Ranger Jack's Travel Tales
- 18 hours ago
- 5 min read
Ranger Jack is back from his travels around the world! He sat down with us to answer some of our burning questions about what animals he met and all of the amazing sights that he saw! So read on and hear some of his best travel tales!
Ranger Jack's Travel Tales
What inspired you to take time out and go travelling?
"I’d always wanted to see more of the world, and I realised that if I kept waiting for the 'right time', I might never do it. With climate change and the natural world changing so rapidly, I felt that now was the time to experience some of these places and animals while I still could. I also felt I was at a point in my career where I had built up enough knowledge and experience with animals to really appreciate what I was seeing. Rather than just travelling to tick countries off a list, I wanted to see wildlife in its natural environment and learn from the people and places along the way."
Which destination surprised you the most? Which was your favourite?
"Bosnia was probably the biggest surprise. I think a lot of people still associate Bosnia with its history of war, but arriving there, I found a completely different side of the country. The people were incredibly friendly, the landscapes were stunning, and huge areas were still wild and relatively untouched by tourism.
It became one of my favourite places because I was able to spend time rescuing wolves and bears there. Being surrounded by that much nature while working with animals that I had always wanted to see was an experience I’ll never forget."
What was the most memorable animal encounter you had on your travels?
"That’s a difficult one because two experiences really stand out for completely different reasons.
In Ecuador, I hiked up cliffs to see Andean condors. There are thought to be only around 150 left in Ecuador, so seeing them soaring above me was pretty incredible. You’re standing there looking up at these enormous birds flying effortlessly through the mountains, and it really puts into perspective how small you are.
Then there was swimming with hammerhead sharks in the Galápagos. Being in the water with them and watching these bizarre-looking sharks move around you was completely surreal. I honestly couldn’t pick between the two."
Which species had been on your "must-see" list, and did you get to see it?
"Without a doubt, the jaguar. It was probably the animal I wanted to see more than anything else.
I spent around six months travelling through South America looking for one, going into rainforests and following leads, but unfortunately I never got a confirmed sighting. I did have one moment on a night tour where we thought we could see a pair of eyes watching us from the darkness. It could have been a jaguar, but without being able to properly identify it, I can’t honestly say that it was.
So, after six months of searching, the jaguar remains firmly on my list. I suppose that just gives me another reason to go back."
Were there any animals that completely changed your perception after seeing them in the wild?
"I wouldn’t say any particular animal completely changed my perception of them, because spending so much time working with animals had already given me a huge appreciation for them.
If anything, travelling reinforced just how incredible they are. Spending time in rainforests and seeing how many completely different species can exist within one ecosystem was amazing. Some animals that initially looked frightening or aggressive were actually displaying behaviours designed purely for defence. Seeing that in the wild gives you a much better understanding of why animals behave the way they do."
What's the rarest or most unusual creature you came across?
"One of the most unusual was definitely the Irrawaddy dolphins in Cambodia there is only 89 left in the wild. I went kayaking specifically hoping to see them, and getting out onto the river knowing that there were only small populations of these unusual-looking dolphins around was pretty special.
They don't look quite like the dolphins most people imagine, which made seeing them in their natural environment even more memorable."
Did you capture a favourite wildlife photograph? What's the story behind it?
"I actually took surprisingly few wildlife photographs while travelling. I was much more interested in experiencing things while I was there rather than constantly trying to get the perfect picture. Quite often, by the time I'd reached for my camera, the animal had already disappeared!
One set of photos I did manage to get that I really like was in Cambodia, showing millions of bats pouring out of a cave. Watching them emerge in huge numbers and fill the sky was an incredible sight, and luckily I was actually quick enough to get the camera out that time."
Which animal proved the hardest to spot?
"The obvious answer is the jaguar, after spending six months looking for one!
But tapirs were also surprisingly difficult. You can be walking through rainforest knowing that they're somewhere in the area, but the vegetation is so dense that they can disappear completely. That's one of the frustrating—and exciting—parts of wildlife watching. You can spend hours searching and see absolutely nothing, then suddenly an animal appears for a few seconds and vanishes again."
What's one thing you learnt from watching animals in the wild?
"Patience. A lot of patience.
You can't just walk into a rainforest and expect animals to appear on command. Sometimes you can spend hours searching and see nothing. I also learnt how important local knowledge is. Speaking to local people, guides and communities and asking where animals had recently been seen could make the difference between seeing something incredible and coming away empty-handed.
Wildlife watching is often as much about listening and asking questions as it is about looking."
Has travelling changed how you appreciate the natural world back home?
"Definitely. Since coming home, I've found myself appreciating the countryside around me much more. When you've spent months seeing completely different ecosystems and wildlife, you start to notice how unique our own natural world is.
Our wildlife might not include jaguars, condors or hammerhead sharks, but that doesn't make it any less interesting. Seeing so many different parts of the world has made me appreciate just how different wildlife can be from one country to another—and how important it is to protect what we have on our own doorstep as well."
And now time for some quick-fire questions!
Favourite animal spotted?
Elephant Seals in Argentina.
Most surprising wildlife encounter?
Orcas in the Galapagos island swimming near our boat
One species everyone should see in the wild?
Condors as there the largest flying bird
One place you'd return to?
Peru
So there you go! Let us know your favourite fact in the comments and learn more about Ranger Jack here.
Comments