Polar Bear Cam Brings Cuddly Carnivores Into Our Living Room

I'm a sucker for great wildlife videos, but even more so when they're actually streaming live. The video below is sent back to us from live cameras aboard a Tundra Buggy in Churchill, Manitoba. The buggy goes out each and every day looking for polar bears and other animal that wander the area. I was tipped off to this live cam by reader Alan Curr, who discovered it on National Geographic's site, who recommend watching it between 7:00 AM and 4:30 PM, or generally when the sun is up.

If you don't see any bears wandering around when the camera is running, be patient. They're bound to show up again. When I first logged in, there were two bears wrestling and chasing each other around. It was quite fun to watch, and I'm sure you'll be able to see similar activity.

The camera is brought to us by Explore.org, Polar Bears International, and Frontiers North.

Tiny Spider Spins World's Largest Web

I've said it before and I'll say it again. This little blue and green rock that we call home is an amazing place. I was reminded of that fact earlier today while reading this story about a tiny spider that has created the largest web in the world.

The Darwin spider, which was only just discovered last year, measures just 2 cm in length, and yet produces the strongest web of any arachnid on the planet. Not only that, the little eight-legged insect can be quite industrious too. The one mentioned in the story for example, has spun more than 25 meters (82 feet) of silk, creating a massive net to ensnare its prey.

Apparently, the Darwin spider builds such massive webs by building in a traditional manner at first, but eventually, when it wants to expand over large distances, it simply fires out long strands of webbing and hopes for the best. Eventually, the sticky-silk will connect with something, and then the little guy starts the engineering process anew. In the case of the spider in this particular story, she fired her webs across a river, and ended up with a large trap to lure in insects as they fly up and out of the water.

All told, the average Darwin spider apparently builds a web that is 2.7 square meters in size, which is about 8.8 square feet. Can you imagine accidentally running into that while walking through the woods at night? *shivers*

Video Of Lab Chimps Playing In The Sun For The First Time

This might be the most heart warming thing you'll see all day.

The video below depicts a group of chimpanzees who were raised in a research lab where they have spent their entire lives. In some cases, that is upwards of 30 years. They were recently sent to live in a safari camp, where they were allowed to wander outside for the first time in their lives. While the video is in German, it's still easy to understand what is going on and expressions on the faces of the chimps pretty much say it all.

Really great stuff.

Teva Creates Custom Boot For Injured Penguin

The Gear Junkie shared this video earlier today, and it was just too good to not pass along. It's about "Lucky" the penguin, who was born in the Santa Barbara Zoo. Not long after he hatched however, it was discovered that he had a bum leg that wasn't developing properly. So, shoe manufacturer Teva, who is a sponsor for the zoo, stepped up to build the little guy a boot. The results are smiles on our faces and one happy penguin.

Great stuff for a Friday afternoon.

Endangered Big Cats Making A Comeback?

Some of the world's most endangered big cats may be making a comeback, as two of the more elusive species, living in remote areas, have been spotted recently, leading some to believe that their numbers may be better than previously suspected.

First we have this story courtesy of the Adventure Journal, which brings news that researchers have discovered a population of snow leopards that is alive and well in a very mountainous region of Afghanistan. The cats were captured by camera traps that were set throughout the area and wired to automatically snap a picture of anything that wanders by. This particular population was an unexpected find, and bodes well for the species, which is thought to number somewhere between 4500 and 7500 cats across all of Central Asia.

A similar story comes our way from TreeHugger as well, but in this instance the cats in question are the even more rare Armor Leopards, found in rugged forests in Russia's far eastern wildernesses. These cats are on the "critically endangered" list and it was believed that fewer than 50 of them still existed in the wild. A new survey, that once again uses camera traps, caught 12 unique individual leopards on camera however, which lends hope for that species making a comeback as well. Check out video footage of these extremely rare and beautiful creatures below. (Big thanks to Outside Online for this story!)

Both stories are good news for animal conservationists. While far from out of danger, it is good to know that both cat species are doing better than expected. Perhaps they can each be brought back to healthy, thriving numbers once again.

