Winter 2025 update from Pleistocene Park

Hi all!

This year winter been quiet cold and snowy in the Park which is not very good for animals, but fortunately we had a good storage of forage, which helped animals in the winter. It been around -50C for 2-3 weeks in January-early February. Happy that now it substantially warmed, sun is getting higher above the horizon everyday and now it is not going to be as cold as last month.

Looks like we are going to have quiet a busy year. First of all we need to finish analyzing data and publish a scientific research we been doing in the last 7 years. In 2018 we sampled lots of soil cores in the Park and outside of the Park comparing the soil carbon content. In 2024 we repeated the same measurements in the same sites and now can compare how soil carbon content changed in the park and outside of the park over the course of 6 years. In general we see that carbon is getting absorbed in the park and getting lost outside of the Park. Data is good, but I will need to redo laboratory measurements of the cores from 2018. Data of soil density is missing for many cores, and I understand that in order for good quality comparison we need to get into our frozen cave where all the frozen cores are stored and resample all cores with the missing data. I think this activity will take couple of months but it is critical for reliable analyzes.

Then we have two unfinished expeditions from last year. First of all we paid for 12 american bisons from Europe last year, but we couldn't get them in. First provider delayed animals, and then we ran out of money when our former big sponsor left the project. This year there are difficulties related to the veterinary restrictions - there been a case of some desease in Europe and at the moment animal transportation is banned, but if the restrictions are lifted we might get animals in. Found one sponsor who is willing to take care of the transportation. Would be really nice.

And of course the main plan is to finish the musk ox expedition. Need to redo all the permission work again, need to make new propeller for the boat, repair the broken plastic in the boat front, buy new ATVs for animal catchin etc. Plan is to head out from Cherskii towards Begichev island in the beggining of August. Really hope will be able to finish this year. Now thinking really hard on where to get resources for the expedition. Need roughly 60K USD for all the expenses. Ideas on where to fundraise are welcome.

And lastly, we haven't yet signed the contract, but looks like there is going to be a reality show filmed in the Park this year. Something like 12 young people will "find themselves" while working in the Park. I personally really looking for some "free" labour to finish the fence renovation:)

If any of you want some media content from the Park, our ranger started a telegram chanell where he posts news and videos from the Park. It is in Russian, but maybe somebody will be interested

https://t.me/pleistocene_journal2

Thank you all for your support! It is really helpful and needed.

Nikita