicated to bird of prey conservation. I’ve followed their work for a long time, so it was so fun to finally see the center in person and chat with keepers about their birds. I also got to meet baby Sherbert the secretary bird! The Trust has an amazing collection of species, both on display and in their fantastic flying demonstrations. They do a lot of amazing conservation work for vultures, which are birds especially close to my heart.
Jenna and Sherbert, the secretary bird. Photo: T. Morath.
I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to have visited the zoo and the trust, where I got an inside look at each facility and the chance to spend time with people who are just as passionate about birds and conservation as I am. But the journey didn’t end there; after London I took the train to Wales to volunteer with an incredible conservation charity. To be continued…
Jenna Kissel
35th Canada’s New Noah
Jenna is a zookeeper and wildlife conservationist who is passionate about endangered species recovery. She graduated with a BSc in Wildlife Biology & Conservation from the University of Guelph before moving to British Columbia to work with northern spotted owls. Her background is in raptor conservation, specializing in husbandry and conservation breeding. She has been fortunate to work with many different species and conservation programs over the last 8+ years and can’t wait to continue this work with the skills she’ll gain from the New Noah Program.
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