BORNEO CONSERVATION INTERNSHIP

Maximum Intake

4 interns

Minimum Age

18 years old

Accommodation

Dormitory-style in a park lodge

Nearest Airport

Tawau Airport (TWU)

Meals

Communal kitchen and canteen on site

Transportation

Airport transfers included

Restore rainforest and protect wildlife in the heart of Borneo

Home to orangutans, clouded leopards, pangolins, and Irrawaddy dolphins, Tawau Hills Park in East Sabah is one of Borneo’s most important remaining wild areas. As an intern, you’ll contribute across every aspect of protecting it – restoring habitat, rescuing wildlife, and engaging the local communities that share this landscape

Duties & Responsibilities

Conservation at Tawau Hills Park is wide-ranging by design. The team believes lasting change requires action on multiple fronts simultaneously, and as an intern, you’ll contribute across all of them. There are no fixed working hours; jungle treks and tours follow the rhythm of the forest and the schedule of the local team.

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Forest Rehabilitation: Develop hands-on proficiency in Ficus tree planting to create wildlife corridors and establish gene banks for native species across the park.
  • Wildlife Rescue Support: Assist the professional team in rescuing animals from the illegal pet trade and habitat destruction, working under expert guidance at all times.
  • Habitat Enrichment: Contribute to the planting of food sources that support wild populations of orangutans, elephants, and other species moving through the corridor.
  • Eco-Tourism Support: Assist with conservation tourism initiatives that generate sustainable income for the project and demonstrate the economic value of intact forest.
  • Community Education: Help deliver interactive wildlife workshops to local schools and community groups, raising environmental awareness across the region.
  • Nocturnal Wildlife Tracking: Join night surveys to monitor wildlife movement and behaviour in the surrounding forest. (Available to interns staying 8 weeks or more.)

Dates & Prices

This internship runs year-round with a minimum stay of 4 weeks. Longer placements of 8 weeks or more are strongly encouraged and unlock additional opportunities including nocturnal wildlife tracking and a potential visit to Kinabalu Park.

RM 2,500

4 weeks

RM 5,000

8 weeks

Includes

  • Dormitory accommodation 
  • Airport transfers to and from Tawau Airport
  • Park entrance fees
  • All project activities and on-site mentoring
  • 24-hour in-country support
  • Certificate of completion
  • Project t-shirt and hat

Not included:

  • Food (communal kitchen available on site; park canteen nearby)
  • Flights
  • Personal travel insurance (essential)
  • Visa fees
  • Additional activities outside the project

Academic Credits & learning Outcomes

This internship offers something increasingly rare — a genuinely holistic conservation experience that spans fieldwork, community engagement, and sustainable enterprise, all within one of the world’s last great rainforests.

By the end of your placement you’ll have gained experience in:

  • Forest rehabilitation — practical proficiency in tree planting, wildlife corridor creation, and native species gene bank development
  • Wildlife rescue — supporting professional rescue operations for animals affected by the illegal pet trade
  • Integrated conservation strategy — understanding how education, enforcement, habitat enrichment, and sustainable tourism work together to achieve lasting impact
  • Community education — planning and delivering interactive wildlife workshops to local schools and community groups
  • Eco-tourism — contributing to conservation tourism initiatives that generate sustainable income for the project
  • Nocturnal wildlife tracking — surveying and recording wildlife movement after dark (8-week+ placements)
  • Project management and teamwork — building organisational skills in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary field environment
  • Professional network building — connecting with conservation experts working at the frontline of Bornean wildlife protection

 

On successful completion, you’ll receive a certificate of completion to support your CV and career development.

Requirements & Qualifications

This internship is open to anyone over 18 with a genuine passion for conservation — no degree is required. What matters most is physical fitness, a flexible attitude, and the commitment to show up and get involved every day.

You’ll need:

  • A passion for conservation — no formal degree required, making this one of the most accessible programmes available
  • English fluency — strong communication skills are essential; Malay is a useful bonus
  • High physical fitness for hiking, climbing, and outdoor work in a tropical environment
  • Computer literacy and good organisational and project management skills
  • Flexibility and cultural sensitivity — you’ll be working closely with a local Sabahan team
  • Strong interpersonal skills — community engagement and school workshops are a core part of the role

About This Project

Tawau Hills Park sits in East Sabah on the island of Borneo, one of the oldest and most biodiverse rainforests on Earth. Towering dipterocarp trees, volcanic hot springs, and hidden waterfalls define the landscape, while the surrounding forest holds some of the most remarkable wildlife on the planet. The nearest town is Tawau, a short transfer away and well equipped for day-to-day needs.

Within the park there is no shortage of ways to spend your days off. Hiking, climbing, water sports, and mammal watching are all on the doorstep. Interns staying eight weeks or longer may also have the opportunity to visit Kinabalu Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Borneo’s most iconic natural landmarks.

Accommodation is at the Tawau Hills Park Lodge in dormitory-style rooms with shared bathroom facilities and Western-style toilets. Please note that hot showers are not available. Blankets, pillows, towels, and power sockets are all provided. 24-hour in-country support is available throughout your stay.

Interns are responsible for preparing their own meals using the on-site communal kitchen. The park canteen is also available for simple, affordable local dishes for those who prefer not to cook.

Map

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FAQ

Do I need a degree or prior conservation experience to apply?
No degree is required. This is one of the most accessible conservation programmes available, open to anyone over 18 with a genuine passion for wildlife and the environment. What matters most is physical fitness, a flexible attitude, and the commitment to get involved every day.
This internship does not include formal academic supervision. The programme is designed for practical, hands-on conservation experience rather than formal research or university credit requirements. Please get in touch if you have specific academic needs and we will do our best to advise.
Food is not included in the internship fee. Interns prepare their own meals using the on-site communal kitchen, and the park canteen offers simple, affordable local dishes for those who prefer not to cook. Weekly shopping trips to Tawau can be arranged for personal supplies.
Yes, and longer placements are strongly encouraged. Stays of 8 weeks or more unlock additional opportunities including nocturnal wildlife tracking and a potential visit to Kinabalu Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Additional weeks are charged at RM 600 (approx. US$150) per week.