Irrawaddy Dolphin Research Internship – Coastal Cambodia 

Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC) is an NGO based on the island of Koh Ach Seh, in Cambodia's Kep Archipelago. The organisation has many facets, including working to stop illegal fishing practices, ecological and social science research and collecting data to use in the implementation of conservation legislation.

In September 2017, MCC introduced The Cambodian Marine Mammal Conservation Project, in collaboration with the Royal Government of Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration. The project's primary aim is to collect data on abundance, distribution and residency to delineate and protect critical habitats for the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin in Cambodia's Kep and Kampot provinces.  

We are currently looking for dolphin research interns to join the team between March – September 2022!

Project activities:   

• a minimum of 3 observational land surveys per week using a Theodolite and Pythagoras software

• a minimum of 1 observational boat survey per week

• photo-identification techniques using Discovery software

• passive acoustic monitoring using a C-POD and CPOD.exe software

• social science techniques

• data entry, processing and analysis

• education and outreach

• running a marine mammal stranding network

• scientific writing for peer-reviewed journals and government reports

• designing marine mammal legislation

Basic internship training schedule

Session 1: Introduction to MCC and The Cambodian Marine Mammal Conservation Project

Session 2: Research method training on observational land and boat surveying techniques

Session 3: Marine mammal identification and behaviour training

Session 4: Marine vessel identification training

Session 5: Data sheet and data entry training

Session 6: Drone footage analysis training

Session 8: Theory test 

Session 9: Theodolite introduction and training

Session 10: Pythagoras and Theodolite station setting training

You will also become involved in other project related activities, depending on your interest, skill set and length of stay. 

Internship requirements:

We are looking for dedicated, motivated and hard-working interns, able to commit for a minimum internship period of one month. Please note, priority will be given to those who can commit to 2 or more months. We are looking for those who will commit to early mornings and late nights, with a keen interest in marine mammals and their conservation. Ideally, we are looking for university students or recent graduates. 

Project site description:

The project is based on the island of Koh Ach Seh, a 40-minute boat trip from Kep Town, Cambodia. The island is inhabited only by MCC, a team made up of a mixture of interdisciplinary international and local staff. The accommodation and facilities on the island are basic but well-maintained. You will be in shared and catered accommodation with fellow interns and staff members. All project related resources are provided.  

Application process and fees:

There is an internship fee associated with this internship, covering:

• all food, water, accommodation;

• transport to and from the mainland to the project island;

• dolphin research training;

• scuba diving (if qualified);

• and the opportunity to get involved in activities and training at MCC, such as seahorse research or artificial reef management.