Backcountry Skiing Tip: Avoid The Bears!

Here's a tip for anyone skiing the backcountry in the spring. Beware the bears! They're starting to wake up, and they're probably kind of hungry. Fortunately, David Wosner was well aware of this tip when he skied right up to a groggy ursine during a recent trip to Mt. Tallac, not far from Lake Tahoe. It was also fortunate that he was wearing his helmet cam at the time. Check out the video below.

Thanks to the Adventure Journal for sharing this one earlier today! Great stuff.


Backcountry Surprise! from David Wonser on Vimeo.

African Wildlife Buzzed By Remote Camera Drone

Last week we saw a GoPro camera get up close and personal with a lioness, and this week we have another video that features African wildlife being visited by another unique camera. This time, it is mounted on a remote controlled microdrone that is then flown over the Mara Plains in Kenya, where it is able to get some unique views of the animals wandering the area. Those critters don't always look happy to see it, and I'm willing to bet it makes a bit of a noise, but it does capture some cool images.

Note to the filmmakers, more of the wildlife and scenery and less of drone in your next release. Otherwise, cool stuff!

Lion Carries Off GoPro Cam While It's Filming

We all know that the tiny GoPro helmet cams are popular amongst outdoor athletes and adventurers, but apparently they're pretty popular with lions as well. In the video below, you'll see a group of professional photographers set up with of the little cameras in hopes of catching some images of lions. Turns out they got a lot more than they bargained for, when one of the big cats took a shine to the GoPro and proceeded to carry it around in her mouth. How they ever found the thing again is beyond me, but after seeing the video, I'm glad they did. :)

Elephant Ivory Project Update: Samples In Hand, Team Heads For Home

It has been a couple of weeks since we had any kind of update on the Elephant Ivory Project, the expedition that is being conducted by Trip Jennings and Andy Maser, who are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in an effort to put a halt to the illegal ivory trade. Trip and Andy went to the Congo to venture deep into the bush, where they hoped to collect plenty of samples of elephant dung that they could use to build a "DNA map" of the region. That map could hold the key to shutting down poachers, as DNA samples could potentially allow us to trace the ivory trade route.

When we last checked in with the boys, there were having a hard time finding the samples they were looking for. They team had ventured deep into the jungle, and while they found evidence that elephants had been in the area at one time, there were no recent signs of the herds. Fortunately, a second team had managed to collect five samples from distinct elephant families, but at that point, Trip and Andy hadn't collected anything yet.

In their latest update however, it seems things have changed. While it was indeed looking grim for a time, the two young explorers, with the help of the chief a local tribe, managed to track down some elephants and collect some dung themselves. In fact, at one point, they had more opportunities to collect samples than they could handle, passing up on some to ensure that they were getting unique DNA for their project. With these new samples, along with ongoing collections from the other team, Trip and Andy now have enough DNA to begin the next phase of their project.

But, there is still one major hurdle to get over before they can move on, and that is getting those samples back to the U.S. Apparently they have all the paperwork they need to bring them through U.S. customs, but getting them out of the DNC and into Rwanda, where they catch their flight home, could still be an adventure.

If you haven't been following this project, than I'd urge you to take a look at the team's journal. Even if you couldn't care less about protecting the elephants (You should care!), the reports from the field are pretty eye opening. They really do give an interesting perspective on what it is like to live in remote and rural sections of Africa, where bandits still roam the countryside and governments struggle to maintain order. The occasional cholera breakout can't be good either. It is a real look at how many developing nations are struggling to move forward into the 21st century.

[Photo courtesy of the Elephant Ivory Project]

Elephant Ivory Project Update: Work Begins In The Congo

Work on the Elephant Ivory Project continued this week, explorers Trip Jennings and Andy Maser forging ahead with their work. As you may recall from previous posts on this expedition, Trip and Andy have made their way to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in hopes of collecting samples of elephant dung from a number of distinct herds in the country. When they've completed that collection, they hope to build a "DNA map" which will help them to better understand the movement of the animals and the impact that poaching is having on the herds. The ultimate goal of the project is to be able to trace the spread of illegal ivory trade and shut it down completely.

