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It’s good to be back in the desert. Pink dunes, blue skies, 18C at night, high 20s or 30s during the day. This is winter in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.
Arriving from Oman yesterday, we are putting up camp today, sorting out the tasks for the team, getting paperwork and cars and food and a million other things in place for you desert citizen scientists from Saturday.
The DDCR wants us to do six main things: Species encounter in quadrant survey, Arabian red fox den survey, Pharaoh eagle-owl survey, lappet-faced vulture survey, camera traps survey and random encounters. What this all means is explained in detail in the research and expedition manual.
Now here is an important piece of information: Please download this manual and make sure you bring a copy with you for your own use during the expedition, either as a printed or as a digital copy.
While you do this and we are busy setting up here are a couple of media items to get you started. More over the next few days with updates.
Biosphere Expeditions citizen scientists supported Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT) research projects for a third time in 2022, between 25 September and 7 October, conducting the following research activities:
Elephant herd sightings and dung sampling: In recent years, human-elephant conflict has become an increasing threat to people’s livelihoods, but also for the local elephant population. A new fence was constructed in 2021 along the southern and eastern boundaries of Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve (VMWR), aiming to keep elephants within the reserve and reduce conflict. Elephant herd sightings were conducted around Lake Kazuni and resulted in 42 observations of family herds or single bulls. 49% of all elephants observed were in the age categories younger than 16, suggesting a stable population recruitment. For future expeditions, identification of matriarchs would be beneficial to monitor herd compositions and natality and mortality rates within herds. Dung samples were collected ad lib to assess if there were any cultivated food items contained in them, which would indicate that elephants still managed to venture into community land. No cultivated food items were found in 38 collected dung samples.
Hippo transects: VMWR is the only protected area in Malawi’s northern region to host a stable hippo population. However, no consistent monitoring of their populations is being done. As Lake Kazuni and the adjacent South Rukuru River are the only perennial water sources in the reserve, the majority of the population should be concentrated there. Transects of the northern shore of the lake were completed six times and resulted in a total of 698 hippos counted, with a maximum of 120 during two of the transects, which serves as a conservative population estimate. Compared to previous years, the maximum count has decreased substantially (from 338 in 2018 and 169 in 2019), suggesting a population decline. Future expeditions should keep monitoring the hippo population to recognise population crashes.Camera trapping:
Camera trapping is used worldwide as a non-intrusive remote monitoring method, particularly for elusive and cryptic species that are difficult to monitor through older, more conventional methods. 14 camera traps were deployed along roads in the southern area of the reserve, and an additional 3 at baited sites. 447 pictures with animals from 26 different species were recorded. Compared to previous expeditions, 3 new species were recorded: African wild dog, Selous’s mongoose and Sharpe’s grysbok. Four individual wild dogs were identified, which likely formed a dispersal group. African wild dogs had not been seen in VMWR in 20 years, substantiating the value of camera traps for monitoring.
Invertebrate sampling: VMWR is being considered as a release site for pangolins rehabilitated by the LWT. Pangolins depend on ants as a food source. However, no data on ant composition inside the reserve was available. A grid of baited pitfall invertebrate traps was set up in two representative habitat types: woodland and floodplains. Seven different ant species were identified during the sampling. Capture rates of these species did not significantly differ between habitats. During a previous research project, the LWT aimed to identify preferred ant species for pangolins, three of which were also identified in VMWR. Among other invertebrates captured, nine different taxonomic orders were represented.
Hyaena call-ins: Spotted hyaenas are the most abundant and widespread large carnivore in Africa. However, their conservation status is often overlooked. Despite this, they can influence other species’ populations and can serve as indicators of ecosystem health. Call-ins via audio playback to attract animals are a commonly used method to estimate hyaena populations. Three call-in events were conducted at baited sites and camera traps deployed to monitor hyaena activity after departure. No hyaenas were observed during the call-ins, nor were vocalisations in response to the call-ins recorded. The next expedition will try again, with an adapted methodology.
iNaturalist: iNaturalist is an online platform and application compiling evidence-based observations of organisms globally, making the data publicly accessible to researchers. Participants of the expedition uploaded 397 observations of 138 different species. A large proportion of observations was added from pictures taken during the invertebrate sampling project.
Today saw our Thailand elephant volunteers leave the village (and our jungle base) to get driven back to Chiang Mai, where they will prepare to re-enter society, hopefully with some new and interesting experiences and conversations to bring to the table.
Having had three years pass since the last Thailand expedition in 2019, and with so much planning and preparation beforehand, myself, Kerri and the team at Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary couldn’t be happier with the results of all the hard work put in by our team of elephant citizen scientists. A team who could just have easily spent their annual leave in a refined hotel with Gin & Tonic in hand by the piano lounge, most likely not having consider how many times they should tap their boots upside down to check for scorpions before going for a stroll. Thank you for coming here instead.
