Category: Expedition Blogs

Posted on

Sweden expedition 2026: Wrap-up

CITIZEN SCIENTISTS TRACK APEX PREDATOR: MULTI-YEAR WILDLIFE STUDY IN SWEDEN YIELDS RECORD DATA AMID INTENSIFYING PRESSURE ON BROWN BEARS

Update from our brown bear conservation expedition in Dalarna, Sweden

A group of people and a Biosphere Expeditions flag
The 2026 Sweden bear expedition team

Non-profit wildlife conservation organisation Biosphere Expeditions has successfully concluded its 2026 brown bear research field season in the forests of Dalarna county, Sweden. Working alongside bear scientist Dr. Andrea Friebe of the Scandinavian Brown Bear Research Project, an international team of volunteer citizen scientists generated critical telemetry, behavioural and dietary data tracking the region’s Scandinavian brown bear (Ursus arctos) population.

The 2026 expedition operated against a backdrop of increasing ecological tension, following a historic and highly controversial large-scale government cull during the previous hunting season. Despite a reduced regional bear density, the 2026 team completed an unprecedented sweeping survey of the study site, documenting a record-breaking 46 winter dens and successfully recovering months of localised data from deep-winter temperature loggers and remote camera traps.

Continue reading “Sweden expedition 2026: Wrap-up”
Posted on

Sweden expedition 2026: Hunting bears

Update from our brown bear conservation expedition in Dalarna, Sweden 

A group of people and a Biosphere Expeditions flag
The 2026 Sweden bear expedition team

This outstanding team managed to check and record all the bear dens that Andrea wanted us to cover. That’s a first in all our years in Sweden and Andrea was very pleased on our last night together. Well done everyone!

But the last few days weren’t just about dens. They were also about hunting bears.

Continue reading “Sweden expedition 2026: Hunting bears”
Posted on

Sweden expedition 2026: Tree trunks and quaking bogs

Update from our brown bear conservation expedition in Dalarna, Sweden 

A hand pointing into a cavity made by rocks and used as a den by bears
A rock den

Our efficiency drive continues and we have only six bear dens left to do in our study site. There are fewer dens this year, because there was a big cull last year, so fewer bears built dens in the 2025/2026 season.

But our scientist Andrea has plenty of work for us, so we are also retrieving camera traps and temperature loggers from the field for her. The camera traps take pictures of animals and the temperature loggers are left in the dens over the winter to record temperatures inside. Once retrieved, Andrea can download months worth of data from them.

A hand holding a white bullet-shaped and sized temperature logger
A temperature logger, freshly retrieved from a bear den
Continue reading “Sweden expedition 2026: Tree trunks and quaking bogs”
Posted on

Sweden expedition 2026: Efficieny

Update from our brown bear conservation expedition in Dalarna, Sweden 

A goup of people in the forest
Expedition team 2026

“You are too efficient” was the high praise we received yesterday from our expedition scientist Andrea and “I need to find more jobs for you”.

And indeed we have hit the groove. Wednesday and Thursday we went out by ourselves, all trained up and ready to find and document bear dens. I can’t think of a much better way to spend your time volunteering in Sweden.

Continue reading “Sweden expedition 2026: Efficieny”
Posted on

Sweden expedition 2026: Dens and flats

Update from our brown bear conservation expedition in Dalarna, Sweden 

A flat car tyre
One of two after day one

What does one do on a bear conservation expedition? After day 1, the overwhelming answer seems to be: to get flat tyres 😉 But first things first…

On Monday our intrepid team of citizen scientists assembled in Mora, a small regional town in Dalarna county and end point of the famous 90 km Vasaloppet ski race.

A group of people standing next to a rock in a forest
The 2026 expedition team
Continue reading “Sweden expedition 2026: Dens and flats”
Posted on

Sweden expedition 2026: Impacts

Update from our brown bear conservation expedition in Dalarna, Sweden 

Satellite map of the Siljan impact crater
The Siljan Ring / impact crater

Impacts on geography

Greetings from Sweden and the massive Siljan impact crater (assembly point yellow, base red arrow). Luckily, the meteorite impact was over 300 million years ago.

