Update from our wolf volunteering expedition to Germany
Every great expedition comes with a few surprises, and the launch of our latest citizen science project in Germany was no exception.
A Roadside Bump at the Starting Line
Saturday morning, 9:00. The team was assembled and eager at Bremen airport, ready to dive into their wolf volunteering experience. There was just one problem—the expedition leader was nowhere to be seen. Her rental car had broken down on the motorway halfway to Bremen!
After countless phone calls, coordinated WhatsApp messages, and a lot of teamwork, we managed to pivot beautifully. We all met up directly at the Wolfcenter in Dörverden for our scheduled guided tour. From there, we headed to our lovely base at Naturcampus Bockum and settled into our new home. A massive well done to the whole team – thank you all for being so flexible, patient, and supportive during this unexpected start.
Fast-Track Training and a Tight Schedule
Even with the initial delay, our enthusiastic crew didn’t skip a beat. We compressed our timeline and successfully powered through our introductions, safety briefings and lectures. Getting up to speed quickly is essential for effective wolf volunteering, and this team handled the intense crash course like absolute pros.
First Sign of Wolves: Tracking Success on Day One
The hard work and compressed training paid off faster than any of us expected. On Sunday, during our practical tracking walk, the team was rewarded with the discovery of two fresh wolf scats!
It was the perfect reminder of why we are here. Now, we are fully settled, trained and ready to kick off our intensive field surveys tomorrow morning. Stay tuned for more updates from the field!
Read also: First I second entry of the Germany wolf expedition. All Germany 2026 diary entries on one page.
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.