Conservation Intern @ Chakar Hutan

Lang Tengah Turtle Watch is looking for a passionate and engaging individual who is willing to gain experience from an unpaid internship position in practical conservation work at their mainland project, based at Pantai Chakar Hutan in Dungun, Terengganu, Malaysia. This project provides plenty of opportunities for hands-on conservation work while learning more about nesting turtle monitoring as well as public outreach and engagement.

Internship Duration

Starting as soon as possible – early November (minimum 3 months)

Work Description

LTTW collaborates with the Department of Fisheries and WWF-Malaysia at Chakar Hutan in monitoring the nesting beach and managing a hatchery and information centre. 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:

Assisting night patrolling to collect biometric and photo-ID data of nesting mothers.
Relocating sea turtle nests into our hatcheries.
Carrying out nest checks, hatchling releases and post-emergence inspections.
Inputting data gathered during nest monitoring, relocations, nest checks and post-emergence inspections.
Be willing to answer any questions from visitors at Chakar Hutan, if any.
Being based at our hatchery and information centre and being on hand to chat and answer any questions from visitors at Chakar Hutan.
Ensuring the hatchery and information centre are kept clean and tidy at all times.
Helping to coordinate and carry out beach cleanups and outreach programmes involving universities, schools and corporate groups.
Developing creative multimedia content including posters, reels, stories and social media postings.
Ensuring the project house is kept clean and tidy with the help of our volunteers through daily chores on a rota basis.
Adhering to all safety measures, protocols, procedures and budgets as directed by LTTW.
Assisting 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.
Assisting the project to conduct any activities/surveys involving the local community.

Free Time

Turtles aside, you can explore all Terengganu has to offer during your free time, which will be at your own expense. These activities include: hiking, visit to waterfalls, day trip to nearby islands, picnic, etc.

General Requirements:

Experience and passionate in conservation, public outreach and engagement preferred
Proactive - this is one of the most important elements as there is time the intern needs to work with minimal supervision and need to be independent
Organised and have strong attention to details
Able to live and work in a small team as well as individually when necessary
Flexible in working hours
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
Good knowledge of Malay and English
Must be competent in Windows OS and Microsoft Office

This is a great opportunity to get involved with a small organisation that is growing rapidly. This means that your work has a real impact on the success of the project and you will also be able to contribute to shaping the future of the project. In 2021 we were able to save over 21,000 eggs at another project in Tanjong Jara Resort, which would have otherwise been sold to the market for human consumption. All of these nests were relocated into the safety of our hatcheries where they were monitored until their release. The project site at Pantai Chakar Hutan is an expansion of our conservation efforts in saving more turtle nests in Terengganu.

While this is an unpaid position, Lang Tengah Turtle Watch will cover your in-country land travel to/from the project site, as well as food and accommodation whilst on the project. You will be living in a field house, sharing a room and toilet along with up to four/five other interns. You will prepare your meals yourself. Travel to and from Malaysia is at the expense of the intern.

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 stating which time slot you are applying for to our Operations & Administrative Coordinator, Mary, at mary@langtengahturtlewatch.org with CH Conservation Intern as the subject heading.