Hi! My name is Ranny, and I am an alumnus of the 2013 MantaWatch Internship Program. In this post I would like to share my experiences both during and after the internship program.

Earlier this year I joined WWF as the Sharks and Rays assistant. The MantaWatch Internship Program helped me develop the experience and knowledge I need for this position. My role is to collect data on sharks and rays from fish markets and fishing harbours, just like we learned during my internship. I also support several shark and ray sanctuaries in Indonesia, and often work with experts in Indonesia and overseas.

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  Ranny and Vidlia give a manta briefing

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  Ranny inspects a shark

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  Ranny takes an ID photo

My diving club supported my application to join last year’s great program with MantaWatch. Members of the Marine Diving Club at Diponegoro University voted for my video, and helped me beat strong competition from other universities to be selected for the program.

During the 28 days that I worked alongside the MantaWatch team, I not only increased my knowledge and experience, but also gained many new friends. I learned so much while working and studying in the field, much more than if I had been studying from lectures or books. The MantaWatch Internship Program helped me to achieve my career dreams after university, and to become one of the people working to protect and preserve marine life.

I hope that this year’s MantaWatch interns will make the most of their experience. I hope that they will demonstrate what they can achieve for manta ray conservation in Indonesia, and will make their universities proud. This is a chance to prove that your knowledge of fisheries and marine science can be useful, and to share your knowledge with others to help protect manta rays in Indonesia. This is your chance to inspire others to protect nature!

Since completing my internship, I have seen and been part of some great achievements for manta conservation in Indonesia. Earlier this year the Government of Indonesia designated the world’s largest manta ray sanctuary, and I had a chance to attend this event at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. I hope that shark and manta conservation efforts will remain strong in Indonesia, with firm collaboration and shared vision. I want to be able to show my grandchildren sharks and manta rays in the ocean, and not only in a museum.

Click here to find our more about the 2014 MantaWatch Internship Program.