Expedition Team
A diverse team of experts accompanies this expedition — seasoned naturalists, undersea specialists, and researchers — who will share their knowledge and insights with you and bring each destination to life. Listed below are some of the experts and the departure date(s) they will be joining.
Casey Anderson
The host of Nat Geo WILD’s Expedition Wild and America the Wild, naturalist Casey Anderson was nicknamed the “animal magnet” while growing up in Montana. In 2002, Casey rescued an abandoned grizzly bear cub and dedicated his life to raising Brutus (pictured with Casey at left) to be an ambassador for his wild grizzly cousins. Casey built Brutus a sanctuary which became the Montana Grizzly Encounter, a bear rescue and education facility. Together, they have been featured in the National Geographic Channel’s Expedition Grizzly and in numerous educational videos, films, television shows, and commercials. When not on set, they spend their days at the rescue center helping educate the public about wildlife conservation. A passionate advocate for wildlife as well as an entertaining presenter, Casey will share insights from his many adventures including those in Alaska, where he studied the grizzly population of Kodiak Island.
Birgit Buhleier
Filmmaker, producer, and scientist Birgit Buhleier played an integral role in the evolution of National Geographic’s Crittercam, a video camera system that has provided fascinating insights into the daily lives of hundreds of species. Through her work with Crittercam, she has sidled up to seals, sea lions and whales; studied the secret lives of great white and tiger sharks; and dived with hawksbill sea turtles. She has personally deployed more than 100 Crittercams on a broad range of animals, including many that are native to Alaska. Birgit has lived and worked in some of the world’s most remote places—from islands in the Pacific to polar camps—but Alaska remains one of her favorites. She brings a unique perspective on the whales, seals, and bears we spot on this journey.
Kim Heacox
Award-winning writer, photographer, and conservationist Kim Heacox has lived in Alaska for 25 years. He has written four books for National Geographic, most recently An American Idea: The Making of the National Parks. Kim is also the author of Alaska Light and the memoir The Only Kayak: A Journey Into the Heart of Alaska. His photography has appeared in National Geographic magazine.
