Latest News - November, 2005

Cheetahs (copyright ZSL)

Naturetrek has recently teamed up with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to offer a series of tours for Naturetrek clients and ZSL members focusing on the overseas conservation projects being run by ZSL. These include work on Cheetah conservation in the Serengeti, Black Rhinos in Kenya, the preservation of endangered vulture species in India, and the re-introduction of Corncrakes to the Cambridgeshire Fens. Tours for 2006 are:

 

Tanzania – Cheetahs of the Serengeti
(Wednesday, 1st February – Sunday, 12th February) Cost: £2,795

 

India – Saving the Vultures!
(Wednesday, 8th February – Sunday, 19th February) Cost: £1,895

 

Nepal – Wildlife & Conservation
(Thursday, 16th February – Monday, 27th February) Cost: £1,995

 

Cambridgeshire’s Fens – Corncrakes
(Friday, 2nd June – Sunday, 4th June) Cost: £250

 

Kenya’s Wildlife
(Wednesday, 2nd August – Sunday, 13th August) Cost: £2,595

 

Tanzania – Cheetahs of the Serengeti
(Wednesday, 2nd August – Sunday, 13th August) Cost: £2,795

 

Ethiopian Wolves
(Friday, 24th November – Monday, 4th December) Cost: £1,495

 

For further details, please call 01962 733051 or email: info@naturetrek.co.uk.

Long-finned Pilot Whales (copyright Paul Marshall)

In September the two Naturetrek tours to southern Spain recorded an impressive combined total of 23 species of birds of prey. Highlights included Spanish Imperial and Bonelli’s Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard and Black-shouldered Kite amongst thousands of migrating birds. Taking to the water both groups enjoyed superb views of Common and Striped Dolphins whilst one group was lucky enough to spend an hour with a pod of Long-finned Pilot Whales in the Straits of Gibraltar. The unpredictable strong winds did not detract from some great birding and within a short drive of our hotel some very special birds were seen including migrating Black Storks against a blue sky, a flock of Little Bustards, Audouin’s Gull (one of the world’s rarest gulls), migrant Roller and Red-backed Shrike and an amazing flock of over 1000 Calandra Larks. To read the Gibraltar’s & Tarifa Tour Report click here.

One of the most depressing and alarming of all conservation forecasts is the gloomy prediction that all the planet's great apes may become extinct in the wild within the next ten years. For anyone with a love of wildlife it is unbelievable that mankind should so carelessly exterminate our closest living relatives but relentless destruction of habitats and persecution of the animals seems almost unstoppable. 'Almost' is the key word and fortunately there are many dedicated individuals and organisations fighting to prevent this downward spiral into oblivion and provide a glimmer of hope for the future survival of such magnificent creatures as the Orang-utan in Asia. Naturetrek has collaborated for a number of years with the Environmental Investigation Agency raising funds to help finance conservation projects around the world. One such project is the battle to save the dwindling population of Orang-utans in Sabah and the 2005 Naturetrek tour generated over £2,000 to assist in this vital work. Although the Naturetrek donation is a positive example of Responsible Tourism, the tour was much more than just a fund-raising exercise and the participants enjoyed a breathtaking selection of tropical wildlife including hornbills, pittas, broadbills, comical Proboscis Monkeys and the never to be forgotten experience of watching Orang-utans in the wild. An account of the birds and beasts seen during our 2005 tour is contained in Chris Kehoe's excellent report, which may be viewed when you click here.