Tag: conservation volunteering

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Germany : 2023 round-up

Update from our Germany wolf volunteer project

For the fifth edition of the Biosphere Expeditions wolf project in Germany, we moved to a new expedition base, the beautiful NaturCampus in Bockum, in northern Lower Saxony. In 2023 we welcomed a total of 19 expeditioners from seven different countries for two weeks. The final numbers of all groups bear evidence to a truly impressive effort: all teams covered 791 km in eight wolf territories, sampling a total of 218 wolf scats. This corresponds to 35 10 km x 10km grids. 156 samples were frozen for dietary analyses and 16 samples will be sent to the lab for DNA analysis. We also recorded one wolf sighting during group 1 and two wolf tracks of adults and pups. For the first time during an expedition, howls of wolf pups and adults could be heard in the distance; this awe-inspring event was of course duly recorded.

During the Covid pandemic, wolf monitoring went through a deep data dip, so the new and sizeable set of data collected by the 2020, 2022 and 2023 wolf expeditions are crucial for an up-to-date picture of current wolf presence in the study area and data have just been entered into the German wolf monitoring database by our expedition scientists.

Biosphere Expeditions’ contribution from 2017 to today now exceeds 1000 data entries, underlining the importance of citizen science for wolf monitoring and conservation.

What makes this expedition truly unique is the variety of wolf stakeholders we interacted with: inspiring wolf ambassadors, the committed Wolfsbüro team, the staff of our beautiful Bockum NaturCampus expedition base, Kenner’s Landlust setting, the showcase Wolfcenter Dörverden, and our amazing scientists. We also learnt about how humans and wolves can coexist in a densely populated and highly developed place like Germany. This apex predator has come back to stay and it is a credit to Germany that the country is making it work, the inevitable trials and tribulations aside. We are proud to say that our expedition plays a significant role in making this so, and we thank everyone for making this year a great success. We hope to see many of you again in the future.

Citizen scientists feedback:

It was a unique experience for me. I appreciated and enjoyed the opportunity to be part of the scientific team to research the wolf and play a role in wolf conservation. Walking in the forest, looking for scats and the possibility of seeing a wolf, made me feel close to nature and sense a connection to the wolf. I learned a lot. Thank you so much for it all!
Carine C., Australia

This is my 10th Biosphere Expedition, and it was simply one of the best. Excellent lodging, good food, great team and very knowledgeable scientists with the right attitude.
Anne S., Germany

Where to begin? It was the best of smells, no, it was the worst of smells. Never again will any of us look at the ground in the same way. Dog? Fox? Wolf? Hmmm – that smell. Wolf! Yes, score another.
Jim B., USA

It had a very nice time and wonderful experience. The location was great. The expeditions was a present my husband gave me – a unique one. I am sure when back at home, I will scan the paths. I hope to come again.
Silke K., Germany

The wolf expedition is always a lot of fun, and I know that my work during the expedition is valuable for the scientists and for wolf conservation more broadly. We celebrated my 20th anniversary of Biosphere Expeditions (2003 Ukraine – 2023 Germany), including five Germany wolf expeditons. Nice team, good experiences, lot of fun!
Sylvia D., Germany

Picture selection:

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Tien Shan: Trailblazing

Update from our snow leopard volunteer project to the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan

Continuing the 2023 Tien Shan snow leopard expedition in our new study area meant an inexhaustible list of tasks for group 2, with new valleys to explore, camera traps to set and locals to build relationships with.

Surveying unexplored (by Biosphere Expeditions) valleys meant that group 2 had to start each day with a flexible mindset. The suggested survey route could be promising and turn into a nine hour mountain walk, or an impassable obstacle could mean the group is back at base camp by lunchtime. Initial evidence is very promising, with multiple signs of argali sheep (snow leopards prey), including remains and tracks. But, to achieve the goal of documenting snow leopards in this new study area, we need camera traps up in the mountains, working for us 24/7. Special mention to Isabelle, who was part of every team that reached the desired altitude for camera trap placements.

We look forward to seeing what evidence this hard work captures in the coming weeks. We also had teams working hard on interview questions and relationship building with local herders and their families. Thank you to Luke, Karl, Anastasia and Corinna for your dedicated work in designing and implementing interviews.

With group 2 wrapping up, I would like to thank everyone who participated for your hard work. We look forward to welcoming group 3 to these beautiful mountains. Please be prepared for training days followed by some long days in the mountains getting camera traps into prime snow leopard territory.

