This twelve-year project (2012-2024) worked in close cooperation with the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve to study desert species such as oryx, gazelles, foxes and cats, and make many important contributions to the management of the reserve and its rare species. Initially expedition work prompted the DDCR to change oryx feeding patterns, resulting in a much healthier population. Rare Gordon’s wildcats and a very rare and elusive sand fox were captured by the expeditions over the years, prompting the reserve to increase research and conservation efforts for these threatened species. Monitoring of vegetation and herbivore distribution by the expedition helped to inform conservation priorities, and camera trap results added to the DDCR fauna list, including a very rare cinereous vulture record. The expedition was terminated by the Dubai Municipality, against the expressed wishes of both partners, for not creating a profit, which - as a non-profit research and conservation project - it was never designed to do.
Blogs/diaries: 2012 I 2013 I 2014 I 2015 I 2016 I 2017 I 2018 I 2019 I 2020 I 2021 I 2022 I 2023 I 2024
Photos: Google album I Facebook
Media: All media clippings I Article: Defending Dubai’s last patch of pristine desert and its animals – how to see the ‘other side’ of the emirate (The Independent in English) I Blog article: Back in the living desert (Ralf's wildlife and wild places, Germany, in English) I Blog article: Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve – with Biosphere Expeditions (Eccentric England Travel, UK, in English)I Blog article: The last land of the unicorn (Catherine Capon, UK, in English) I Blog article: In search of the Arabian oryx (for Saga Magazine, in English) I Citizen science helps Arabian wolf in Dubai
Expedition reports: 2012 I 2013 I 2014 I 2015 I 2016 I 2017 I 2018 I 2019 I 2020 I 2023 I 2024
Awards & accolades: This expedition was named on: The Independent's "Best Desert Adventure Holidays" list I Get Losts's "Top Trips: Great small group adventure across the globe" lisi I The National's "World's most interesting (and conservation-focused) wildlife trips" list.
This expedition ran in the highlands of Thailand from 2017 - 2024. It established what at the time were the first full-day surveys of elephant behaviour, providing (and publishing) baseline information regarding foraging by semi-free ranging elephants in a previously un-described area. The expedition generated recommendations about how to increase elephant welfare and presented results at the International Elephant Symposium in Chiang Mai, to the world’s experts on elephants.
Blogs/diaries: 2017 I 2018 I 2019 I 2022 I 2023 I 2024
Photos: Google album I Facebook
Media: All media clippings I The Altruistic Traveller: Blog about the expedition | Blog about how tourism can help elephant conservation | Video I Eine wissenschaftliche Expedition zu den wilden Elefanten im Nordwesten Thailands: article (in German) in online "Magazin des Reisens"
Expedition reports: 2017 I 2018 I 2019 I 2022 I 2023 I 2024
Scientific publications: Foraging Ecology of Semi-Free-Roaming Asian Elephants in Northern Thailand
Awards & accolades: This expedition was named a "Wildlife tourism experience where travelers can make a genuine difference" on Matador I This expedition was also honoured in the "20 wildlife holidays that will really make a difference" list in The Telegraph I This expedition was also mentioned in "The Australian" as one of "15 wildlife trips that tick all the boxes for sustainability and authenticity" I Our mountain expeditions in general have won the "Best Initative" category at the UIAA Mountain Protection Award.
This expedition from 2019-2023 helped monitor biodiversity in the Maasai Mara of Kenya and trained rangers to do this independently. In doing so, the expedition made itself redundant and handed over to local monitors in 2023. While the expedition was on site, it also recorded a very significant rise in wildlife, reversing previous trends of biodiversity loss.
Blogs/diaries: 2019 I 2020 I 2023
Photos: Google album I Facebook
This project fought a successful battle with poachers of turtle eggs from 2016-2020, with up to 75% of nests across four turtle species (leatherback, green, hawksbill, loggerhead) saved as a result of beach patrol and direct conservation actions. There were also encouraging signs of national authorities tasked with nature protection and law enforcement joining efforts in turtle conservation. Such combined actions by partner NGOs and state authorities were apparent at the end of the project with a novel aim of bringing poaching down to levels below 10%, thus turning the project from extinction prevention into population recovery.
Blogs/diaries: 2016 I 2017 I 2018 I 2019 I 2020
Photos: Google album I Facebook
Media: All media clippings I Online article: Hatching a plan (Gary Hogben in "Biologist" magazine, UK, in English) I Online article: The Last Resort: Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica (Shaun Busuttil, Australia, in English) IOnline article: Biosphere Expedition zu den riesigen Lederschildkröten (Georg Berg, Germany, in German)
Expedition reports: 2016 I 2017 I 2018 I 2019
Awards & accolades: This expedition was honoured in National Geographic's "100 places that will change your life" edition. Biosphere Expeditions as an organisation has also won multiple National Geographic awards and accolades such as "Best New Trip" and "Tours of a Lifetime". I This expedition was honoured in responsibletravel.com magazine’s "Top Responsible Holiday" list. I A photo from this expedition won a pan-European photography contest.
