The 2025 Biosphere Expeditions wolf conservation project in Lower Saxony, Germany has once again made a significant contribution to state wolf monitoring efforts. It collected 79 scat samples, 13 of which are “good and fresh enough” – says expedition scientist Charlotte Steinberg – for DNA analysis, and all of which will be studied for remains of prey animals.
The wolf expedition in 2025
From 5 to 18 July 2025, nineteen citizen scientists gathered wolf evidence in support of the state’s official wolf monitoring programme. Some participants came from Germany and its neighbouring countries, as well as the UK and Spain, but there were also participants from North America, Australia, Oman and Brazil.
Groups went through a rigorous two-day training process and then scoured various wolf territories within the study site for wolf signs. They went on tracks only, because this is where the wolves also like to roam, and covered more than 650 km in ten survey days.
Biosphere Expeditions’ achievements in wolf conservation
All findings were digitally recorded in accordance with the official wolf monitoring protocol and handed over to the state’s wolf bureau. A full technical expedition report is expected in 2026 and will summarise all findings and analyse results. This will sit alongside all other annual reports and peer-reviewed scientific publications and a host of other Biosphere Expeditions achievements worldwide.
In summary, since the inaugural wolf conservation expedition in 2017 exceeded all expectations in terms of wolf signs found and collected, as well as interest from the media and local people, this project has made a consistent and very significant contribution to wolf monitoring in Lower Saxony.
Each summer, the Biosphere Expeditions wolf volunteering project contributes, in a few short weeks, up to half of all scats collected annually for the state wolf monitoring programme. The DNA contained in these scats has led to significant insights about individual wolves and wolf packs living in the state.
In some instances, new individual wolves could be identified and important conclusions drawn about wolf pack development and distribution.
The prey animal remains contained in the scats have been used for dietary analyses and show consistently that wild ungulate prey form the main part of wolf diet in Lower Saxony whereas livestock animals form a negligible part – a very important finding for wolf conservation and human-wildlife conflict resolution efforts, especially now that the German government has backed wolf hunting again.
All this taken together is a showcase for how citizen science can and should work, and represents a very significant addition to wolf monitoring efforts in the German state of Lower Saxony.
Dr. Matthias Hammer, founder and executive director of Biosphere Expeditions, adds: “When the Germany wolf project began in 2017, there was understandable uncertainty about what role well-trained volunteers could play in formal monitoring. Over time, as data quality and collaboration with official partners have grown, the project has become a trusted part of wolf monitoring in Lower Saxony. It’s a strong example of how citizen science can enhance evidence-based conservation.
Local people and communities have been integrated into the expedition as cooks, guides, helpers and interview partners.
Expedition data are freely available to enable conservation actions, indigenous community-based conservation, and to identify potential ecological corridors. All of this provides governments, local NGOs and decision-makers facts for real, science-based conservation actions.
Author: Malika Fettak
Malika Fettak is half Algerian, but was born and educated in Germany. She majored in Marketing & Communications and is a qualified Systemic Coach & Trainer and passionate team leader. She joined Biosphere Expeditions in 2008, ran the German-speaking operations and the German office for some years and has led expeditions all over the world. She cares deeply about nature, the outdoors and the diversity our planet has to offer. She has travelled extensively, is multilingual, a qualified off-road driver, diver and outdoor first aider. More about Malika.
Video feedback:
(more video of the expedition across all years are here)
Written feedback:
“Wonderful trip. Logistics done extremely well, accommodation/base was amazing. Great variety of locations, wonderful forest.”
Nikki Rouse, Australia, on feedback form.
“Great team leader, really clear communication. Very knowledgeable passionate scientist. Everything worked well & the expedition was extremely well thought through.”
Sharon Amos, on feedback form.
“Again a very nice time in Lower Saxony. It was my third Biosphere Expedition and it was great – very well organised, wonderful landscape and accommodation. Thank you very much. I will come back.”
Silke Kutzer, Germany, in journal.
“Brilliant! I’ve never had so many – or any – entertaining conversations about SCAT! The great thing though is that I now understand it’s importance in providing information about wolves. I had the best of times. Thanks all – staff and fellow participants.”
Michail Davies, UK, in journal.
Photo archive
(more photos of the expedition across all years are here):
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