Dr. Martyn Obbard

Martyn (Marty) Obbard is an emeritus research scientist and the former resident bear biologist with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and adjunct professor at Trent University (Peterborough, Ontario). He is a member of the IUCN-Species Survival Committee’s Polar Bear Specialist Group and is a former Chair of the Canadian Federal/Provincial/ Territorial Polar Bear Technical Committee. His field work focuses on Polar Bears and Black Bears, and he has published many papers detailing the demographics, genetics, and movements of these species.

A seasoned field-naturalist and explorer, Marty is very familiar with the landscapes and wildlife of the boreal forest and tundra. His love of the outdoors and tremendous respect he has for wildlife are obvious to anyone who interacts with him.

Dr. Obbard has been featured numerous times on television programs, including the CBC's Rick Mercer Report, which showcased Marty's work with Black Bears in Algonquin Provincial Park. Click here to see an excerpt! Like some other Quest Nature Tours naturalist leaders, Marty is a member of the Brodie Club, one of Canada’s oldest and most prestigious natural history clubs.

You can read a paper that Marty co-authored about a Polar Bear feeding on a Thick-billed Murre chick, as seen during one of our past Canada's Northwest Passage expedition cruises! Click here to view it.

Here's what travellers are saying about Marty:

"Very good speaker! He had his points drilled down well and visuals were really good including videos. Very personable as well."

"You can't miss with an expert like Marty Obbard. Very willing to share his vast knowledge of bears."

"Marty was an absolute pleasure to travel with. His vast knowledge of Polar Bears, his easygoing personality and friendliness was much appreciated. Best trip EVER for me, beats all my foreign birding trips."