When we last checked in with the team, they had left the city of Kisangani behind and were traveling to the remote research station of Obenge, located on the Lomami River. There, they hoped to begin their research in ernest by collecting samples from 30 unique elephant herds that roam the area. But this week's journal entry, posted on the team's website, indicates that the work is going slower than expected.

Andy, Trip, and their guides arrived in Obenge last week following two days of travel by motorcycle from the nearby city of Kindu. Once there, they began a four-day hike through the jungle in search of the elephant scat that is so important to the project, but unfortunately all they found were massive amounts of insects and poachers. The insects were so bad at one point, that the travelers didn't leave their tent at night, as a massive number of army ants had invaded their campsite, and it wasn't going to be pretty if they strayed out too far.

Unfortunately, after four very long days in the bush, they returned to Obenge empty handed. They didn't find any elephants at all, but did discover a clearing that was once used be the creatures for grazing for food. They estimated that it had been a number of years since the herds were in the area, but considering the forest they are exploring is approximately the size of West Virginia, they weren't too worried about where the elephants were located.

Trip and Andy were however happy to find that a second team, working in conjunction with them, had more success on their excursion into the jungle. That group returned to camp with five samples of elephant dung, far below the 30 they're hoping to find in the region, but a solid start none the less.

Also of note in the journal entry for this week is that the Congolese military had a clash with poachers in the TL2 forest region as well. The poachers were most like there to collect ivory, and a shootout ensued that left one of them wounded and all three taken into custody. The team encountered poachers of a different kind when they were on their four-day hike as well. They came across a camp that was occupied by a man who was illegally collecting bird species to sell on the open market. The man had a permit to capture the birds, but not in the protected region of TL2. Officials have been called in to shut down the operation, but both of these incidents give you an indication of how wide spread and problematic poaching can be in Africa.

To get the full effect story on the expedition, you really should read the journal entries, which are found by clicking here. They give you a great sense of what it is like for Trip and Andy on the ground in the Congo, and what they are dealing with in terms of living conditions and local attitudes. This is quite the adventure that is playing out at this very moment.

Photo courtesy the Elephant Ivory Project

Elephant Ivory Project Update: Into The Bush

The past couple of weeks I've written a few posts about the Elephant Ivory Project, which is an expedition that is going on right now in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Explorers Trip Jennings and Andy Maser are on the ground in that country, and are preparing to gather elephant scat in hopes of creating a DNA map of the region that can be used to trace the illegal Ivory trade back to its origins. The team behind this expedition hopes to put an end to those activities once and for all.


Last week when we checked in with Trip and Andy they were preparing to travel into a forest that is simply designated as TL2. That forest sits right between two major national parks where diverse elephant herds roam, and the thought was that by gathering samples from TL2, they could get a diverse set of data to help more accurately plot their DNA map of the DRC's elephant population. There were some challenges to that plan however, as the region is also home to a notorious criminal by the name of Colonel Toms, who recently broke out of a prison there and has resumed poaching wild game as a way of earning money to pay for arms. Undaunted, Jennings and Masar set off with Terese and John Hart, two researchers that know the area well, in hopes of moving ahead with the project.

In a journal entry posted to the expedition's website yesterday, Jennings gives us an update on their progress. The team arrived at the city of Kisangani, which sits at the heart of the jungle. The city is in the midst of a cholera outbreak that has left 27 people dead and another 200 infected. Needless to say, that hasn't made it one of Trip and Andy's favorite destinations thus far. Fortunately, there stay will be short, as they hoped to leave the city today for the town of Kindu, which sits right on the edge of the TL2 forest. From there, they'll plunge deep into the jungle on motorcycles where they'll begin the expedition in ernest by tracking elephants and collecting their dung.

Over the next two weeks they plan to set up camp in the remote research station of Obenge, a place that is so remote that even the poachers don't bother to go there. Andy and Trip hope to take samples from 30 distinct elephant herds in an area that falls on the banks of the Lomami River.

