DORSET’S own Ranulph Fiennes has returned from a nine-day expedition to Western Nepal.

Two doctors, a surveyor and a retired police officer were among the 20 people aged between 23 and 82 who joined Colonel John Blashford-Snell on an adventure at the Bardia National Park.

Environmentalist professor Alastair Driver, from Exeter University, coordinated a wildlife study.

He described the trip as “a truly memorable experience.”

The group used domestic elephants and four-wheel drives to comb the forest, jungles and grasslands of the national park and carry out wildlife counts. They also travelled down the Karnali River on inflatable rafts.

According to their reports, the tiger population appears to have increased since the last visit in 2012. A total of 152 species of birds were identified, higher than the number spotted in previous expeditions.

One-horned Indian rhinos were also seen. Nepalese photographer Deepak Rajbanshi managed to capture a tiger and a troop of otters on camera.

Animal puppets made by Dorset residents were handed out to local children, while binoculars which had been collected by Shirley Critchley from Poole were given to wardens and guides.

Col Blashford-Snell, who turns 83 in October, said: “The expedition was real success and hopefully will be of value to the Bardia National Park.”