When we read about Darién Gap expeditions, we tend to focus on the immense undertaking of the crossing from a four-wheel-drive perspective. But for Colonel John Blashford-Snell, the expedition leader responsible for the first crossing of the Darién Gap with a team of Range Rovers in 1971-72, the mission also focused on plants, animals, and people.
The British explorer admits he walked away from the Darién expedition strongly committed to the protection of wildlife, fauna, flora, and their environments. “I was horrified by the destruction of the rainforest and spread of disease from outsiders to the indigenous people,” he explains. Fortunately, the Scientific Exploration Society (SES) was already underway and celebrated his love of exploration, challenge, conservation, and education on a global scale.
Founded in 1969 by Blashford-Snell and colleagues, the SES is a registered charity that aims to “advance the frontiers of scientific exploration while advocating for the preservation of biodiversity, indigenous cultures, and ecosystems.” A meeting place for pioneers with a purpose, the SES focuses on mentorship, funding, training, endorsement, and providing a platform for the findings of young explorers and scientists.
As the longest-running scientific exploration organization in the world, the SES has led, funded, and supported over 200 expeditions since its inception. Wings of Survival, an SES-endorsed expedition for 2024, will see ecologist Dr. Timm Döbert and endurance athlete Leanna Carriere cycle and packraft from Alaska to Patagonia, following the Pacific Americas migratory bird flyway. The 30,000-kilometer, nine-month expedition will emulate the migrations of whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus), showcasing the inseparable connections between migratory birds and human endurance. The mission: to encourage progress towards the United Nations’ biodiversity target of protecting 30 percent of the planet by 2030.
Dr. Döbert notes that while financial support is not part of the project endorsement, the society has helped raise the expedition’s profile. “We received an SES flag, and the SES has posted about our efforts on their Instagram channel and tends to like and share frequently.” Timm is also working on an article for SES’s digital Exploration Revealed magazine and hopes to secure an SES Explorer Talk prior to the Wings of Survival start date in June 2025.
Current and up-and-coming scientific explorers may apply for the SES Explorer Awards Program, which provides grants to those leading scientific expeditions focusing on discovery, research, and conservation in remote parts of the world. Blashford-Snell points to political problems and bureaucracy hurdles associated with making scientific collections as some of the challenges future generations face. The Explorer Awards Program assists with awards up to £7,000 for those combining science and adventure, photography, botany, filmmaking, and more.
Want to join or organize an expedition for the first time? Blashford-Snell has a few tips. “Make a thorough study of the region and its people, get fit, obtain good equipment, and see what you can do to help the people, wildlife, and environment.”
Get Involved
Even if you aren’t expedition-bound, the SES offers membership benefits, including complimentary talks (with access to recordings), a VIP invitation to the Exploration Explorer Awards Presentation Evening, copies of Exploration Revealed magazine, a newsletter subscription, and the opportunity to join an expedition or project. The yearly membership investment is £65 plus a £15 joining fee. For more information on memberships, donations, legacies, and partnerships, visit ses-explore.org.
To learn more about Wings of Survival, head to wingsofsurvival.com, and for a look at John Blashford-Snell’s past, present, and future projects, visit johnblashfordsnell.org.uk.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2025 Issue.
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