This being Africa, the wilderness and wild animals aren't the only dangers to their travels. The journal entry also notes that a poacher by the name of Moses has been operating in the area and has actually been burning crosses in the yards of people who support the creation of the Lomami National Park, a proposed reserve that will protect 25,000 square miles of forests. The DRC government is expected to pass legislation creating the park this year, and if that happens, it'll put a crimp into the poacher's activity in the region. Moses doesn't like that much and has been going around attempting to intimidate people. It seems he'll be getting a visit from the Congolese military in the next few days to politely ask him to stop.

For Trip and Andy, the real adventure is just about to begin. They're in the jungles now and pursuing their goals of collecting DNA samples from the elephant herds, but they have a lot of work ahead of them, and there are plenty of people who do't want to see them succeed. Expect another update on their progress next week, and keep in mind that few things ever go as planned in Africa.

[Map courtesy of the Elephant Ivory Project]

Elephant Ivory Project Update: On The Ground In The DRC

A few weeks back I wrote about the Elephant Ivory Project, which is sending explorers Trip Jennings and Andy Masar deep into the African bush in the Democratic Republic of Congo to track elephants. The duo is hoping to collect dung from five distinct herds of the animals in the hopes that they can create a "DNA Map" of the region which can then be used to track the illegal ivory trade. The eventual goal of the expedition is to raise awareness of the illegal poaching of elephants and hopefully bring an end to the practice altogether.

When I wrote about the expedition the first time, Trip and Andy were just preparing to leave for the DRC. Now, more than a week and a half later, they are on the ground there and preparing to strike out into the wilderness. But, as their recent journal update indicates, there are more challenges to the project than just impenetrable wilderness and wild animals.

Trip and Andy are hoping to journey into a forest that is designated as TL2. Unfortunately, those plans have had to be put on the back burner for now, as a notorious criminal and poacher by the name of Colonel Toms has moved into the region with a group of bandits, and it currently not safe to operate there. Toms recently escaped from prison where he was serving a 20 year sentence for crimes against humanity, and has immediately gone back to his old ways, setting up shop in TL2. His illegal poaching efforts are used to finance the purchase of weapons for his band.

Jennings and Masar aren't giving up however, as TL2 can provide some very important data for their research. The forest sits right between Salongo National Park and Virunga National Park, which sit 600 miles apart, which means that TL2 could conceivably provide genetic information on elephant herds spread out across the entire country. The promise of that information has put Trip and Andy on a plane to Kisangani where they hope to gain access to the TL2 forest, while avoiding Colonel Toms' band of merry men.

The field update from the expedition team puts into light just how dangerous Africa can be at times. They are traveling into some truly remote wilderness area where there is practically no law at all. Poachers are out to get the animals of course, but they certainly don't have any qualms about making a few explorers disappear too. Lets hope that Andy and Trip remain safe as the venture into the jungles.

Stay tuned for more.

South African Safari In Kruger National Park

Last week I shared some thoughts on my recent trip to South Africa where I able to watch future safari guides in training under the watchful tutelage of an organization called EcoTraining. Earlier today, I posted a story on Gadling.com about my recent trip to Kruger National Park that takes a look at some of my safari experiences there and how they compared to the Serengeti, which I visited a few years back.

First off, as I note in that story it is impossible to recommend either Kruger or the Serengeti over one another. They are both fantastic settings, each with their own draw and plenty of wildlife to see. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at both places, and that's saying something, because the Serengeti is perhaps my favorite place I've ever visited.

That said, the two destinations offer a very different safari experience to say the least. The Serengeti is much more open, with grasslands stretching to the horizon and rolling landscapes that offer prime vantage points for spotting the wildlife. Kruger, on the other hand, has lush green forests, dense underbrush, and plenty of green foliage to block your views. The result is a much more challenging experience for not only spotting the animals but getting quality photos as well. The flora made it quite fun to go on bush walks however, something I never had the opportunity to do on the Serengeti.

