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Conservation Experience with TIC
Here, every piece of trash tells a story. Bottles, plastic wrappers, toys—many still with labels from faraway countries—all washed ashore on this pristine island. It made me confront a hard truth: we are far too careless with the things we consume. Rarely do we think about the life cycle of what we buy, or the consequences of our convenience-driven habits.
From breathtaking sunrises to spotting baby sharks gliding under the crystal-clear water, and the endless ocean views that never got old, every moment was something to soak in and enjoy.
No one will tell you…
That life is a journey full of unexpected twists and turns when you begin your internship at Tengah Island Conservation!
Where should I begin?
Let’s say that we were among the luckiest interns, involved in many activities and programs during these four months as islanders.
The fresh air, the beautiful sound of waves, and the peaceful environment away from city life. You also get to see beautiful marine life, and yes, guys, just want to flex that I saw sea turtle and blacktip shark during my diving survey.
Greetings! My name is Rahman Syahputra, and I'd like to share my journey as a conservation intern at Tengah Island Conservation over the past few weeks. It all began on August 6th, when my fellow interns and I set foot on Tengah Island with a sense of excitement and purpose. Our arrival was greeted by the mesmerizing sight of juvenile blacktip reef sharks gracefully gliding near the jetty.
Who would've thought luck would lead me to the extraordinary journey of Nature's Nouveau at Tengah Island Conservation? As my feet landed on Tengah Island, everything unfolded like a vibrant tapestry of new experiences—scenery, people, food, and facilities surpassed my wildest expectations. Gratitude filled me as part of this incredible team, in a place beyond perfection. To seize every moment, I pledged to contribute fervently to our environment, particularly our oceans and planet. Thus, my spirited adventure commenced in the heart of Johor Marine Park!
Just 20 minutes off Mersing and civilization seems a world away… (fear not! There was still access to the internet and local phone networks – though intermittent at times) What can we do on an island that is just 3 km in circumference? The answer is a lot! Situated within the Johor Marine Park, Tengah Island Conservation (TIC) focuses mostly on conservation of sea turtles and coral reefs across 7 islands. It was a world of unknown for me as I had no prior knowledge on marine science and was purely interested in understanding what is happening in the conservation world – thank you to TIC for creating this platform for people from various backgrounds!
A whirlwind of emotions and memories engulfs me as I reminisce about my 3 months here at Tengah Island Conservation. It has been a time filled with captivating landscapes, warm-hearted people, new experiences, and personal growth. In my blog, I aim to capture the essence of this remarkable place and invaluable knowledge I’ve learned along the way. So, join me on this virtual voyage as I share the moments that defined my time as an intern here!
Everyday I woke up to the calming sound of waves and refreshing morning breeze with the cheerful chirping of birds around welcoming the sun. Starting the day with the brightest smile and meaningful ‘good morning’ ready for the morning patrols around the island.
How time flies~
Some chapters are gloomy, some joyful and some very exciting. But if you never turn the page, you will never know what the next chapter holds. “Sun, Sea, Salt… Life on an island is tough” that’s what I thought in the first place. However, it turns out wrong. It has been the greatest chapter that I have ever created in my Book of Life.
It was the last few weeks of my final semester when my supervisor gathered the class for our internship briefing. As a Marine Biology student, the first thing that came to everyone’s mind was to do their internship on an island and I, too, was planning to do the same. After some reading and discussion with my supervisor, I decided to apply for an internship at TIC. Their wide coverage of conservation work ranging from terrestrial mangrove restoration to underwater coral rehabilitation seemed like a great opportunity for me to begin my journey as a marine biologist.