Estonia
Taking part in the Baltic Herpetological Society’s annual spring field trip.
Part of the Circumboreal Region of Northern Europe, Estonia boasts most of the large native European mammal species, including Brown Bears, European Lynxes, Wild Boar, Moose and a small population of Wolves.
As for reptiles, here in the UK we have all six species in common with Estonia, one of the rarest being the Smooth Snake, Coronella austriaca. In Estonia, this species’ range is so limited that much of the available reference literature no longer recognises it as a current member of Estonian fauna.
Our Managing Director, Graeme Skinner, was invited to take part in the Baltic Herpetological Society’s annual spring field trip, held in April 2008, in Estonia. The aim of the trip was to work with Estonian specialists and see how they undertake this type of work. The expedition’s target study species was the reclusive and rare Smooth Snake. Sand Lizards, Lacerta agilis, were also found during the expedition.
The invitation came in recognition of his passion for European Herpetofauna, and he was delighted to join his peers, fellow professional herpetologists, on the field trip.
The expedition was an excellent opportunity for the herpetologists to meet up, allowing them to exchange skills and discuss survey techniques and field study methods.
Spurred by this experience, Graeme has planned to carry out a much more comprehensive study trip in 2009 to Scandinavia, venturing onwards to Estonia, to carry out further European herpetological research work.