In terms of wildlife, Kruger matches up well with the Serengeti for the most part, although there is a lot more of it on the plains between Kenya and Tanzania. I saw all the usual animals on my safari, although certain ones were in short supply. For instance, there were few giraffes in the region I was in, and wildebeests were small in number as well, which is a sharp contrast to the Serengeti where they number in the hundreds of thousands. Still, Kruger had plenty of buffalo, antelope, baboons, monkeys, and zebras to fill your needs. We spotted hippos within minutes of crossing into the park as well, and a chance encounter with a baby lion will remain one of my favorite moments from any of my journeys.

I did note a big distinction between the elephants of Kruger and those on the Serengeti. In Kruger they seemed more aggressive by a wide margin. On more than one occasion we came across a larger breeding herd, with plenty of little ones in tow, and the parents were definitely not afraid to show their displeasure with our presence so close to the family. Our vehicle was even charged twice, one of which was a very close call. On the Serengeti, the elephants barely even acknowledged our existence and never made a threatening move towards us at all. Kruger has an over abundance of elephants as well, and even in the dense foliage they are easy to find, but the Serengeti has large herds to match and probably overall larger numbers.

The bottom line is that I feel privileged to have gotten the opportunity to visit both places, and they are both beautiful and amazing. If you're headed to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro, than do yourself a favor and tack on a safari for the end of you climb. You'll be happy you did. If, on the other hand, you want a more laid back experience, South Africa might be your destination of choice. It offers up a more cosmopolitan experience with plenty to see in do in the larger cities, a thriving wine country, and the chance to have a great safari experience as well. If you simply can't choose, then maybe you should do what I did, and visit both!

Next up on my Safari "Want List," Botswana's Okavango Delta. I would love, love, love to visit that place as well.

Training To Be A Safari Guide In South Africa

As many of you know, back in early February I was off to South Africa for a quick adventure. While I was there, I visited the Makuleke Concession, located inside Kruger National Park, where I stayed at a training camp for new safari guides. The camp was run by a company called EcoTraining, which has built itself a reputation for turning out the best prepared and most qualified guides in all of Africa, and as a result, their students are in demand in a number of countries there. Over the course of a week, I was lucky enough to observe that training, while getting to explore parts of Kruger. I shared some of those experiences this morning on a piece that I posted on Gadling that you can read by clicking here.

Essentially, EcoTraining gives anyone with the interest an opportunity to become an African safari guide. They teach them everything they need to know, and then some, and offer a number of extra course to help sharpen their skills and build more specialized experience. Most of the students take a 28-day course that gives them the basics, such as driving a safari vehicle while spotting game, identify the various creatures they see, learning to track those creatures on foot, and so on. They also learn how to handle a rifle (Very important when traveling on foot in the bush!), basic first aid, orienteering and navigation skills, and much more.

After completing the 28-day course, most of the students will head off to work as a guide somewhere, and while the have the basic skills, they still lack experience in the field. That comes over time of course, but they can also pick up some of that experience through EcoTraining's other course, which range in length from 4-7 days and focus on such topics as birding, advanced tracking, and so on. For those who want to go all out, there is also a yearlong course that will turn out a fully qualified guide, ready to start leading game drives in the African wilderness.

What I found interesting was the diversity of people who were taking the course to become a guide. There were an equal number of men and women in the camp, and ages ranged from as young as 19 all the way up to late 50's. They were each there for their own personal reasons, but they shared a love of the outdoors, a fascination with wildlife, and desire to see the natural wonders of Africa. The students were all very dedicated, studying hard when ever they had down time, but also had big personalities that would serve them well when dealing with their future clients.

One of the best aspects about the trip for me was getting to go on game drives with the students and their instructors. The wilderness treks on foot were especially fun, as you had the potential to encounter any number of creatures face to face. That put an element of danger in the situation which you don't get while on safari in a vehicle. On our walks we spotted buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, warthogs, elephants, and more. And while we heard lions around us, we didn't encounter one directly. They are common just outside of camp though, and one of the instructors came across a pride while on his daily run one afternoon.

As you can probably gather, the wildlife in Kruger is spectacular, and one of the highlights of any visit to the region. Elephants were especially in abundance, traveling in large breeding herds, and often acting aggressively to us infringing on their space. At one point, when were driving back to the camp from visiting a nearby village, we actually came across a big bull on the road. He was none too happy to see us, and actually charged the small van we were driving in. Thankfully, our driver was skilled enough to avoid him, but it was a rather close call.