Today you can still see the ring it created and in it upturned sheer walls full of fossils of the early ocean that was there before the impact.

A beautiful lake framed by sheer rock walls and pine trees
Sheer walls created by the impact…
… full of fossils
Continue reading “Sweden expedition 2026: Impacts”
Posted on

Sweden expedition 2026: Preamble

Update from our brown bear conservation expedition in Dalarna, Sweden 

A brown bear amongst some rocks
Brown bear in Dalarna county

Hello Sweden expeditioners Рthis is a short first diary entry from your expedition leader Matthias, just to say that I will be a few days ahead of you to set up base together with our scientist Dr. Andrea Friebe and assistant expedition leader Jan (Biekeh̦r).

A woman smiling into the camera
Dr. Andrea Friebe
A nab smiling into the camera
Dr. Matthias Hammer
A nab smiling into the camera
Jan Biekehör
Continue reading “Sweden expedition 2026: Preamble”
Posted on

Azores expedition 2026: Wrap-up

Update from our marine conservation volunteering holiday in the Azores archipelago, working on whales, dolphins and turtles

Mural in Horta harbour to commemorate the expedition
Mural in Horta harbour to commemorate the expedition – a tradition in that harbour

Biosphere Expeditions has completed its 20th year monitoring cetaceans in the Azores, an area supporting over 25 species. Unlike short-term whale watching, scientific research requires decades to reveal meaningful patterns in how whales and dolphins use the ocean. This long-term data bank grows in value as it helps address future conservation challenges.

Recent findings from 170 encounters include matching images of sperm, humpback, and blue whales to records spanning 15 years across Northern Europe. While some species like Risso’s dolphins appeared in lower numbers this year, citizen scientists also documented rarer sightings of sei and Cuvier’s beaked whales.

By conducting fieldwork in March – outside the typical tourism season – the team captures data that would otherwise be missed. Made possible through citizen science for two decades now, this research is vital for the long-term protection of cetaceans, ensuring informed management of their habitats across the Atlantic Ocean.

Continue reading “Azores expedition 2026: Wrap-up”
Posted on

Azores expedition 2026: The End

Update from our marine conservation volunteering holiday in the Azores archipelago, working on whales, dolphins and turtles

Common dolphin jumping
Common dolphin jumping

Suddenly the end of the Azores expedition is upon us. That fact that five weeks seems to have flown by, is a good thing, time flies when you are having fun and we have had a great expedition.

With the international team now spreading their wings to various corners of the globe and some adjusting to last minute re-routes, it is time to return home. However, let me first (briefly) recap the last couple of days, before I wrap the expedition as a whole, as we still had some highs and lows to experience.

Mural in Horta harbour to commemorate the expedition
Mural in Horta harbour to commemorate the expedition – a tradition in that harbour
Continue reading “Azores expedition 2026: The End”
Posted on

Azores expedition 2026: Land & sea

Update from our marine conservation volunteering holiday in the Azores archipelago, working on whales, dolphins and turtles

Common dolphin in clear waters
Common dolphin

The last few days have been split between survey time on the boat and time on shore. Both dealing with data and having a well-earned break.

Humpback whale encounters were the theme for the weekend, but this doesn’t tell the whole story. Heading north on both Saturday and Sunday, our weekend started with a brief glimpse of a minke whale. There followed the search for two humpback whales which were trailed in 4 m swells, making it more than challenging to get ID photographs.

All the while both bottlenose and common dolphins were trying to distract us. But sperm whales then followed and meant a much ‘calmer’ afternoon.

One person, all bundled up in clothing, looking over the ocean from a boat
On the lookout for cetaceans
Continue reading “Azores expedition 2026: Land & sea”