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Tien Shan: Moving

Update from our snow leopard volunteer project to the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan

Group 1 started smoothly with everyone arriving on time to the meeting point in Bishkek. We then drove in convoy for seven hours to base camp arriving on schedule at 16:00.

The next morning saw a busy day of training with lessons on scientific methods, GPS use and offroad driving at our old site. We’re here to wrap up our work in this valley. If you have read the 2022 expedition report, you know why. The biggest task for group 1 was collecting all the camera traps from the mountains, which involved some challenging days, as most of the cameras are placed above 3700 m. Well done Clodagh, Leonard and Simon for retrieving our highest and most hard to reach cameras.

In fact, the whole team did a sterling job retrieving most of the cameras within the first few days. We then had a day off with goodbye celebrations for the old valley and experienced some local culture before taking down base camp and loading up the cars and truck. There is a feeling of excitement for the opportunity to study a new valley where – to our knowledge – no snow leopard research has previously taken place.

So here we are, half way along the eight hour drive to our new location in Archaly valley, where the rest of our 2023 expedition will take place. Just enough time and signal to drop off this blog entry.

More news on the new location when we’re back in Bishkek for the changeover. Groups 2 & 3, be ready to go where few citizen scientists have gone before!

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Germany : It’s a wrap

Update from our Germany wolf volunteer project

Our second team of expeditioners completed their wolf surveys on Thursday with a thunderstorm. As days went by, everyone managed to perfect their navigational skills. No easy task when the printed map, GPS and reality do not always match. The teams enjoyed walking across different wolf habitats, ranging from pine forests, through heath areas, over sand dunes and deciduous forests. It is a special feeling to walk in a large carnivore’s footprints while documenting evidence on their presence and ecology on what we call wolf highways.

This team’s effort, patience and dedication paid off resulting in a wealth of valuable data, confirming the importance of citizen science to add to monitoring efforts – or in many cases being the only source of monitoring data:

Over two groups and weeks, we walked nearly 800 km in 8 wolf territories, resulting in a total of 217 documented scats of which 155 were frozen for dietary and 15 suitable for DNA analysis. Especially with the fresh samples, it is quite thrilling to realise that less than 24 hours ago, this top predator was in the same spot as you were. Even if we do not easily get to see the wolves, we wonder whether they might be looking at us from within their forest hideaways.

This Friday we said farewell to our second and last group of the year. I am sure we will all miss the acrobatic flights of the swift colony around our base, the evenings sharing field experiences and laughs. You were a wonderful team, we wish you safe travels and thank you for your dedication. A special thank you also to Susanne and Jannis of Naturcampus for hosting us and the canteen team of SOS Bockum for the vegetarian food to keep us going. We thank everyone for making this expedition a great success and we hope to see you again in the future.

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Germany : Tropics

Update from our Germany wolf volunteer project

With our second team of expeditioners arrived the tropical weather. Temperatures exceeded 30 C, humidity levels increased and the night brought a thunderstorm. That clearly did not phase our newly arrived expeditioners, who were keen to get into action. After our usual pick-up in Bremen and guided tour in the Wolfcenter, we went into full training modus in our beautiful Bockum research base.

Sunday afternoon our try-out survey to test the newly acquired skills did not disappoint with no fewer than five recorded wolf scats. Wading in the stream Lopau on our return brought some well-deserved refreshment. Ending the day around the campfire with a nice drink allowed us to get to know each other better and exchange previous nature adventures.

Monday we headed out to two nearby wolf territories, Breitenhees and Susing, and split up into six teams. As tends to happen, some teams only managed to cover 4 km due to a high amount of wolf evidence that had to be documented and sampled in their assigned areas, while other teams did as much as 15 km, covering a much larger area, but with no indication of any recent wolf presence, which is equally relevant data. In any case, it is hard not to enjoy the beautiful forests, the other wildlife sightings (red deer, wild board, cranes, red kite and marten) and this in great company. Tomorrow half of the team heads up north to survey Amt Neuhaus and Göhrde, while the other half continues their investigations here.

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Tien Shan: Prepped & group 1

Update from our snow leopard volunteer project to the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan

We set off on Thursday for our base camp location. After eight hours on the road we arrived as night was falling only to get our big truck stuck in soft ground. After a few failed attempts at freeing the truck from the mud, we decided to pitch our tents and try again in the morning.