Yesterday saw our final survey in the field, completing collectively 130 hrs of data collection, approximately 800 km walked and 24000 meters climbed up through steep jungle hillsides, gathering data for our scientists to evaluate for ongoing research in several aspects of the semi-wild elephants’ lives. Work that isn’t normally possible as it is so labour-intensive, and requires a concerted team effort – which is exactly what this expedition brings.
We’ve nearly finished packing up now, and soon I’ll be heading back myself. Thank you again everyone – this could not happen without you.
All good things come to an end. Much like the peanut butter for the toast at breakfast, we also saw the last of our early starts yesterday. It is such a tranquil way to start the day, with our head torches on, the morning dew dripping off the trees onto our heads as we make our way through the jungle. We arrived to see the opposite behaviour compared to the previous afternoon. Boon Rott and Gen Thong were in solitary patches of forest feeding and exploring. Gen Thong did eventually head to the river after a couple of hours for a solitary drink and a bathe in silence, apart from some frogs croaking and bird song in the distance. We have our last survey today wrapping up two complete days surveying combining all the hours collected this past week. Then our elephant citizen science team head back to Chiang Mai. But I have it on high authority that there is a pot of strawberry jam and Nutella in the fridge, so at least there will be something for the toast to spur us on our final quest.
Yesterday we finished our elephant conservation expedition finished its second day in a row of our late data collection times, starting at noon, then lunch followed by two more hours taking us up to 16:00. By the time we walked back to the village it was almost dark and dinner was on the table.
For the last two days the elephants have been very social with each other, the males and the females socially bathing (I don’t blame them, yesterday was especially warm) and Gen Tong, who normally annoys the others, has spent lots of time with Boon Rott, a larger older male with large tusks. They’ve been foraging together interspersed with trunk touching and leading us into dense thorny bushes that don’t seem to bother them at all.
We’ve also had the pleasure of preparing food and cooking with our home stays. And also seeing traditional Karen textiles the women of the village make and sell. I had wondered why the Mahouts had such stylish shoulder bags…
Our team of elephant citizen scientists arrived into the village yesterday. With a slightly theory-intensive day of classroom learning, they all went to bed nice and early ready for today, our practice day in the field.
This morning with lunches made and clipboards packed, we set off on a 1.5 h trek to find the elephant herd. The sun was shining and the ground was dry as we made our way up steep slopes, only to find out we had to go back down and in another direction.
Eventually we found our quarry, a few minutes ahead of schedule, which gave us time to just enjoy their presence before we started practising our newly-acquired data collecting techniques. We spent half an hour or so on each different technique, which follows the elephants behavioural categories, their proximity to the rest of the herd and also documenting which species of plant they eat throughout the day.
Once we had returned to base, we entered the data gathered onto the computer spreadsheets, which will be the legacy we leave behind for our scientists.
It also just so happened that tonight is Loy Krathong (the festival of light on the full moon), where you make offerings from plants and flowers that float. The villagers came to our base to prepare them with us. We then light the floats and sent them down the river. The tradition is to send all your worries and bad feelings with them. So we did and I feel this can only be a good omen for the rest of our Thailand expedition.
Yesterday Kerri, Sombat and I made our way from Chiang Mai to Ban Naklang village, stopping in at the market place to pick up plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and other last-minute shopping supplies ahead of our expedition start date on Monday.
Today we have been getting the base expedition ready, printing out datasheets and preparing clipboards, putting up banners and arranging the kit room, packed with all the tools you’ll need for our citizen science elephant surveys out in the field.
Tomorrow I will be hiking out with Aislinn (KSES research coordinator) to meet the herd again. I wonder if they’ll remember me? Apparently they never forget…
Hopefully you will all be either in Chiang Mai by now or be arriving shortly. Please make sure you have all relevant documentation with you on Monday. And remember we will be issuing Covid tests to you all, which you will have to take when you meet Jasmine, please do not eat or drink anything other than water for half an hour prior to the test as this can affect the result (for axample, orange juice has been known to make a positive result). Please also try to make sure that your money is in notes no larger than 100 Bhat as it is hard to change in the village.
Finally, if you can it would be useful to have these two apps on your phone (they are free please download them if you’re able to). iPhone: My GPS Navigation tracker. Android: GPS Location and Elevation.
Please be punctual on Monday at the pickup point: 08:00 in the lobby of Mercure Chiang Mai, where Jasmin will meet you to take you to the village.
I’ve made it to Chiang Mai with that slightly uneasy feeling in my stomach that seems to go hand-in-hand with spending 24 hours in transit, with the long leg of the journey being an overnight flight between Zürich and Bangkok sat between a Metallica rocker and a young couple with a baby on its first time on an aeroplane. But luckily you get that second burst of adrenaline to get you through the rest of the day. When you read this I will be on my way to Ban Na Klang, our hilltribe village base. The forecast for the area is for thunderstorms and I’ll report back with a final on-site update soon, before our Thailand elephant conservation expedition starts in Chiang Mai on Monday.
