Program Reviews

Really interesting and changes one's thinking. However the length of the program is not enough to do a lot (one needs to train for some of the activities) but it gives an insight on the required activities for conservation of coral reefs and related nature. And during this it provides useful experience, interesting connections to the local people, and lots of fun which we still talk about almost a year later. We actually want to go back to do something even more (less training and more action). Recommended for people who try to do something and want to be involved!

To breathe underwater is a magical thing, and this is a great place to do it for the first time! If you’re already a diver, you will also learn a lot as you will be trained in improving your dive skills and being ecologically minded while diving, learn about specific marine life and the challenges they face, and get an intro to scientific diving. Use these skills to support monitoring, clean ups, and maintenance of an artificial reef. For you, you’ll learn a set of skills that you can take anywhere to work to protect the ocean. For the project, the data collected helps to make informed decisions to better protect the marine park. Unique to many conservation projects, you will stay in the village, which is an amazing opportunity to learn about another culture and get to know the local people. I had fun interning with this project and meeting divers from all over the world!

I was a volunteer coordinator for the project from June - November 2017 and it was an incredible experience. I learned so much about turtle conservation and met so many great people during my time there. The work that is done has a real impact on the turtles within the area, we carried out worthwhile research and did our part to protect the local environment. The perhentian islands are a beautiful place to work and the local people are extremely kind, I had an amazing time and would recommend to anyone!

Dedication. The tea at the Perhentian turtle Project are dedicated to their cause, and do it all the while with a positive attitude. Everyone on that team loved what they were doing and to be able to experience something so special... Recording nesting or feeding turtles... Releasing hatchlings back into the ocean... Was something no one could soon forget. I hope this project flourishes and progresses far into the future. Projects like these will save our marine turtles and keep them among us in years to come.

It was a very unique experience for me. I haven't been to the rainforest before, so it was challenging for me at the beginning, but I am glad I could meet the indigenous Batek tribe. We did a lot of jungle trekking, they thought us how to cook in bamboo, make a shelter (hayak), we have learned a lot about their culture and traditions (I wrote the whole article about Batek).

There is no other way to experience than through the project, so I think it's 100 % worth it!

I was lucky enough to live as an intern at the Perhentian Island Turtle Project and assist with their programme for a few months in 2019. I loved kayaking over to the turtle feeding sight, it is quite a paddle but it certainly keeps you fit. Learning to free dive to take photos of the turtles feeding was great too because you can see up close just how magical these creatures are. However, nothing beats spending nights with the nesting turtles to collect their eggs and releasing hatchlings. The beach is closed off to tourists at night so it feels incredibly special to be there. The sunsets are incredible and in the day you get to relax and catch up on sleep on one of the most pristine and beautiful beaches in the islands. Plus the team and manager Mel were amazing and welcoming, and very knowledgeable about turtles and marine life; I learnt an incredible amount from them. Finally, I found living in the local village a really unique experience. The locals are so welcoming and you really get to live amongst another culture. Yes it might be hot having to cover up more than usual, but I loved being a part of the community and discovering about their beliefs, culture and of course their cuisine. A life-changing experience!

This program was truely magical! I went with one of my best friends two years ago and we still frequently reflect on our time spent at the Perhentian Islands.
Firstly, the people we met were like no other. All the interns were passionate, fun-loving, enthusiastic and so caring. Everyone working on this project had a common goal of helping the world and it was such a refreshing approach to life. Secondly, it really feels like you are contributing back to this planet when you release the little hatchlings into the ocean. Moments I will never forget. Thirdly, it was simultaneously such a relaxing trip with lots of downtime. However, I would definitely recommend travelling with a buddy so you can spend this time exploring the island together
The absolute trip of a lifetime!!

The sights and sounds of life and biodiversity in the rainforest here are truly captivating. It was an amazing experience having the staff of MRS and people of the Bateq tribe to introduce me to the jungle, wildlife, and the way to appreciate the beauty and resources nature has to offer.

However, the planning and execution of the arranged activities could have been done better by explaining their significance to the volunteers. I was not convinced that the activities were scientifically based, as claimed by the MRS staff and website. Perhaps it was just not made obvious to me. Either way, that was what I would have liked to see and participate in, the scientific research in biodiversity conservation.

I had an amazing time here, it was so cool to be up close to the wildlife. All of the keepers are nice and make the time in the animal area even more exciting. I got to work alongside keepers, vets and also help with tasks like enrichment and maintenance as well as animal feeding! Javan dinner, english community and Kids club are great activities and keep the weeks different and interesting. I was able to help monitor the orang-utan and sun bears and help cleanup the turtles ponds. There is plenty of places to visit on the weeks: Waterfalls, temples, city centre, forests and lakes.

I was one of the school expedition Team Leader's who traveled with a team of students from Rhyl High School to Merapoh.

Our project was to help start the refurbishment of one of the houses, so that it can be used as a school house. It was great to have the Batek children getting involved and learning how to dispose of rubbish in the recycling bins we made.

We spent a morning with the Batek people in the Jungle, learning to wild fish and make bamboo tea. We also experienced how to track animals.

It was an absolutely amazing experience for everyone.