Sea Turtle Conservation Intern

Organisation:    Lang Tengah Turtle Watch

Title:                    Sea Turtle Conservation Intern

Location:            Lang Tengah Island, Terengganu, Malaysia

Duration:           3 months (starting March, May or August)

                             22^nd March – 13^th June 2021

                            31^st May – 22^th August 2021

                             9^th August – 31^st October 2021

Lang Tengah Turtle Watch is looking for someone willing to gain experience in an unpaid internship position in practical conservation work based on Lang Tengah Island on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. 

Safeguarding of the nesting sea turtle populations - predominantly green turtles, as well as hawksbill turtles - on Lang Tengah Island, Terengganu, relies on our constant and continued presence on the island, as this is the main deterrent to egg poachers. Living 24 hours a day in our camp, we regularly patrol the nesting beaches on the island by night, relocating any nests that are laid on other beaches back to the safety of Turtle Bay.

Work description

Your main role will be to become a fully integrated team member, which may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Conduct nightly patrol on nesting beaches to record nesting activities, biometric and photo-ID data of nesting females, relocate nests (if necessary) and mark the nests
• Monitor turtle nests and conduct post-emergence nest excavation to determine hatching and emergence success
• Coral research and monitoring
• Give informative talks to resort guests about sea turtles, conservation and the organisation

• Help to coordinate and carry out beach cleanups and outreach programmes involving schools and corporate groups.
• Train and lead the volunteers in all activities, including taking volunteers on leisure excursions (jungle trekking, snorkelling, kayaking)
• Ensure the camp is kept clean and tidy, ensuring there is enough water to drink and food to eat, as well as partaking in other camp daily chores such as cleaning and stock-takes.
• Adhere to all safety measures, protocols, procedures and budgets as directed by LTTW.
• Assist in any other duties that may be required including cover for team member’s leave and illness, shop for project supplies and participate in local events.

• Update LTTW social media platforms (e.g. Facebook and Instagram)

You should be relatively fit and acquainted with the rigours of outdoor living, and be prepared to participate in all our conservation activities, which can be fairly physically demanding. As part of a small team, you are also expected to provide cover for other interns.

Free time

Turtles aside, we try to make your experience with us as fun and interactive as possible. You can experience all the island has to offer during your free time. These activities include: trekking through the jungle to secluded snorkelling spots, cliff jumping, playing games on camp and more! There is also the option to go scuba diving on the island but this is at an additional cost at your own expense.

Accommodation

You need to feel comfortable living in a stripped-back and open-air camp, which lies slightly recessed behind the secluded beach of Turtle Bay. Think rustic, jungle living - bucket-showers and campfires.

Take a tour around our campsite with this video made by our volunteers 

Possible short exchange to another project site at Tanjong Jara Resort

We also operate a visitors’ hut and multiple hatcheries in collaboration with the resort in mainland Terengganu. You will be an integral part of our team, assisting our on-site staff members with whatever aspects they require, which may involve any of the following:

• Relocating sea turtle nests into our hatcheries.
• Carrying out nest checks, hatchling releases, post-emergence inspections and hatchling releases.
• Inputting data gathered during nest relocations, nest checks and post hatch inspections.
• Giving informative briefings to guests during these activities.
• Being based at our visitors’ hut and being on hand to chat with resort guests and answer any questions.
• Helping with our nest adoption programme: contacting local tender holders to purchase eggs otherwise being sold to the marketplace; signing up guests to the nest adoption programme; gathering photographs and sending out the nest adoption updates to the adoptees.
• Ensuring the hatchery, visitors’ hut and our accommodation are kept clean and tidy at all times.
• Liaising with Tanjong Jara Resort staff to inform them about hatchling releases, nest inspections etc.
• Helping to coordinate and carry out beach cleanups and outreach programmes involving local schools.

General requirements

• Good knowledge of English and Malay

• Organised and have strong attention to details
• Experience in public outreach and engagement preferred
  • Must be competent in Windows OS and Microsoft Office

• Able to live and work in a small team as well as individually when necessary
• Expect to work long hours, throughout the day and night, often with irregular or little sleep
• Eager to learn about marine biology and conservation, specifically sea turtle biology, ecology and conservation

• Have initiative and possess flexible and adaptive approaches to problems
• Culturally sensitive
• Confident swimmer
• Certified diver is an advantage

This is an unpaid internship position. However, Lang Tengah Turtle Watch will cover your in-country travel costs including between project sites, food and accommodation whilst on the project. 

If you feel you’re the right person to be part of our young, passionate and dynamic team of conservationists, please do send through a copy of your C.V. and a cover letter to Seh Ling at sehling@langtengahturtlewatch.org before 15^th February 2021.

To find out more about the project:

www.langtengahturtlewatch.org

Facebook: Lang Tengah Turtle Watch

Instagram: lang_tengah_turtle_watch