Hello everyone, my name is Anthony and I will be leading this year’s Thailand elephant expedition. It’s the second time I will have been in the remote Karen hill tribe village, working together with Kerri from our local partner organisation KSES. (Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary).
I type this waiting at Barcelona airport for my flight, having laid all my kit on the dining table last night making sure my bag was expedition-ready. I’m looking forward to meeting up with KSES and the team soon, so we can get everything prepared, and can’t wait for all of you to join us as citizen scientists in Thailand on this excellent project. I will update you with my telephone number, the weather and latest news once I arrive in Thailand.
The team peacefully sitting in base camp checking camera trap images, studying ants under a microscope and sifting through fresh elephant dung were interrupted a moment ago by the VHF radio. LWT staff member Pili, leading the rest of the Biosphere team on a lakeside transect walk to count hippos, was calling for a rescue. The small group of our citizen scientists had been trapped by a herd of elephants on the floodplain. With good experience of elephant behaviour, Pili kept the team safe without problems, but they were blocked from walking back to camp by the elephants. At base camp, Benni and a couple of helpers jumped into a vehicle and set off to intercept and evacuate our trapped and intrepid citizen scientists. Not quite an everyday experience, but still, very much the kind of thing that can happen on an expedition that deserves its name.Â
The Malawi 2022 biodiversity expedition is in its last days, but there is no sign of it winding down. If anything, the team is operating at its best now: after initial training and many days of experience, the expedition is a well-oiled machine, with animal observations, sample collection & analysis, as well as data entry all being carried out with speed, efficiency and a smidgin of pride.Â
Each day starts with a dawn drive along the lakeside to look for elephants. Nobody has told the elephants this and so we have rarely spotted them at this time of day, but those of us happy to get up at 05:00 are rewarded with the sights and sounds of Malawian wildlife in the warm light of sunrise. All the team are up for breakfast at 07:00 and after that we split into research groups doing different research tasks for the day.
Driving and walking to observe elephants and hippos (and recording herd / pod size and composition) is a daily task. The hippos are easier to count: they tend to stay, semi-submerged in the muddy lake all day. The elephants come and go according to their own schedules and it is always a delight to come across them (sometimes they come across us, first, see above). We see matriarch-led family herds of up to 12 regularly, as well as solo or small groups of bull elephants alone or following a family herd at a distance. Yesterday, our afternoon elephant count team found a super-herd of more than 100 elephants milling about between the lake and the woodland. This could be as much as a third of all of the elephant population of the Vwaza Marsh Reserve and was clearly a thrilling encounter for those of us lucky enough to witness it. As with all our elephant sightings, the experience of watching these animals interact with each other (and with us) is endlessly absorbing and wonderful. So much so that we have to dig deep to find the discipline to do our job of recording what we see.Â
We also collect elephant dung. This is more fun and useful than it sounds. Measuring the diameter of fresh dung boli gives an analog of elephant age (we have a look-up table for this) and the contents of the dung, once sifted, cleaned, dried and analysed, tell us what the elephant has been eating. Our findings so far suggest that the elephants are not eating crops that are grown outside the nature reserve and so giving us a (tentative) happy conclusion that the reserve fence is doing its job and that human-elephant conflict is decreasing.Â
We have also collected the first set of photos from our 16 camera traps set up at strategic locations around our part of the reserve, giving us some evidence of the range of animals living here. Many of them are well known and expected, but it is no less thrilling to find images of hippos, elephants and antelope caught on camera, usually at night. Occasional photos of something more notable tend to bring about a shriek of excitement from whoever is sitting at a laptop diligently checking and cataloguing all the camera trap images. Our first haul of camera trap images have revealed good images of leopards, hyaenas, buffalo and porcupine.
We also look for animals at night, using spotlights from the back of a pickup, and in the daytime simply by looking around – and have been rewarded with sightings of crocodiles and a monitor lizard by the lake, a multitude of birds from eagles to canaries (alongside the ubiquitous screech of the Hadida ibis) and many pairs of eyes shining back at us at night. We have seen genets, mongooses and a couple of civets this ay. Pairs of eyes in the trees at night that suddenly jump a startling long distance are usually bushbabies, who can also entertain us with unnerving shrieks in the dark.Â
All in all the expedition team are doing brilliantly – they are very good at doing all of the research tasks (including sorting through countless ants on a petri dish to establish the potential good Pangolin diet). There is wistful talk around the campfire at sunset, about wanting to stay on for another week. And now, the rescue team has returned (the right number of people I note with some relief), all in good spirits with a story to tell and photos to share and the expedition continues.
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