This project worked for one year only (in 2019), helping to monitor bear, wolf, lynx and beaver in order to help in the creation of Europe's biggest national park in the Carpathian mountains of Romania.
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From 2004-2017 Biosphere Expeditions worked in various locations and seasons in Slovakia, monitoring chamois, wolf, lynx and bear populations and helping to establish protection regimes and resolve human-wildlife conflicts.
Blogs/diaries: 2004 I 2005 I 2006 I 2007 I 2008 I 2010 I 2012 I 2013 I 2014 I 2015 I 2016 I 2017
Photos: Google album (chamois expedition) I Facebook (chamois expedition) I Facebook (carnivore expedition)
Video archive: Chamois expedition I Carnivore expedition
Expedition reports: 2004 I 2005 & 2006 I 2010 I 2012 I 2013 I 2014 I 2015 I 2016 I 2017
Scientific publications: Mitigating carnivore-livestock conflict in Europe: Lessons from Slovakia (2011) I Tracking wolves in Slovakia by sign survey and non-invasive DNA sampling (2013) I
This expedition ran from 2015-2017 at Blue Hill Nature Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa. Over the years it placed camera traps and analysed over 5000 images captured by such traps, conducted 20 km of flush and the first-ever small mammal trapping survey, worked on birds and bats, discovered new locations and examples of ancient rock art, and recorded the first-ever capture of a Hottentot buttonquail, an endangered bird species endemic to the area. Published articles include one on the Hottentot buttonquail, one on Cape rockjumpers, the impacts of fire on various aspects of fynbos ecology, honeybush and tortoises, all adding more useful pieces to the puzzle of what is known about South African wildlife in academic and conservation circles.
Blogs/diaries: 2015 I 2016 I 2017
Photos: Google album I Facebook
Media: All media clippings
Expedition reports: 2015 I 2016 I 2017
Scientific publications: Habitat variables associated with encounters of Hottentot Buttonquail Turnix hottentottus during flush surveys across the Fynbos biome I Hottentot Buttonquail Turnix hottentottus: Endangered or just overlooked? I Correlates of yield, fecundity and survival of a wild harvested Cyclopia intermedia (honeybush) population I Tortoise mortality along fence lines in the Karoo region of South Africa
Awards & accolades: This expedition was honoured in the "50 greatest wildlife holidays on Earth" list in The Telegraph. I A scientist involved in our Southern African carnivore work was made a laureate of the environmental prize "Trophée de femmes" of the Fondation Yves Rocher. I Our Southern African carnivore work was honoured in Wall Street Journal’s "Best Volunteer Travel" list and in Business Insider’s "Best Volunteer Vacation" list. I Our mountain expeditions in general have won the "Best Initiative" category at the UIAA Mountain Protection Award.
This coral reef diving project ran from 2008 to 2017 and resulted in the declaration of two protected areas in the region, as well as the creation of local NGO Reef Check Oman.
Blogs/diaries: 2009 I 2010 I 2011 I 2012 I 2013 I 2014 I 2015 I 2016
Photos: Google album I Facebook
Expedition reports: 2009 I 2010 I 2011 I 2012 I 2013 I 2014 I 2015 I 2016
Scientific publications: Benthic communities of Musandam Peninsula. Poster presented at Coral Reefs of the Gulf Conference, New York University in Abu Dhabi, 17 - 19 Jan 2012 I The implications of recurrent disturbances within the world's hottest coral reef (2015) I The implications of recurrent disturbances within the world's hottest coral reef (2015) I Settlement Patterns of Corals and other Benthos on Reefs with Divergent Environments and Disturbances Histories around the Northeastern Arabian Peninsula (2017) I
This three-year project (2015-2017) in collaboration with WWF Indonesia studied tigers, their prey and human-wildlife conflict in Rimbang Baling Wildlife Reserve and made recommendations for better tiger protection and integrating local people into tiger conservation.