Speaking of the camp, it made for quite a setting as well. It was extremely eco-friendly, with no electricity in our tents, although we did have running water, a shower, and a proper toilet. Those are luxuries on a trip like this one as far as I'm concerned, and while I'm use to going a few days without a shower, it was nice to be able to take one on a nightly basis none the less.

The tents were large and spacious, and propped up off the ground on a stilted platform. That allowed for animals to come and go without disruption, and it was not uncommon to hear things moving around us in the night. Our first morning there we were also awoken by the roars of lions not far off, which is the way every African morning should begin!

I intend to write more about the trip, both here and on Gadling, over the next week or two. There were a number of great experience to be had and would love to share them with everyone. Kruger is a fantastic destination and a top spot for someone wanting to go on safari. It was very different from my trip to the Serengeti a few years back, and if you've already been there, you may consider a second safari in South Africa as well.

Explorers Travel To The Congo To Save A Species

Explorers Trip Jennings and Andy Maser are preparing to set out on a very important expedition to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. One that have been in the planning stages for more than two years, and is finally becoming a reality. The expedition is scheduled to last approximately five weeks and could make all the difference when it comes to saving a very important species on the African continent.

On Sunday, Trip and Andy will leave for the Congo where they will begin the Elephant Ivory Project, during which they'll be traveling on foot through the bush collecting elephant scat samples from five distinct herds. Those samples will be used to help build a DNA map of the elephants in the region, with that map being used to pinpoint which herds are being targeted by illegal poachers. From there, they hope to be able to trace the illegal trade routes of those poachers in an effort to close them off for good.

Over the next few weeks, the team will be using their SPOT Satellite Messenger to send updates on their position in the field. They'll also be in contact with their home base back here in the states, giving updates on their work and sharing stories from the expedition. Those stories will be posted at blog updates on their site, so we'll all have the opportunity to follow along with Trip and Andy. Watch for updates on the expedition website soon.

The project is funded, at least in part, by two grants from National Geographic, and the team is hoping to produce a documentary about their efforts upon their return. Through those efforts, they hope to raise awareness about the illegal ivory trade amongst the general public, and shut it down once and for all.

I can tell you that from my recent trip to South Africa that illegal poaching is a big deal there as well. Both elephants and rhinos are under attack in Kruger National Park, and the locals that I spoke to said that it was a growing problem. Demand for the ivory from elephants tusks and for the horn of rhinos is in high demand in parts of Asia, and to a lesser extent here in the States, and because of this, poachers are willing to do what ever is necessary to get their prize. it is a serious issue that if left unchecked could see the complete eradication of the species in Africa.

Also while on that trip to South Africa I had the chance to encounter and observe elephants on a number of occasions, often in very close proximity. They are an amazing animal and fascinating to watch. They have a clearly defined familial unit, care for their young much like humans, and are extremely expressive and intelligent. The thought of them being slaughtered for their tusks in the 21st century is very disheartening. Hopefully this expedition can begin to turn that tide to some degree.

Stay tuned for updates on the progress of Trip and Andy. Good luck guys!

High Tech Cameras Capture Polar Bears At Play For BBC

Apparently there is a new television show running on the BBC in the U.K. called Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice in which they send specially designed, high tech cameras out to film those amazing creatures in their natural habitat. Those cameras have caught some pretty spectacular footage as you can see in the two clips below.

The first video shows the natural curiosity of the Polar Bear, when one comes over to investigate the ball shaped camera that has rolled into its domain. The bear bats it around like a soccer ball while trying to figure out if it is something it can eat or not. The second video gives us a bit more footage of just how these new cameras work and how they are delivered to remote places on the ice aboard a very cool looking vehicle. The cameras and their delivery system look like something you'd encounter on the ice planet of Hoth, but they certainly do the trick. The second video ends with a momma bear playing around with it as well, while an adorable looking cub wanders in and out of the picture.

Great stuff. I want one of these cameras to play with! :)