Our team is now camping at the mountain ridge to gain best access to the chamois population. Living conditions are basic but the team are reporting good chamois sightings, with 45 being identified and logged today alone (04/09). Here are the latest excerpts from the expedition leader's diary.

On Sunday (27/08) morning we gathered at the Chez David and made the drive to base. There was little traffic and good weather so we made good time. On arrival Michaela and Slavo had set out a nice lunch, after which we started on the introductory and safety briefing. This was followed by Slavo's talk on the scientific aspects of the expedition. With a little spare time Slavo was  also able to talk briefly about some of his previous research on wolves and red deer in the area.

Once again we have a diverse group of interests and professions within the group: Reija is from Germany and works in advertising; Georgia is from the UK and starts studying for a zoology degree in October; Dermot is a consultant and his son Liam has another year at school, by complete coincidence they are from the same small town in the UK as Georgia; Victoria is a student of animal management in the UK and this expedition will comprise part of her work experience; Michaela is a medical technician from the UK; Marc is an economics student from Luxembourg; Audrey is an attorney  from Florida; Igor is a journalist from Russia  or National Geographic Traveller magazine.

Monday (28/08) was a nice day so we carried out equipment instruction outdoors. Then came the all important navigation session, with instruction in the use of map, compass and GPS. After a short break Slavo went through the data sheets and scat collection. After lunch we went out to walk some of the nearby forest trails in the hope of finding some scats and tracks to practice on. Unfortunately we found only pine marten, red deer and fox scats. We are only interested in collecting the scats of the large predators: wolf, bear & lynx. These scats are then analysed to determine the diet of the predator and specifically to determine if the endangered chamois constitutes part of that diet.

Tuesday (29/08) morning we woke to heavy rain and cloud. Slavo had three routes through forest, dwarf pine and alpine meadow habitats that needed surveying for large predator signs. The conditions were far from ideal for collecting field data, but everyone was eager to get out into the field so with waterproofs on we headed out. Despite the soaking everyone enjoyed being out and some useful field data was collected in the form of four bear scats. Other sightings included fire salamanders, black woodpecker and golden eagle. Igor collected some edible fungi which he cooked up with potatoes back at base. Demonstrating faith in his identification skills some of us sampled the fare and quickly cleaned the plate.

On Wednesday  (30/08) the weather was much improved. We split into four teams. Two teams surveyed forest habitat in the far west of the study area and the other two teams, forest and alpine habitats, in the east. Dermot and Liam found the first wolf scats collected by slot 2. These were above tree line on a side ridge leading up towards the main ridge. The wolf scats were quite old, probably left during the winter, and comprised mainly hair and sizeable pieces of bone. These scats were collected quite close to chamois habitat, so analysis will be important to determine if they contain chamois remains. The other survey teams found bear tracks and scats both in forest and higher up in alpine habitat.

On Thursday  (31/08) we had planned our first visit to the ridge to make chamois observations. Unfortunately we were defeated by the weather which was wet and cloudy. We need good conditions, at least clear visibility, to observe the chamois. Hopefully conditions will improve tomorrow, it is important that we collect more chamois data to verify population size and reproductive success. Igor left today - he had to return to Moscow for work. His cheerful demeanour will be much missed by the rest of us, not to mention his fried mushrooms.

Watch this page for updates from the research team. More information on biosphere and its research can be found at http://www.biosphere-expeditions.org/