Sea Turtles 911

Sea Turtles are Endangered: Help!
   Intership: Sea Turtle Rehabilitation and Husbandry

Chinese teachers and Volunteers with sea turtle on Sanya Beach Volunteer and Chinese teacher at our sea turtle facility Chinese teacher and Volunteer with baby sea turtle Chinese teachers and Volunteers with baby sea turtles Chinese teacher and Volunteer in the classroom Chinese teacher teaching Volunteer Chinese at the night market Chinese teachers and Volunteers buying crabs at local fish market Chinese teacher and Volunteers preparing crabs for sea turtles Volunteer feeding crabs to sea turtles Chinese teacher with Volunteers in their hotel Chinese teacher and Volunteer inspecting sea turtles for injuries Chinese teacher and Volunteers protect sea turtle hatchlings Baby sea turtle hatchlings Volunteer and Veterinarian rescue sea turtle Volunteers with rehabilitated sea turtle Volunteers releasing rehabilitated sea turtle Volunteers and Chinese teacher looking out toward the ocean as released sea turtle swims away

Internship Description

We are currently accepting intern applicants who are dedicated to promoting the protection and rehabilitation of sea turtles in Hainan, China.. The Sea Turtle Rehabilitation and Husbandry internship offered by Sea Turtles 911 gives candidates a hands-on learning experience caring for sea turtles currently undergoing rehabilitation, as well as sea turtles being raised in both indoor and outdoor environments at our facilities in Hainan, China. Interns will be able to assist in diet preparation, feeding, record keeping, maintenance, medication and medical examinations. Interns will also assist in giving public presentations to visitors to educate them about these protected and endangered species. Sea Turtles 911 is currently developing plans for a permanent visitor center; helping with design and implementation of this center will be an important part of our interns' work. Candidates should be able to perform physically demanding duties, work flexible hours and (occasionally) long shifts. Applicants will ideally be current students in a four-year university program of veterinary science, biology, marine biology, environmental science, or another related field, or be a recent graduate from one of these programs.

Intern Duties

  • Care and maintenance of resident hawksbill and green sea turtles.
  • Assist in daily husbandry training with all resident turtles and helping to advance our ability to provide adequate and appropriate veterinary care.
  • Diet preparation and feeding of animals.
  • Maintenance of tanks: including daily cleaning, measuring and regulating water chemistries, and maintaining the filtration systems.
  • Must be comfortable working with the staff, volunteers, and other interns. Must be able to take initiative on extra projects, and on the day-to-day maintenance of the animals and facilities. Must be willing to help with turtle medical exams and other procedures as they come up.
  • Interns are encouraged to pursue additional projects that will further involve and educate the public as well as provide enrichment to the sea turtle program.

Education

Coursework in marine biology, zoology, natural resource management, or ecotourism are beneficial. Students working towards a bachelor’s degree (or higher) as well as recent graduates are preferred.

Experience

Previous experience with animals is beneficial but not necessary. Experience or interest in animal training and husbandry is a plus. Must be willing to learn about sea turtles in order to properly educate the public and must be willing to observe the turtles to better learn individual behavior.

Expectations

Must be willing to work flexible hours and be comfortable with foreign cultures. Interns should be ready to live within a very different cultural setting. China can be a very rewarding experience for those who have an open mind and a willingness to be adventurous! But there are cultural differences which can lead to considerable challenges. The accessibility of nature and openness of the people is part of China's allure but it is important to approach this opportunity with a realistic attitude. Interns can expect not only an invaluable experience learning research techniques and working with threatened and endangered sea turtles, but will also learn to see the problem through the eyes of an entirely different culture.

Supervision

The intern will be trained by our staff, but will be expected to be reliable and self-motivated. Once the intern has gained adequate knowledge about the resident turtles, sea turtle biology, and the tasks involved in maintenance, they will be assigned independent tasks and projects, which they will help initiate. A supervisor will monitor projects and remain accessible to the intern for questions and advice. We are happy to work with schools and professors needing feedback or information about interns’ duties and performance.

Hours / Salary

Although the hours worked for this internship are unpaid, interns will be provided with a western-style apartment with his/her own bedroom, a shared bathroom, living room, and kitchen. Food and transportation around the island for work will also be covered. If interns are interested, Chinese lessons will be available for a small fee.

Food & Lodging

We provide a furnished western-style hotel / apartment for you in Sanya city. We will undertake costs associated with utilities and general apartment maintenance (e.g. repairs to the stove, sink, etc.). Additional costs brought about by volunteer's acts of negligence or any fees associated which individual lifestyle will be the responsibility of said volunteer.

Internet will be available at our office so you can keep in touch with your family and friends back at home. If you do not bring your own laptop, you may use the computers in our office to get on the Internet.

Three meals a day are prepared for you by our Chinese chef who cooks traditional Chinese food. There’s nothing like home-cooked Chinese food in China!

Getting to Sanya

We are glad to help organize travel if needed. The best way to get to Sanya is to fly to Hong Kong or Beijing, and then take a domestic flight to Sanya. We will be glad to help you find cheap domestic flights to Sanya from any city in China. A one-way flight to Sanya ranges from $200-$300.

Visa to China

China requires all travelers to obtain a visa for entry into the People's Republic of China. Visas can be obtained in person at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General in your area. If it is not convenient for you to visit the Chinese Embassy or Consulate, travel and visa agencies can help you handle the visa process for a fee. Apply for a tourist visa with maximum stay of one, two, or three months based on the length of time you would like to participate in our internship program.

Internship Fee

Since we are a registered non-profit, we rely on program fees to fuel our mission to save the sea turtles from extinction. The total program fee will depend on how much time you want to participate in our internship program; Our internship fee is only USD $425 per month.
The internship fee covers the costs of:
  • Lodging (all utilities paid for)
  • Food (2 meals a day)
  • Airport pickup transportation from Sanya Phoenix International Airport to your hotel / apartment.
We do not cover the costs of international airfare or visa fees.

How to Apply

Please send your resume and cover letter to volunteer@seaturtles911.org.

     
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