Conservation biologist & wildlife author

Mark is a frequent leader of small, land-based, wildlife-focused expeditions in Africa, South America, South Asia, and East Asia. He’s a regular lecturer onboard expedition cruise vessels and has traveled widely from the Arctic to Antarctica and so many places in between.

Mark was born and educated in the UK, and has degrees in biology, english literature and psychology. He’s had careers in conservation biology, on TV as an expert in natural history, as a university lecturer, and as a freelance wildlife-expedition leader and writer. He’s lived in England, Scotland, New Zealand and is now a long-term resident of Hokkaidō, where he lives in the Akan–Mashū National Park.

After beginning to lead tours in 1980, Mark became involved in the expedition cruise industry in 1998 and since 2007 has worked exclusively in the wildlife and adventure travel industry as a consultant, expedition leader, guide and lecturer. Between international assignments he works as a consultant designing itineraries for travel companies. His experience in nature tourism and adventure travel ranges from designer and developer to leader, consumer and most recently as an adventure travel evaluator.

Mark has been writing about nature for magazines and papers since the 1970s and is now a widely published author with several hundred articles and about a dozen books to his name. His books include: The Whooper Swan; Wild Asia: Spirit of a Continent; Helm Field Guide to the Birds of East Asia; The Nature of Japan, and HelmField Guide to the Birds of Japan. Two more books will be published in 2021: Japan: The Natural History of an Asian Archipelago and Wild Hokkaidō. A Guide to the National Parks and other Wild Places of Eastern Hokkaidō.