Citizen science – definition:
Citizen science (sometimes called “civic science” or “crowd science”) is a means of producing scientific knowledge in which non-scientists – participate, actively and consciously, as individuals or in groups.

This year, a variety of dates and formats are proposed from mid-June to the end of October in Kyrgyzstan!

Logos of the Naryn reserve, Sarychat-Ertash reserve and Snow Leopard Foundation in Kyrgyzstan

In the Sarychat-Ertash natural reserve:

3 sessions

• Morning arrival and departure from Bishkek on the first and last day of the expedition.
• The Sarychat-Ertash reserve is known for its very high density of wild ungulate animals (Siberian Ibex and Marco Polo sheep). The landscape is breathtaking; you will only find bushes at the bottom of the valleys, the rest of the time you will go through snowy alpine zones where vegetation is sparse.
• Many large birds of prey (Golden eagle, bearded vulture, Himalayan vulture, eagle-owl) and predators (snow leopard, bear, wolf, lynx) live in this reserve.
• Make sure you come armed with a good pair of binoculars and patience; flight distances,especially those of ungulates, are enormous!
• Snowmelt in July and August causes a rise in the water levels of rivers and other glacial streams, making it difficult to cross the Ertash River (the main river of the natural reserve), even by horse. Therefore, throughout the season, we will stay either on the right bank (the northwestern part of the reserve) or the left bank (the southern part of the reserve).
• We will change camp by horse every 2 or 3 days, which takes several hours.. We will return using the same route.
  
  Before you register, please read the description carefully : Sarychat.pdf
  Please Contactez-nous for more information!
• Sunday 5 July to Thursday 23 July
• Sunday 2 August to Thursday 20August
• Sunday 30 August to Thursday 17 September

In the Naryn and Son-kul natural reserves:

3 sessions

• Morning arrival and departure from Bishkek on the first and last day of the expedition.
• The proximity of the natural reserve to Lake Song-Kul will allow you to observe numerous aquatic birds (anatids, waders, etc.) at the beginning of your stay. There will also be the opportunity to share daily life with semi-nomadic ranchers on the pastures of this magnificent, high-altitude lake.
• The Naryn reserve is one of the last Kyrgyz sanctuaries of the Tian Shan wapiti. The landscape is extremely varied with the presence of spruce forests, glaciers and high-altitude plateaus. The reserve shelters large birds of prey (Golden eagle, bearded vulture, Himalayan vulture, eagle-owl, etc.), wild ungulates (Tian Shan wapiti, Siberian roe deer, Siberian ibex, and Marco Polo sheep) and their predators (snow leopard, bear, wolf, lynx).
• However, please be aware that observation will be more difficult due to forest cover and low prey densities. Equip yourselves with a good pair of binoculars and patience!
• Expeditions in the Naryn reserve will involve frequent travel. Generally, a day of horse travel will alternate with a day of exploration on foot to accomplish scientific work.
• Over various summer expeditions, we will take turns exploring the central zone and the two other zones of the reserve.
  
  Before you register, please read the description carefully – Naryn.pdf
  Please Contactez-nous for more information!
• Sunday 14June to Thursday 2 July
• Sunday 12 July to Thursday 30 July
• Sunday 9 August to Thursday 27 August
• Thursday 10 September to Monday 28 September

The protected zone of Shamshy followed by the Chong Jarguilchak Valley:

1 session

• Morning arrival and departure in Bishkek on both the first and last day of the expedition.
• These two valleys have very varied ecosystems, ranging from mountain zones to snow. The forest cover allows us to see numerous birds while the first snow might allow for some tracking! We aim to carry out the first animal inventories in these zones by recording any traces of presence.
• In Shamshy Valley (protected by the Snow Leopard Foundation in Kyrgyzstan, a local association) we will be able to observe ibexes, which will be harder in the Chon Jarguilchak Valley where the densities are lower mainly due to poaching. As a result, our team are eager to work there and engage with locals.
• Thepresence of the leopard is confirmed in both valleys, but their density is still unknown. We will set up and monitor camera traps.
• Unlike the other expeditions, this will be less isolated (a few hours by horse on the nearest paved road). Horses will form an integral part of the expedition for transporting from one camp to another but a big part will be done on foot, which would be suitable for those who may be discouraged by the focus on horse riding on the other expeditions.
  
