Exploring the Desert

Their objective was to place and collect camera traps in a variety of locations in order to capture images of wildlife. 

They hope to further people’s understanding of the animals that live in this remote region, an area almost completely unexplored by ecologists.

Dan Brown is an ecologist: a person who studies living things and their relation to the environment. He’s passionate about wildlife and also a keen traveller. He was excited to observe desert mammals or perhaps even discover a new species!

When planning an expedition, it’s important to bring all the necessary supplies. Here are some of the things Dan brought: plenty of water and food, sleeping bags, sun cream, sun hat, walking boots, notebooks, GPS, camera traps, batteries, and binoculars.

From the UK, Dan had to take 3 airplane flights. Once he arrived in Dakhla, Western Sahara, he then had to drive 350 kilometres southeast into the desert in a four-by-four, which took several hours.

Up early the next morning, Dan and Richard Moores, also an ecologist, spend several quiet hours looking out onto a desolate landscape for gazelles. They are known to inhabit these hills and use the valley as a travel route across the desert. 

This is a mountainous desert habitat. It gets exceptionally hot in the summer, reaching 50°C. There’s little rainfall, so the animals that live here have had to adapt to survive without much water. 

Observing wildlife requires a lot of discipline and focus. Often you must work early mornings or late nights. But it’s worth it – “It’s always been my passion. The more I observe wildlife the more I want to learn.” Dan Brown

In 2016, the ecologists saw 3 gazelles moving over the hills, but they didn’t observe any on this trip. Old rock markings depict rather large animals, including what appears to be a gazelle (once more plentiful in this area).

After several hours in the field, the team was tired and returned to camp to rest in the shade. They talked about what they saw that morning, discussing any new information about the species they intend to report. They also reviewed their schedule for the following days. 

Special plans are made to avoid working during the midday when temperatures are at their height. Besides, it’s best during the cooler mornings and evenings when animals tend to be more active. 

Mohammed lives in Daklah. He is Saharawi, a native group of Western Sahara that speak a dialect of Arabic. He is in charge of ground logistics, making sure the crew is transported to the right places, and preparing their meals.

“It’s a bleak and inhospitable landscape but frequently stunning. Desert scenery changes more dramatically than you might think, from sand dunes to boulder mountains.” Dan Brown

Over the next few days, the team were very busy. Traversing 2 mountain ranges, they have located the camera traps deployed the year prior and have downloaded the images. 

Covering lots of new ground, they placed even more camera traps that will continue to photograph any passing wildlife over the next year. The days were long and hard but not without reward. The team caught some great sightings of animals and even made some surprising discoveries

One camera trap captured a young African Golden wolf, otherwise known Canis anthus. This pup was part of a family unit that included a mother, father, and 2 sibling pups! Pictures help ecologists understand the character traits of the animal.

To their surprise, a camera recorded this image of a honey badger! No one has recorded seeing a honey badger here for over 25 years. They were thought to be extinct from Western Sahara, so this was a big discovery!

Dan has an interest in ornithology – the study of birds – and so was thrilled to see several swallows. Swallows are migratory birds. They cross vast desert areas en route to destinations across Europe, seeking cooler temperatures during the summer months.

In the middle of the desert, far away from any cities or villages, the night sky is illuminated by a vast array of stars, invisible in more populated areas. 

After the team dines on a traditional Moroccan meal, they are ready to go looking for nocturnal animals that become active at night. Not only is it cooler at night, but the darkness provides some animals with a cloak of protection as they scurry about to find food. 

This Fennec Fox has massive ears to detect prey and regulate its temperature. It’s skilled at hunting small animals and can bite off a scorpion’s stinger to disarm it. This fox gets all its water from the animals it eats.

The team dined on a traditional Moroccan tagine made with camel meat that is stewed in a cauldron for a couple of hours to make it tender. “Camel tastes like lamb but more tangy. It’s not my favourite.” Dan Brown

After successfully completing another survey, Dan is now back in Scotland reviewing all of the photos and data he collected in the field. 

He will write up a report of all significant findings and send it to the Association Nature Initiative to further their understanding of the region. Dan and the other ecologists will also include some of their findings in scientific papers. 

Dan will spend hours reviewing all of the imagery collected by the field cameras. Often, the camera is triggered but doesn’t catch a great image, so he must employ a lot of discipline sorting through so many photos. 

Dan records the information displayed on each photo, including the date, time, temperature, and phase of the moon. He also uses reference books to accurately identify each animal, making sure to mark down any interesting or unusual characteristics.

Soon, Dan will be off on another adventure. He works throughout the United Kingdom, but is also preparing for a big trip to India. Next year he’ll return to Africa to see what else those cameras caught in the desert.