Tag: snow leopard volunteeering Kyrgyzstan

Update from our snow leopard volunteering Kyrgyzstan

Our second group of team members has settled into base camp, marking the successful completion of our first full day in the high mountains of the Tien Shan. The morning began with an introductory lecture led by expedition scientist Emil, setting the stage for the conservation work ahead. Following the briefing, team members plunged straight into practical preparation, undergoing comprehensive equipment checks and mastering essential navigation skills required for traversing rugged terrain safely.

Continue reading “Tien Shan snow leopard volunteering Kyrgyzstan 2026: Group 2”

Update from our snow leopard research in the Tien Shan mountains

Group 1 is done, with excellent results, thank you! We thought 2025 would be hard to beat, but we have made a good start thanks to the efforts of our first snow leopard research group.

Continue reading “Tien Shan snow leopard research 2026: Group 1 done”

Update from our snow leopard project to the Tien Shan mountains

It’s been a whirlwind of activities over the last four days on our snow leopard project: Interviews with locals, an overnight survey in neighbouring Archali valley, as well as our usual cell surveys. And, yes, more snow leopard records.

Continue reading “Tien Shan snow leopard project 2026: Whirlwind”

Update from our snow leopard volunteering to the Tien Shan mountains

We are half-way through group 1 and have more successes to report. One of the camera traps yielded more snow leopard photos (see sample above). From other camera traps, SD cards were removed, presumably by poachers who do not exactly want to be found out.

Continue reading “Tien Shan snow leopard volunteering 2026: More success”

Update from our snow leopard project to the Tien Shan mountains

The ghost of the mountain has been kind to us. 2025 was a great season and this 2026 snow leopard project has just got off to a flying start. Two of the first four high altitude camera traps we checked yesterday have revealed snow leopards!

Continue reading “Tien Shan snow leopard project 2026: Early success”

Update from our snow leopard volunteer expedition to the Tien Shan mountains

We have arrived and spent the last two days training our snow leopard volunteers from six countries. Training involves everything from safety in the mountains, looking after the expedition 4x4s and how to drive them off road, camp tasks and etiquette, and of course all the science: What to look out for, how to collect data, how to set camera traps. And the equipment: Compass, map, GPS, radio, camera traps etc. etc.

Continue reading “Tien Shan snow leopard volunteer 2026: Training”

Update from our snow leopard volunteering expedition to the Tien Shan mountains

This is a quick update from the field to let you know that the staff team has officially arrived in the Tien Shan mountains. We have spent the last few days working hard to establish our base camp, navigating some pretty foul weather in the process. With heavy skies, wind and rain testing our gear, the camp is now almost fully functional and ready for the weeks ahead.

Given the current conditions, please make sure you come prepared for true mountain weather. High-altitude environments can be highly unpredictable, so ensuring your layers, waterproofs and sturdy boots are packed and easily accessible is essential.

Continue reading “Tien Shan snow leopard expedition 2026: Base camp set”

Update from our snow leopard volunteering expedition to the Tien Shan mountains

The journey has officially begun! I touched down in Central Asia a couple of days ago for our latest research season. If you are looking into the realities of snow leopard volunteering, let me tell you: The expedition starts long before you set foot in the mountains.

My transit through Istanbul provided a swift reminder of the logistics involved in remote conservation work. Due to a self-transfer flight booking, I had to manually retrieve and recheck my bags. Take it from me: avoid self-transfers at all costs when travelling for fieldwork, especially when you are hauling 30 kg of heavy expedition kit and scientific equipment!

Continue reading “Tien Shan snow leopard expedition 2026: Shopping madness”

Update from our snow leopard conservation expedition to the Tien Shan mountains

Our behind-the-scenes preparation for this year’s Kyrgyzstan snow leopard conservation expedition has been going for months. It now enters the final phase. As our citizen scientists finalise checklists and pack their gear, so are we.

Continue reading “Tien Shan snow leopard expedition 2026: Preparing to track the mountain ghost”