Sure enough the next day, Becca (ranger/guide) promptly freed the truck and it was all hands on deck setting up yurts, only breaking to reacquaint with old friends in the valley who paid a visit, they even mentioned having lost livestock to snow Leopards just weeks ago (more information needs to be gained with surveys) . Two days later, base camp was ready for the arrival of group 1.

On the way back, we went past another possible research site, Archaly valley, which looks good and promising, especially in light of what we wrote in the last expedition report, which we’re sure all expeditioners have read in preparation…. More on Archaly and our plans for this new site later.

Back in Bishkek, more last minute shopping before we met group 1 this morning for the long journey to base camp followed by plenty of learning in the first couple of days.

Group 1
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Germany : Group 1 summary

Update from our Germany wolf volunteer project

Four days of surveying have gone by quickly. Over almost 400 km in eight different wolf territories, everyone has become very skilled at detecting and documenting wolf evidence in the field. This year we explored some new sites, unsure what we will find there. While in certain areas an impressive amount of data could be collected, in others no evidence of wolf presence was found. While this is obviously less satisfying after a long day of hiking and concentration, those zeros are equally important to gain insight into the current movements of known packs.

We enjoyed exploring different forest types and were treated to other sightings as well: a fox on the trail, a group of wild boar whizzing by, a startled stone marten, red kites and buzzard flying over, lots of roe deer and the more impressive red deer with their large antlers. And there were always dung beetles around to keep us amused.

Group 1 has found 123 wolf scats, of which 89 were collected. Of these, seven will be analysed by DNA sequencing to help confirm who left them. We also found two long wolf tracks and heard pups and adults howling in the distance. Our scientist Lotte even had a very brief sighting! As expeditioner Carine said, “walking in the wolves’ tracks and documenting their ways of life, gives you a deeper connection to the species.”

Group 1 finished on Friday. We thank all of them for being committed to the task, for the excellent team spirit and and the fun times. Safe travels back home and we look forward to welcoming group 2 in Bremen on Saturday.

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Tien Shan: Prepping

Update from our snow leopard volunteer project to the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan

Here in Bishkek we’ve been continuing to meet staff who have been on expedition before. Many discussions are taking place about road conditions in the mountains, camera trap locations and servicing and expedition food.

The expedition cook, Azamat, has prepared a meal plan (looks great). Today we’ve been at the local markets filling two 4x4s with groceries. We’ve also been testing equipment such as GPS units and radios.

This afternoon we’ll be loading everything into the lorry ready for an early departure tomorrow for the 6 hour drive to our base camp location. Once there, we’ll begin setting up. There’s no phone signal or internet in the valley, so we’ll report back on progress once we arrive back in Bishkek ready to meet group 1.

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Tien Shan: Bishkek

Update from our snow leopard volunteer project to the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan

After collecting the 4x4s we headed straight to the NABU headquarters in Kyrgyzstan, where we assessed the state of the expedition equipment and met Taalai (our expedition scientist), Beka (ranger/guide), Ayan (ranger/guide) and Mirlan (ranger/guide) who will all be with us for either part or all of the expedition. There is a palpable sense of anticipation and excitement.

Soon we will load the equipment into the expedition lorry and leave for the Karakol valley to set up base camp ready for the arrival of group 1. For those of you joining us for that one, we hope your preparations are also well underway. Please don’t be fooled by the hot weather here is Bishkek, we are expecting cold nights in the mountains so make sure you pack accordingly (see your dossier!).

We’ll keep you updated on the progress of our preparations and we look forward to meeting group 1 soon.

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Germany : Trained

Update from our Germany wolf volunteer project

This group 1 is from Europe, US and Australia, all keen to take part in wolf monitoring. Half of them are ‘veteran’ expeditioners, already familiar with Biosphere and the other half are motivated nature lovers keen to invest their free time and energy in a holiday with a purpose, being wolf conservation.

Our first stop was the Wolfcenter, to learn about wolf biology and see our quarry in the flesh, something that is extremely unlikely on this indirect research expedition.

Our second stop was our new base at Bockum, a true green oasis of forests and meadows with lots of bird- and other wildlife around. Indeed the aread did not disappoint as we found no fewer than nine wolf scats in a 2.5 hour first training survey along only 5 km of forest paths, which must be a record! It makes base even more special realising wolves passed by so close by.

But before that first training survey there was lots of intensive, crash course instruction on everything wolf and how to research them through signs. After 1.5 days the team by Sunday afternoon was fully trained and ready to start the full-day monitoring surveys.

Stay tuned for updates to see what we will find on our paths!

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