  Before you register, please read the description of the 14 day October expedition carefully: Shamshy_Chong_Jarguilchak.pdf
  Please Contactez-nous for more information! Contact details are at the bottom of this page.
• Sunday 18 October to Saturday 31 October (14-day TRACKING Special)

5-week expedition

The Naryn natural reserve followed by the Sarychat-Ertash reserve. These two expeditions will take place in areas that are very similar geographically but with different vegetation and landscapes; the lower part of the Naryn reserve is wooded while Sarychat-Ertash boasts many tall, rocky and semi-arid mountains. The sights and ecosystems encountered couldn’t be any richer or more varied!
38 days in Kyrgyzstan (not including flight time to and from the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek) = €5,790 :
There will be three break days in Bishkek during the expedition, with lodging and food costs covered by the NGO (3 days maximum).

• Sunday 14 June to Thursday 23 July: Naryn reserve followed by the Sarychat-Ertash reserve
• Sunday 12 July to Thursday 20 August: Naryn reserve followed by the Sarychat-Ertash reserve
• Sunday 9 August to Thursday 17 September: Naryn reserve followed by the Sarychat-Ertash reserve

Financial contribution

_The total cost for a 3-week expedition is €4,506 per participant.
However, thanks to the large charitable involvement of numerous NGO stakeholders, particularly Program Officials, we have been able to reduce the cost of participation in 2020 by 33% (€1,611).
In order to make it more affordable for our participants who breathe life into our project:

• €2,895 of which 66% is tax-deductible (see below)! This €2,895 includes all costs for 3 weeks of expedition, except your plane ticket to Kyrgyzstan.
• , The participation fee for the 14-day autumn expedition during the All Saints Day holidays is €2,165 instead of €3,295 for the same reason.

Tax deduction:

_-* As expeditions organised by our NGO, Objectif Sciences International, are considered public interest, 66% of the total registration and travel fee (plane ticket), , is tax-deductible for French citizens, in the same way as donations (regardless of who pays for your registration).

• If whoever pays the donation is taxable, they will be reimbursed up to 66% of the fees the fiscal year after this commitment.

Additional donations to the program:

_-* Once you register for an expedition, you can choose to make an additional donation to the program in line with your means.

• As an example, if we are unable to organise an expedition for Kyrgyz youth (like we have done in previous years), we will use your donations to renovate a cabin in one of the reserves. By providing basic comfort for local guards, they will be more present in the reserves and, therefore, more able to protect these territories.
  

WARNING! Please remember!

-* A scientific expedition is not a tourist holiday! We will be travelling across remote areas so will be at the mercy of the locations we observe, behold and live. Will we get the chance to see the leopards? Will we have the misfortune of being hit by rain, hail or snow?

• Uncertainty is certain and nature is whimsical. That’s the beauty of adventure! Everything is organised with safety at its core so that we can accomplish our mission to study and preserve this feline. We will adapt according to your pace, inclination and ability. However, you must be open to the experience, the adventure and other people!
• This is a human adventure, where group living and daily tasks in an isolated area are not someone else’s job. We are a team that must always stick together and help each other!
• We are always trying to improve the program so we are always open to comments and suggestions. However, bear in mind that the purpose of this program is to fulfil the scientific project and we will not make changes of a touristic nature.
• Our goal is science education through real research projects…not tourism! However, if you’re of the appropriate age, you can extend your stay in Kyrgyzstan and visit other parts of the country. Should you choose to do this, we recommend that you stay after the expedition as you will already know a bit about the Kyrgyz culture and have picked up a few words! Please note that you are solely responsible for the organisation of such extensions.

  

  Lequel ou lesquels aurez-vous la chance d’observer ?

  So, ready for the adventure... ???

Contact us without further delay – space is limited!

• Structure name: OSI-PANTHERA Research and Education Program
• Toll-free number (from a French landline): 09 72 30 55 95
• International callers (outside France): +33 9 72 30 55 95
• Email: direction osi-panthera.org
• Phone contact location: France

This website is dedicated to the OSI-PANTHERA Research Program proposed by Objectif Sciences International, a non-governmental organization (NGO).