• Antarctica
• Arctic
  • The North Pole
  • Spitsbergen
  • Greenland & Iceland
  • Sub Arctic Islands
  • Russian Arctic
    • Birding The Russian Far East
    • In the Wake of Bering
    • Across the Top of the World
    • Sea of Okhotsk
    • Otter Survey
  • Vessels
• Africa & Madagascar
• Latin America & Galápagos
• Asia
• Australasia
• RMS Titanic Dive
• National Geographic Cruises
• Special Tours

Otter Survey

Aboard Spirit of Enderby

• 18 days 9 - 26 May 2012

We offer you the chance to be a part of a genuine conservation and research project. We need your help... and so do the Sea Otters of the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka. Over the many years that our family company has been involved with conservation agencies in Eastern Russia, we have been overwhelmed by their unfailing support for our expeditions and advocacy in the region. They have helped us to develop a world class natural history experience that we offer to you and to others like you around the world. We feel it is now time to give something back.

Conservation in Russia, as in most other countries, is underfunded. Problems there are compounded by the vastness of the country and inaccessibility of many of the remote islands; especially those in Eastern Russia. So we are making our expedition ship exclusively available to a team of researchers, who will undertake a detailed survey of the Sea Otters of the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka. And we are inviting you to join the team. This is a chance for you to directly contribute to conservation in a truly unique way.

Beginning in the southern Kuril Islands, the survey will work its way north over 18 days to the wild Kamchatka Peninsula. Led by otter biologist and specialist Katya Ovsyanikova, the team will include world-renowned professionals who will perform a much-needed population census, collect genetic material and carry out surveys of the food resources available to otters. Your participation will be invaluable, joining the team on Zodiac boats for shore patrols to try and establish exactly how many animals there are; there are also opportunities for divers to join an underwater team to undertake bottom sampling. And when you are not helping Katya's specialists, there will be opportunities for birding, botanising, photography and hiking - or to simply enjoy the rugged beauty of these remote volcanic islands. Berths are strictly limited - we recommend you book today. We can accommodate only two divers for the underwater survey; they must be qualified to Padi Rescue standard or its equivalent.

Day 1

SAKHALIN ISLAND

Arrive into Sakhalin and transfer from a central city hotel to ship. For those wanting to explore, the nearby Gagarin Park offers excellent birding with Sakhalin Leaf-Warbler, Rufous-tailed Robin and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker all possible.

Days 2-17

SEARCHING

Searching for and studying the Sea Otter.

Day 18

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATKSKIY

Arrive Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy and transfer to either a nearby hotel or the airport.

This itinerary is an outline. Circumstances may be encountered during our voyage which will make it necessary or desirable to deviate from this itinerary. These circumstances include poor weather conditions and opportunities for making unplanned zodiac excursions. Your Expedition Leader will provide more information at the start of the voyage and keep you fully informed during the voyage.