Blogs/diaries: 2015 I 2016 I 2017
Photos: Google album I Facebook
Expedition reports: 2015 I 2016 I 2017
Scientific publications: Assessing global patterns in mammalian carnivore occupancy and richness by integrating local camera trap surveys (2017) I Panduan Pemantauan Populasi Harimau Sumatera (2017) I Recovery planning towards doubling wild tiger Panthera tigris numbers: Detailing 18 recovery sites from across the range (2018) I Ecological correlates of the spatial co-occurrence of sympatric mammalian carnivores worldwide (2019) I How effective are Tiger conservation areas at managing their sites against the Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS)? (2020) I Tigers and Their Prey in Bukit Rimbang Bukit Baling: Abundance Baseline for Effective Wildlife Reserve Management (2020) I Carnivores and their prey in Sumatra: Occupancy and activity in human-dominated forests (2022) I Distribution Pattern and Activities of Felidae and Prey in Bukit Rimbang Bukit Baling Wildlife Reserve, Riau (2023)
Biosphere Expeditions worked in Amazonia from 2001 until 2016. During this time, dams were not built based in part on Biosphere Expeditions’ biodiversity studies and impact assessments, local conservationists were trained and found jobs, and a research station was built (which still operates today). Guidelines for boat behaviour at clay licks in the Tambopata Reserve were also incorporated into local management plans.
Blogs/diaries: 2003 I 2005 I 2006 I 2008 I 2009 I 2011 I 2014 I 2015 I 2016
Photos: Google album I Facebook
Expedition reports: 2001 I 2002 I 2003 I 2005 I 2006 I 2008 I 2009 I 2011 I 2013 I 2014 I 2015 I 2016
Scientific publications: Parrot colpa and geophagy behaviour from the El Gato region of the Tambopata-Candamo Reserved Zone, Amazonia, Peru (2002) I Distribution, ecology and conservation status of the Blue-headed Macaw Primolius couloni (2007) I The Influence of Habitat, Season, and Detectability on Abundance Estimates across an Amazonian Parrot Assemblage (2012) I Diet and Geophagy Across a Western Amazonian Parrot Assemblage (2014) I Food availability and breeding season as predictors of geophagy in Amazonian parrots (2017) I The effects of tourist and boat traffic on parrot geophagy in lowland Peru (2017) I
The coral reef expedition to Tioman Island, Malaysia started in 2012 and ran until 2016. Biosphere Expeditions provided vital data on coral reef health and human-induced threats within the Tioman archipelago – data that were previously unavailable. We also helped build the foundation for 'Cintai Tioman', a long-term programme to increase social and ecological resilience on the island.
Blogs/diaries: 2012 I 2013 I 2016
Photos: Google album I Facebook
Expedition reports: 2012 I 2013 I 2016
Scientific publications: Five Years of Reef Check Monitoring Data for Tioman, Perhentian and Redang Island (2013) I Building Capacity for Socio-ecological Resilience to Coral Bleaching Events & Climate Change in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand (2014) I Status of Reefs in Selected Southeast Asia Countries (2015) I First record of multi-species synchronous coral spawning from Malaysia (2016) I
This project studied human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka in 2005 and had to be cancelled due to the then civil war that flared up in the region in the subsequent years.
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Biosphere Expeditions worked in Namibia for twelve years from 2002 until 2014. In that time it played a small role in the establishment of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, at the time the world's largest wildlife conservation area, spanning five southern African countries. It also played a pivotal role in establishing the country's largest leopard conservation research project, working with local ranchers and resolving human-wildlife conflict, which led to a significant reduction in big cats killed in the country. A research station was also built.
Blogs/diaries: 2002 I 2003 I 2004 I 2005 (spring / winter) I 2006 I 2007 I 2008 I 2009 I 2010 I 2011 (rotation 1 / rotation 2) I 2012 I 2013 I 2014
Photos: Google album (Central highlands / Caprivi) I Facebook (Central highlands / Caprivi)
Video archive (Central highlands / Caprivi)
Expedition reports: 2002 I 2003 I 2004 I 2005/2006 I 2007 I 2008 I 2010/11 I 2012 I 2013 I 2014
Scientific publications: The Conflict between Cheetahs and Humans on Namibian Farmland Elucidated by Stable Isotope Diet Analysis (2014) I Cheetah Rangewide Status and Distribution (2017) I Citizen science and wildlife biology: Synergies and challenges (2018) I Sex‐specific dietary specialization in a terrestrial apex predator, the leopard, revealed by stable isotope analysis (2018) I Sex and species differences of stress markers in sympatric cheetahs and leopards in Namibia (2019) I
This expedition studied cetaceans on the west coast of Scotland in 2013. Data gathered were used in local and national Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) and to advise the Scottish government on the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
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Data collected by expeditions from 2003 until 2012 helped with the declaration Saylyugemsky National Park, a protected area for snow leopards and other wildlife in the Altai Republic, Central Asia. In addition, local poachers were converted into conservationists by paying them for verifiable camera trap pictures of snow leopards surviving year-on-year.
