Hello Everyone! The Conservation Foundation for Rare Aquatic Species of Indonesia is offering positions for motivated volunteers and/or students to engage in the Berau large marine vertebrates program. 1-2 positions are available for 30 May-10 June and 4-5 positions for 19-30 September 2017. This long-term program (since 2007) aims to protect a high diversity of large marine vertebrates including cetaceans, turtles, whale sharks and manta rays in the Marine Park of Derawan Archipelago, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Besides raising awareness and engaging local communities in sustainable handycraft and ecotourism activities, part of the conservation program includes a long-term monitoring program of large marine vertebrates in the area. Surveys are being conducted by the local NGO Yayasan Konservasi RASI (under guidance of Dr. Danielle Kreb and Ir. Budiono. The research team involves experienced RASI staff, local students, as well as local and overseas (student) volunteers. Volunteers are welcome to join the program for 12 days and conduct an eight-days boat-based monitoring survey in the beautiful and protected landscape of the Berau archipelago.We will collect data to determine relative abundance, assessing seasonal species diversity and site fidelity as well as habitat usage of large marine vertebrates. Besides photo-id collection of cetaceans, we will also take photo-id of whale sharks. For 2017 we will focus our monitoring effort on three areas (Derawan, Maratua, Biduk-Biduk) that are assigned as ecotourism area to assess long-term distribution patterns and recommendations to local governments based on megavertebrates distribution/ activity patterns. We also conduct coral reef monitoring at several locations during the survey days by snorkling. Cetacean species directly encountered during the surveys so far include, (dwarf)spinner-, spotted-, Fraser’s-, Risso’s-, rough-toothed-,long-beaked common dolphins as well as common bottlenose and Indo-Pacific bottlenose-dolphins, Irrawaddy and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, dwarf sperm whale-, melon-headed- and false killer whales, sperm-, fin- and humpback whales..Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn theory and practice of Reefcheck monitoring for the Indo-Pacific. We also include the opportunity to do recreational things such as snorkling in the stingless jelly fish lake of Kakaban, visiting caves in Maratua Island, exploring the famous Mirror lake (Labuan Cermin), Angel waterfall (Air Terjun Bidadari), snorkling near Manta Rays and/or whale sharks following good practice protocols. Date: 30 May -10 June 2017 & 19-30 September 2017 Deadline for applying (May-June Survey): 10 March 2017. Selected candidates will be notified by 12 March 2017. For the October survey, first applying suitable candidates will be prioritized until all positions are filled. Day by day schedule, qualifications for volunteers and costs involved (10% discount to students at all degrees or finished no longer than one year after their degree) can be downloaded from a flyer posted on our website at: http://www.ykrasi.org/coastal.html. (click ' read more about this volunteer opportunity'). We are looking forward to your participation! Regards, Danielle and Budiono -------------------------- Danielle Kreb (Ph.D.) Scientific Program Advisor Yayasan Konservasi RASI Rare Aquatic Species of Indonesia Komplek Pandan Harum Indah (Erlyza) Blok C, No. 52 Samarinda 75124 Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia Tel/ fax: + 62.541.744874 Mobile: 081346489515 http://www.ykrasi.org Facebook group/page: Rare Aquatic Species of Indonesia Member of IUCN/SSC Cetacean Specialist Group *“To the dolphin alone, nature has given that which the best* *philosophers seek: friendship for no advantage. Though it has no* *need of help from any man, it is a genial friend to all and has helped mankind.”* *–Plutarch*