IAN BRELAND
Maintaining a homebase in Phoenix, Arizona; Ian is a Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning (RMSEL) graduate, freelance Conservation Videographer, Wildlife Photographer, and Expedition Guide. He has worked on a diverse range of projects concerning wildlife conservation; from Operation Milagro VIII in Mexico alongside Sea Shepherd Conservation Society & supporting anti-poaching operations in Indonesia, to appearing on BBC’s My Place on Planet Earth and filming with rewilding centers as well as newly established reserves & research stations in the Peruvian Amazon. He is a co-host of the short-form field herping show known as “Serpentine”, streaming on CarbonTV. Today, Ian leads expeditions across the planet in search of rare, imperiled, and understudied reptile & amphibian species.
He also collaborates on a myriad of international conservation projects, applying technical skills, logistics management, and a background in Wilderness Medicine towards not only making adventure more accessible & inclusive, but inspiring others to appreciate what we have while it’s still here- and fight to protect it.
You may contact Ian via:
Email: info@serpentineexpeditions.com
IG: @life.of.ian
Phone & Whatsapp: +17207080268
*we work with local & indigenous conservationists on the ground in every region, on a trip-by-trip basis. This page is exclusively presenting THE SERPENTINE TEAM*
MICHAEL RING
“Work is love made visible”
-Khalil Gibran
An avid conservationist and guide, Michael Ring's expertise lies in attention to hospitality and in providing clients with safe and mediated experiences with both cultural and natural heritage. Despite being born in the Sonoran Desert of the American Southwest, Michael's tenure as a wildlife guide began in the misty bamboo forests of China's Sichuan Basin; home to 80% of the world's wild giant pandas. Since then, Michael's goal has been to develop bespoke itineraries that prioritize benefiting local conservation efforts and experiencing the natural world.
Currently, Michael resides in Phoenix Arizona where he collaborates with film production houses, animal rehabilitation efforts and oversees tour partners. Michael’s favorite animals are primates, hornbills, elephants and pit vipers. He has been learning Mandarin Chinese since he was 14 years old and was trained in ethnography at Northern Arizona University.
IG: @Wanderringmike
Email: Michaelringwork@gmail.com
EMILIE MARANDA
Born straight into the culture, Emilie was raised inside one of Canada’s first reptile zoos— founded by her own family in the early 1990s. A French Canadian with deep roots in the exotic animal world, her earliest days were spent in the care of zookeepers, surrounded by creatures most people never have the opportunity to encounter. She grew up immersed in a life that blended curiosity, care, and deep respect for wild creatures. Her earliest memories are sun-drenched herping trips with her parents to far-flung corners of the planet, where wildness wasn't just observed—it was home.
With a background in tourism and hospitality, she has since carved her own path through the world, guided by an instinct for adventure and an unwavering calm in the presence of creatures most only glimpse in books. Her love for nature is more than a passion—it’s her lineage. Whether tracking lizards in the tropics or swapping stories beneath foreign skies, she brings grounded warmth, cross-cultural fluency, and a reverence for the wild that can’t be taught—only lived.
Today, Emilie works with Serpentine as our Field Operations Manager; handling everything from networking with industry professionals to scouting destinations, booking reservations and streamlining communications with ground operators. She also makes Ian eat his vegetables.
Email: Emilie_maranda@icloud.com
IG: @emilie.maranda