Be a marine sanctuary volunteer
Posted on Jan 16, 2008 and filed under Environment
This post is written for the “Save the Ocean” group-writing project.
OK, if you aren’t aware of any marine sanctuaries in Malaysia, let me fill you in with some information. Chagar Hutang Beach, or more popularly known as Turtle Bay is situated in Redang Island, Terengganu. It is called Turtle Bay because sea turtles come to this very beach to lay eggs every year, from March/April to October/November. It is also on this beach that the Turtle Research and Rehabilitation Group (formerly known as SEATRU) of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) is carrying out a long-term marine turtles tagging and nesting project. If you’ve heard/read of the Volunteer Program, yes, Chagar Hutang IS the place to go to :D
Image credit: Pelf Nyok.
The Volunteer Program runs from Saturday to Saturday (inclusive) and it costs RM 300 for Malaysian students and RM 500 for Malaysian non-students. Foreign students are charged RM 500 (USD 150) and foreign non-students RM 800 (USD 250). But before you brush it off as being too expensive, think about how many days you will be spending on the island, your meals and snacks for a week, and the return ferry rides which costs RM 40 one way :D Think also about the once-in-a-lifetime experience that you will gain, and the bond with turtles that you will be establishing, and the friends that you will meet and make.
Image credit: Pelf Nyok.
So, if you’re interested to learn more about the Volunteer Program (which will only be open for bookings in Feb/March 2008), please download and read this Volunteer Handbook (PDF). It contains all the basic information about the Volunteer Program that you will need. However, should you need further information/clarifications, you can always send them an email at turtle@umt.edu.my (but please read the handbook before asking any questions).
You may want to check out these first-hand-experiences of some former volunteers a.k.a. survivors:
- My sister (yeah, who would have guessed that she didn’t cry? LOL) @ May 2005
- Angie and Bart (my sister’s slot) @ May 2005
- tulip @ July 2005
- OnionHead @ May 2006
- ubean @ September 2006
- Kristen @ April 2007
- Vivian @ August 2007
January 2008 is “Save the Ocean” month here at The Giving Hands. Click here for more information on how you too, can save our oceans, and remember to subscribe to The Giving Hands for your daily updates!
