Easter Expedition 2024 - Greece - Completed
Expedition India 2024 - Western Ghats (02/07 - 10/07/2024)
Expedition India 2024 - Mizoram Monsoons (14/07 - 24/07/2024)
Expedition Morocco 2024 - (27/09 - 04/10/2024)
Spaces limited!
All bookings now open!
Click here to get in with us via our contact form and book now
Since 2018, Captive & Field Herpetology has been organising expeditions for people with a range of differing goals; be it field herping, photography, sightseeing and much more. Our expeditions will always have a focus on snakebite, conservation and the development of field biology techniques.
Our Indian expeditions are currently focussed in the Himalayan regions which are massively neglected when it comes to snakebite. Our current work takes part alongside multiple projects and collaborations which aim to understand which species are responsible for bites, who is at risk and what measure can prevent snakebite in these remote locations.
As part of a collaboration with Bangor University’s Herpetological Society, we organise an annual Easter expedition. This is usually to a European location (see below for previous expeditions) but we currently have a Morocco plan ready to go. These expeditions focus upon the development of field biology. We provide hands-on training in survey techniques, the safe-handling of wild herps, photography and how to collect samples such as scales, blood and venom.
Our team are all highly experienced in their fields and provide expertise such as locating suitable habitat, venomous snake handling and first aid along with herpetofaunal behaviour.
2017 - West Bengal
The trip that started it all…
2017 - West Bengal & Hyderabad
The beginnings of a new photography project
2018 - Slovenia & Croatia
The first C&FH - Bangor University Herpetological Society collaboration
2018 - Himachal Pradesh
A collaboration to tackle snakebite - BITES & C&FH
2022 - Mizoram Monsoons (West Bengal & Mizoram)
The first Mizoram Monsoons…
2019 - Portugal
Collaborative expedition between C&FH & BUHS
2019 - Himachal Pradesh & Nepal
Back to the Himalayas for a second expedition
Meet the team
Each person on our expedition team brings their own set of expertise which allow us to pack our expeditions with useful training, successful herping and the most important aspect, safety. We have expertise in all areas of herpetology and field work across our team. Whether you’re after scientific training, want to find your dream species or want an all rounded field trip, Captive & Field Herpetology has got it covered.
Keep an eye on this page as we hope to bring in some new faces during 2022!
Founder, Director and Expedition Lead: John Benjamin (Ben) Owens first founded C&FH in 2018 as a journal. Ben is currently studying reptile genomics as part of his PhD in Bangor University. Between travel and research he has spent extensive amounts of time in the field in over 30 countries and has a keen interest in snakebite which you can learn more about if you join him on one of our India expeditions.
Co-founder (expeditions), Consultant and Expedition Lead: Vishal Santra is the founder of the Society for Nature Conservation Research and Community Engagement (CONCERN) in West Bengal, he has spent over a decade spreading awareness and researching snakebite. There are few people who have spent the same amount of time on the ground working on Indian snakebite. Vishal has a wealth of knowledge which he shares as part of our Indian expeditions.
Expedition Lead: Dr James Hicks is an expert in all things Agamid and brings a range of expertise to our expeditions, from physiology, lizard behaviour and habitat suitability. Having studied his PhD in Nottingham he has studied the flying lizards of Asia and their responses to climate change. Join us for one of our Easter expeditions to gain in depth training from James on identifying, locating and surveying habitats.
Expedition Lead and Consultant: Sourish Kuttalam has been involved with our Indian expeditions since 2018 when we first visited Himachal Pradesh. After spending weeks in the field with us to assist with organisation and sample collection he is now a key part in our upcoming Mizoram expeditions in north east India.
Expedition Consultant and Graphic Designs: Maya Master has extensive field experience ranging from high altitude field stations in the Central America all the way to radio-tracking king cobras in Southeast Asia. Having experienced the field first hand, Maya knows exactly how to cater for your field expedition needs.