In the Sal forests of Western Nepal there is a wild life reserve known as the Bardia National Park. Here, in 1992, John Blashford-Snell (JBS) and a team from the Scientific Exploration Society discovered the largest elephant ever seen in the Indian sub-continent. Standing 11 '3" at the shoulder, the giant individual turned out to be an unusual Asian elephant with a pronounced domed head.

The discovery of Raja Gaj or King Elephant as he became known, led the Nepalese Wildlife Department to protect the area and this also preserved the endangered Indian rhino, the Bengal tiger and other animals and birds living in this sanctuary.

Scotsman, Brian Walker recites an Ode to the Haggis as Col. John Blashford-Snell prepares to serve it. 
Burns Supper, Ecuador, South America - August 2008

MacBlashers with haggis in Paraguay - Kota Mama II Expedition, August 05.

Wearing a 'See You Jimmy' hat, Col. John enjoys his honorary Scotsmanship.

The photograph is accompanied by a handwritten message from John Blashford-Snell to Ken Stahly:
 

"For Ken - from John MacBlashford!
          With many thanks for all the kind help...
          ... and Haggis."

"The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o need,
While thro your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An cut you up wi ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!"

The Address to a Haggis in Nagaland, India: The Scientific Exploration Society team enjoys a Burns Supper in 2001

Burns Night in the mid Pacific - a member of the Scientific Exploration Society team Addressing the Haggis at a  Burns Supper in the Pitcairn Islands in February 2003.

Could a haggis from Stahly Quality Foods in Scotland, UK, possibly be eaten further from its native land?

Scientific Exploration Society team member Anne Scott serving Stahly haggis from a leaf-lined 'silver platter' to an Indian tribe during a Burns Supper on the Kota Mama 1 expedition.  Paraguay.  September 1999.

Andrew Brown's Address To a Haggis during a Scientific Exploration Society expedition to Guyana, in 2000.

Colonel John Blashford-Snell and his dedicated teams carry out excellent work in, often, dangerous conditions but they always manage to fit in a Burns Supper of Stahly Quality Foods Haggis on each trip.  ‘Blashers’ is responsible for taking Stahly Quality Foods haggis to some of the most remote parts of the world.

Stahly Quality Foods have been proud to support many of The Scientific Exploration Society expeditions over the last 17 years.
 

Burns Night in Paraguay, August 2005 "The 4-course meal was fantastic. It included homemade oatcakes and other items kindly provided by Tods of Orkney, with the crucial Haggis, Neeps and Tatties (turnips and potatoes) donated by Stahly's..." 

For more information about the series of Kota Mama expeditions by Colonel John Blashford-Snell and the Scientific Exploration Society visit www.kotamama.com

JBS is planning two further expeditions to Bardia in April 2012. The first will be for young people with adult members of their family and the second will be for those over 18.

A traditional Burns Supper, with Stahly Quality Foods haggis, will be held for the epedition team, Nepalese staff and elephant boys on 23rd April.