Luxury travel brand Coco Collection has announced an internship as part of its continuing partnership with the Olive Ridley Project – a charity that works to rescue, rehabilitate, and protect sea turtles in the surrounding Baa Atoll.
The competition winner will be flown out to the beautiful Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu resort in the Maldives for two weeks in August, where they will work at The Marine Turtle Rescue Centre. Located in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the island is no stranger to incredible marine life in the stunning nearby reefs; however, as the first and only veterinarian-led turtle rescue centre in the Maldives, the Olive Ridley Project is seeing an increase in the number of turtles being brought to the centre for rehabilitation through various means.
According to Coco Collection, the intern will have the chance to gain veterinary experience from one of the UK’s leading specialist turtle veterinary surgeons, Dr Claire Petros. Their daily duties will include feeding the turtles, cleaning tanks, observing surgeries and medical procedures, and attending rescue missions to collect turtles in need. They will also be able to interact with guests who visit the centre, giving them information on the turtles staying at the centre and attending any Olive Ridley Project presentation evenings. Duties will also include guest posts on the Olive Ridley Project’s social media platforms, to update on their personal progress and show a behind-the-scenes look of the Rescue Centre.
Coco Collection says the chosen winner will stay in a guest villa and have full board benefits at Coco Palm’s Cowrie restaurant. They will also be gifted some of the experiences available to guests of the resort, such as a Sunset Cruise and a guided group snorkelling trip in Baa Atoll.
Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu’s General Manager, Siraj Waseem, said: “We are looking forward to receiving applications for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for one lucky winner to come and join The Marine Turtle Rescue Centre. Coco Collection is dedicated to their continued efforts to care for the environment and recognise the need for sustainability, and we hope this internship will help to highlight the fantastic work the Olive Ridley Project is achieving on Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu.”
Martin Stelfox, Founder and CEO of the Olive Ridley Project, said: “This internship is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the important work carried out by the Olive Ridley Project. In four years, the partnership with Coco Collection has gone from strength to strength and the dedicated Rescue Centre on Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu has rehabilitated over 40 turtles. Marine conservation is more prevalent than ever before, and we are delighted to be offering a lucky intern a hands-on experience working with such beautiful animals to help sustain their existence.”
