MITSUBISHI MOTORS & WWT'S FLIGHT OF THE SWANS EXPEDITION TAKES OFF

April 27, 2016 by Mitsubishi Motors in the UK

CIRENCESTER - Mitsubishi Motors UK will be an official partner and vehicle supplier to an innovative expedition to highlight the plight of Bewick's swans. The expedition will follow their migratory route across 11 different countries, from the Arctic tundra to their winter home at the Wildfowl & Wetland Trust's (WWT) headquarters in Slimbridge, Gloucestershire.

Sacha Dench, Head of Content at the WWT, will be flying alongside these magnificent creatures by paramotor – effectively a para-glider with a fan attached to the rear. Sacha will face very similar issues as the birds, flying at the same speed, being exposed to the weather conditions and re-fuelling at safe landing sites. This journey will give a bird's-eye view of what the swans face in undertaking such a perilous journey.

Bewick's swan numbers have been in serious decline over the last few years with an almost 50% drop in numbers since the mid-90s, so this innovative approach is being employed to replicate the issues that the swans face when making the 4,500 mile journey, generate awareness and determine what should be done to halt this trend.

Sacha Dench, said; 'The Flight of the Swans project is a unique and engaging way to highlight the issues that the swans face. I am particularly keen to engage all cultures and communities along the way, from remote hunting and nomadic reindeer communities in the tundra, to military bases and city inhabitants close to the crucial wetland environments. It is crucial that we have reliable, practical and versatile vehicles to provide us with the ground support that we need.'

The expedition has the backing of many high profile names, including Sir David Attenborough, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Mitsubishi Motors brand ambassador, Kate Humble, and is expected to last around 10 weeks, starting in September 2016.

Kate Humble, Vice President of WWT said: 'I'm proud to be a Vice President of WWT because it is an organisation that combines excellent public engagement with proactive, practical and often bold conservation. The Flight of the Swans expedition encapsulates WWT's remit - a remarkable and original way of telling the story of the journey of the Bewick's swans, of learning more about them and passing that knowledge on. This is an enormously brave and exciting undertaking, and one I believe Peter Scott, the founder of WWT, would have thoroughly approved of. I'm delighted that Mitsubishi Motors are supplying vehicles for the expedition, the Shogun and the L200 are a perfect choice to tackle this type of territory.'

As the chosen vehicle supplier, Mitsubishi vehicles will be key to providing ground support to a team of wildlife experts and technical crew, headed up by Sacha. The two L200s and three Shoguns will act as transport, accommodation and an edit suite for the support crew who will relay live video content, photography and reports and updates throughout the journey.

The vehicles, which will also carry supplies across wild, remote and often unforgiving terrain, have been kitted out with specialist equipment at Mitsubishi's Specialist Vehicle Operations Centre in Cirencester.

Toby Marshall, Sales & Marketing Director for Mitsubishi Motors UK, said; 'When we found out what Sacha and her team were aiming to do, we really wanted to be able to get behind such a worthwhile, courageous and inspirational expedition. Our vehicles will give the team essential support across the rugged terrain that they will surely encounter over 4,500 miles from the arctic tundra back to the Bewick's swans' winter home at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. We're looking forward to seeing some incredible footage.'

Photo credit: Mitsubishi Motors in the UK
posted on conceptcarz.com