Tiger Tracking

Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan will soon be home to two new cubs which are being moved there from Ranthambore Reserve further south. These special inhabitants will be under the watchful eye of their protectors as they wear the latest and most innovative in satellite monitoring collars.

Relocating cubs to a new habitat - a first of its kind in India - is aimed at reviving the depleted tiger population at Sariska and the authorities are keen to make it successful. The collars will enable the rangers to keep a constant track of the tiger's whereabouts and behaviour. This particular satellite monitoring system watches over more than 4,200 animals and provides key data about migration routes, flight altitudes and breeding grounds.

The prime tiger viewing opportunities are during the dry season between November and April and we offer itineraries which can encompass a number of different reserves as well as cultural add-ons.

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King Pacific Lodge - 'Playing for Good'

Bears are currently out and about in Canada, foraging for food and bulking up their body weight for hibernation. Bears in British Columbia come in many different colours; Brown (Grizzly) Bears, Black Bears and the rare and elusive Spirit Bear, which is a Black Bear with a double recessive gene, giving it a honey coloured fur. Spirit Bears can only be found on Princess Royal Island in The Great Bear Rainforest.

King Pacific Lodge in BC, an isolated floating lodge situated in this pristine location, is 'the' place to stay if you want to get sightings of these magnificent bears, along with the possibility of Humpback whales, sea-lions and even wolves. The lodge, reached only by float-plane, works hand in hand with the local First Nation community and has recently created a forward thinking 'Playing for Good' programme, whereby guests can accept various sporting challenges and if achieved then financial rewards are offered in their name to the local community school.

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Last Wild Wolves?

Wolves get pretty bad press most of the time, in fact, so much so that they have recently been taken off the endangered species list in the US. The wolf has been a conservation success story in the mid-western states of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, home now to 1,500 wolves - where $35m a year has been amassed from tourism and where native trees have been rejuvenated by lower elk numbers.

Since this conservation decision reversal, up to 70 wolves have died to hunters in only two months and the wolf will only again be lifted to endangered status if numbers fall below 300.

Come and witness the wonder of wild wolves and other wildlife of the American West including Bison, Coyotes, Golden Eagles and Moose on a trip to Yellowstone. Any bookings for this small group trip or the Nick Garbutt led 'Yellowstone in Winter' trip, made between now and the end of September will receive a copy of the recent acclaimed book 'Last Wild Wolves: The Ghosts of the Rainforest' by Ian McAllister. (Ian is an author, photographer and conservationist who lives and works in the Great Bear Rainforest as mentioned above).

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Galapagos and Gastronomy

Travelling to the Galapagos Islands inevitably involves a stopover in buzzing Ecuador en route, so how about extending your visit and really getting to grips with the culture of this exciting South American country by learning what makes Ecuadorian cuisine one of the country's hottest attractions!

We are able to offer a selection of gastronomy courses ranging from hands on in the kitchen to a city guided tour and sampling at some of Ecuador's top restaurants. Would be master-chefs will be taken to the vibrant markets of Quito, for fresh ingredients, before transforming them under the watchful eye of an experienced local chef.

If your skills fall short of the kitchen but would rise to the challenge of wine tasting, then how about a one day tour of the Chaupi Estancia followed by a delicious meal at a renowned countryside restaurant? Ask us to quote you for the inclusion of any of these trip enhancing suggestions.

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Uplifting Rhino News

Many eNews readers will already be familiar with photographer and tour leader David Back, through Festival trips. Most will also be aware that David has an aim to raise a massive £300,000, over three years until his 50th birthday, for rhino conservation. He set up Horny@50 in association with The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and Save the Rhino International specifically for this purpose.

As part of this project, last month five Black Rhino were successfully airlifted from Kruger in South Africa into the North Luangwa National Park in Zambia as part of 16 animals being reintroduced into the park, through this project, since they became extinct here in the 1980's.

David's tireless fundraising continues, with plans to help both the Indian and most endangered of all, the Sumatran Rhino next.

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Memories of Masoala

This years Festival of Wildlife trip to Madagascar concentrated on the areas of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park rainforest in the east and the beach and dry forest location of Anjajavy in the north-west. As we are unable to cover the breadth of each country within the main Festival week, we always offer various trip extensions which provide opportunities to see the wildlife and culture of other locations. One such extension this year was led by photographer and Madagascar wildlife expert Nick Garbutt and ventured to the north-eastern Masoala reserve in search of Red-ruffed lemurs and the illusive Aye-aye; one of Madagascar's most bizarre and rare creatures.

Find out how the group got on by reading the blog from customer and regular Festival attendee Kathy Gilmartin.

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Yosefe School Funding

Yosefe School in the South Luangwa, Zambia, which we support through different schemes by way of customers taking books, pens and other school equipment, has recently acquired the necessary funding to build a much needed classroom. This funding came through an association between Families Worldwide and interactive whiteboard and educational equipment distributors Promethean.

As the new classroom obscured the view of the existing mural, seen from the road whilst passing the school en route to Kapani Lodge, a competition was set up at the school to design a new mural. With so many excellent entries, a design incorporating many of the best ideas has been decided on.

For itinerary ideas about what this wildlife rich area has to offer then please...

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Photography Finalist

A trip to Kenya's Maasai Mara, led by BBC Big Cat presenter and photographer Jonathan Scott, resulted in a well deserved accolade for customer Elizabeth Faulkner. Elizabeth made it though as a semi-finalist, with no less than six of her pictures, in the country's most prestigious wildlife photography competition - the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

If you need some photography or artistic tuition, whilst enjoying the wildlife experience, then we run other expert led trips by Jonathan Scott, Nick Garbutt and other top wildlife photographers and artists. For details, contact Mel - mel.kinder@wildlifeworldwide.com.

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