Blogs/diaries: 2003 I 2004 I 2005 I 2006 I 2007 I 2008 I 2009 I 2010 I 2011 I 2012
Photos: Google album I Facebook
Expedition reports: 2003 I 2004 I 2005 I 2006 I 2007 I 2008 I 2009 I 2010 I 2011
Scientific publications: Мониторинг снежного барса (Uncia uncia Schreber, 1775) в горном массиве Талдуаир на Алтае / Monitoring of the snow leopard (Uncia uncia Schreber, 1775) in the Talduair massif in the Altai (2007) I Мониторинговые исследования орнитофауны в горном массиве Талдуаир на Алтае (2020) I
From 2006 until 2011, this project studied jaguars and pumas of the Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil. Recommendations for the management and protection of jaguars were incorporated into national and state-wide jaguar action plans in Brazil.
Blogs/diaries: 2006 I 2007 I 2008 I 2010 I 2011
Photos: Google album I Facebook
Expedition reports: 2006 I 2007 I 2008 I 2010 I 2011
Scientific publications: Jaguar persistence in fragments of the Altantic Coastal Forest, southeastern Brazil (2007) I Proyecto Puma: Studying and conserving puma and jaguar in Brazil (2007) I Environmental quality for jaguar, puma and ocelot in Guaratuba Bay, State of Paraná, using the programs Capture and Presence (2008) I Loss of historical range of jaguars in southern Brazil (2009) I Volunteer expeditions support felid research projects (2009) I Qualidade de ambiente para a onça-pintada, puma e jaguatirica na Baía de Guaratuba, Estado do Paraná, utilizando os aplicativos Capture e Presence (2011) I Sampling and analysis of data for large terrestrial mammals during short-term volunteer expeditions (2013) I
From 2006 until 2011 this project researched the ecology and status of the Arabian leopard in the Dhofar and Musandam regions of Oman. The project was stopped when it became clear that there was little support and willingness to act upon recommendations locally.
Blogs/diaries: 2006 I 2007 I 2008 I 2009 I 2010 I 2011
Photos: Google album I Facebook
Expedition reports: 2006 & 2007 I 2008 I 2009 & 2010 I 2011
Scientific publications: The leopard in the Arabian peninsula-distribution and subspecies status (2006) I Critically Endangered Arabian leopards Panthera pardus nimr persist in the Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve, Oman (2006) I Arabian Leopard, Panthera pardus nimr, status and habitat assessment in Northwest Dhofar, Oman (Mammalia: Felidae) (2009) I Volunteer expeditions support felid research projects (2009) I Arabian leopard in lowland region on the south face of Jebel Samhan, Oman (2013) I Sampling and analysis of data for large terrestrial mammals during short-term volunteer expeditions (2013) I The Arabian leopards of Oman (2014) I First photographic record of twin Arabian leopards in the wild (2014) I Camera trapping of Arabian leopard in the Nejd region of Dhofar Mountains (2015) I Multiple methods increase detection of large and medium-sized mammals: working with volunteers in south-eastern Oman (2016) I Big cats in borderlands: challenges and implications for transboundary conservation of Asian leopards (2021) I
From 2006 until 2011 this coral reef conservation project assisted the Cayos Cochinos Marine Protected Area, Bay Islands, Honduras with managing and protecting their coral reefs.
Blogs/diaries: 2006 I 2007 I 2008 I 2009 I 2011
Photos: Google album
Expedition reports: 2006 I 2007 I 2008 I 2009 I 2011
Scientific publications: Black Band Disease upon the Reefs of Los Cayos Cochinos, Honduras (2007)
This expedition ran from 2010 to 2011 and was about the conservation of the Australian flatback turtle. When Australia created the world's largest network of marine reserves in 2012, the Roebuck Commonwealth Marine Reserve, in Western Australia, site of the expedition, was made part of the network, and is described as ‘foraging area adjacent to important nesting sites for flatback turtles’, just as suggested in the expedition reports.
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This expedition to the Spanish Pyrenees working on lammergeyers also known as bearded vultures (Europe’s biggest vulture) ran for one year in 2008 and helped to reverse EU high altitude carcass removal regulations. The regulations were designed to combat the spread of BSE / mad cow diesease, but this was starving high mountain vultures and bears.
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Between 2001 and 2004 this expedition studied wolves and birds of the Kinburnska Kosa in the Ukraine. This led to the declaration of a national park, protecting an important stop-off point for many migratory birds, as well as a haven for fauna and flora (it boasts, amongst other things, Europe's biggest orchid field).
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This first-ever expedition by Biosphere Expeditions ran from 2001-2003, studying wolves in the Bieszczady Mountains National Park, Poland. It played an active role in saving wolves from being declared legitimate hunting targets in the area. It also captured and collared the first ever wolf in the Polish Carpathians.
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Expedition reports: 2001 & 2002
Scientific publications: Gospodarka łowiecka i pasterska a ochrona wilka i rysia w Bieszczadach (2002) I Selectivity of wolf predation on red deer in the Bieszczady Mountains, Poland (2005)