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:: SECTIONS ::
Intro
Requirements
Supplies
Costs
How To Apply
Volunteer Positions
SOS RHINO is looking for volunteers interested in helping us in our efforts to save the Sumatran rhinoceros. Our Borneo Team is studying the demographics of the remaining animals in Tabin Wildlife Reserve to determine when patrol units, habitat protection, or translocation may play a role in the rhinos' survival. You can join our team and take part in our surveys, and depending on your experience, you can also help collect data, assist with building camp sites, write articles about your jungle experiences, become a fundraiser, and help teach English to some of our field staff.
Rhino research surveys are conducted once per month and last approximately 7 days. Rhino tracking, fauna inventory and patrolling are conducted regularly. Rhino Protection and Survey units leave base camp on the 15th and 30th of each month during the months of February through October. Dates are subjected to change due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
Volunteers must be very fit and healthy. Rhino tracking can be tedious and involves many hours per day of walking in the rain, at times crossing swollen rivers, trekking up and down steep ridges and ravines all
in an environment with humidity of more than 90% and temperatures hovering at
30 degrees C during the day.
It is recommended that volunteers arrive in the town of Lahad Datu on the 13th or the 27th of the month -- where our staff will meet you on the 14th or 28th to shop for supplies and transport you to base camp for orientation. At base camp, volunteers are briefed on SOS Rhino activities in Borneo and other relevant matters.
Meals are generally communal, with excellent local dishes accompanied by rice.
Accommodations will range from tents to stilt houses.
Volunteers have the option of experiencing a few days at Sabahmas oil plantation
to understand more about the industry. Volunteers are provided free lodging and
food at Sabahmas, including transportation within the plantation. Sabahmas Plantation
is one of our partners in conservation.
 
Volunteers also have the option of a Home Stay in the village of Dagat at
extra cost of US$20 per night.
Local orangutan rehabilitation centers and world-class dive sites
are just a few of the attractions nearby. You can explore these locations
on your own after the volunteer program with a sense of great accomplishment.
Visit www.carlotasborneo.com for
more information.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Adventurous (May encounter dangerous wild animals such as elephants,
sun bears, and cobras to name a few. Will encounter sand flies,
horse flies, mosquitoes and leeches)
- Physically fit and healthy (ability to walk 5-10 km per day
through very rough terrain, carrying a backpack weighing up to
40 lbs.)
- Evacuation Insurance
- Proof of health and accident insurance
- Report/article/journal of your volunteer experience (with photos)
submitted to SOS Rhino's U.S. office upon completion of your volunteer
experience
- Passport number and nationality are needed as soon as possible
after acceptance so that your permit to enter the forest reserve
can be processed.
SUPPLIES/CLOTHING TO PACK:
- Back pack, light sleeping bag, and plastic bags to
keep your personal effects dry
- Water filter, and/or tablets (available at pharmacies) to clean drinking water
- "kampung addidas" (instead of hiking boots) can be
purchased upon arrival in Lahad Datu for US $2.00 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
FOR JUNGLE TREKKING
- Leach socks can be purchases upon arrival
- Teva-type sandals or Japanese slippers, to be worn while in base camp, can be purchased upon arrival for US$3.00
- Waterproof bag and silica gel for your camera
- FAST DRYING: Sturdy light-weight long trousers, long and short-sleeve
t-shirts preferably dark colors, socks, short trousers, night clothes,
towels, hat or cap.
- Antiseptic cream, talcum powder, antibiotics to treat septic wounds,
insect repellent
- Soap with low or no environmental impact
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS AND COSTS (listed in US dollars)
(please visit www.xe.com for
exchange rates)
Volunteers are responsible for all costs relating to this program,
including roundtrip airfare from departure city to Lahad Datu,
visa (if required), required vaccinations (as determined by your
travel clinic or doctor), heath and accident insurance, food, lodging,
etc.
FEES TO BE PAID TO SOS RHINO U.S. OFFICE BEFORE DEPARTURE TO BORNEO:
COSTS TO BE PAID TO SOS RHINO BORNEO FIELD STAFF UPON ARRIVAL IN LAHAD DATU:
Lodging (at base camp)/Food/Transportation (boat/road):
| One Week: |
US$700 |
| Two Weeks: |
US$1120 |
| Three Weeks: |
US$1260 |
| Four Weeks: |
US$1200 |
| >Four Weeks: |
US$1200 plus US$20 per day |
*NOTE:
The usual menu is rice with fish and vegetables. Breakfast is mainly
noodles. Volunteers will have the opportunity to purchase (and
carry) their own preferred food, as you will be shopping for supplies
before entering the jungle.
COSTS FOR RESIDENTS OF MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE (listed in Malaysian
Ringgit):
COSTS TO BE PAID TO SOS RHINO BORNEO FIELD STAFF UPON ARRIVAL
IN LAHAD DATU:
Lodging (at base camp)/Food/Transportation (boat/road):
| One
Week: |
RM700 |
| Two
Weeks: |
RM1120 |
| Three
Weeks: |
RM1260 |
| Four
Weeks: |
RM1200 |
| >Four
Weeks: |
RM1200
plus RM20 per day |
*NOTE: The usual menu is rice with fish
and vegetables. Breakfast is mainly noodles. Volunteers will have
the opportunity to purchase (and carry) their own preferred food,
as you will be shopping for supplies before entering the jungle.
HOW TO APPLY:
- Send completed application form (click
here to download application), letter of interest, and
CV or resume via e-mail (info@sosrhino.org) or fax +1.312.335.0076,
for review by our Borneo team. You will be notified of your acceptance,
via e-mail, within one week of receipt of your application.
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
- Preference is given to applicants with wildlife conservation,
biology, zoology, or ecology education and/or background
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (after acceptance as volunteer):
A copy of the following documents must be received in SOS Rhino's
Chicago, IL USA office before departure. Please send documents
via
fax to +1.312.335.0076 or e-mail: info@sosrhino.org
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH SOS RHINO BORNEO
1. Volunteer Ranger Patrolling: Not less than 3-week participation, which includes jungle training, rhino conservation and tracking course. Volunteers must be very fit to keep up with rangers in at least a solid week of jungle trekking, camping and climbing to look for rhinos.
2. Volunteer Ranger Support Teams: At least week of participation which may include jungle training. It will include rhino conservation and a tracking course. Volunteers will spend only a few nights in forest for experience, but main goal is to support teams in the forest at base camps or in Kota Kinabalu. Activities may include helping villagers, upgrade or upkeep of base camp, assisting with seminars, managing volunteers, participating in Rhino Club projects with students, teaching English.
3. Volunteer Awareness Team: 3 month maximum Background required in event planning, graphics, marketing, promotion, advertising- options include developing promotional packages applicable to area, or participating in programs already active.
4. Volunteer Assistant Researcher: 3 month maximum to gather and collate data. Scientific writing skills preferred, as is a veterinary, medical, advanced biology background. Other projects may require laboratory skills, identification of plants and birds or GIS training.
5. Volunteer Conservation Educator: 3 month maximum. Education background with desire to learn Bahasa Malay. Duties include conservation education of palm oil plantation workers, and village schools surrounding the wildlife reserves.
6. Volunteer Professionals: Conservation specialists, Professors and veterinary advisers can spend a week in Sabah to advice or teach in specific areas.
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