FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

At Malaysian Wildlife, we believe that travel should be more than just a holiday—it should be a catalyst for environmental progress.

Every trip we offer is directly integrated with a specific conservation mission. Unlike traditional holidays, your experience is built around active projects such as:

• Wildlife Rescue: Supporting the rehabilitation of animals in sanctuary care.

• Reforestation: Planting trees to create vital wildlife corridors.

• Habitat or Species Protection: Funding efforts to secure official protection status for the forests you visit or the turtles you watch when they nest and lay eggs.

Most importantly, you won’t just have a guide—you’ll be led by passionate conservationists. They provide an insider’s look at their mission, ensuring you leave with a deep understanding of the impact your visit has made.

We offer a diverse range of projects designed to cater to different backgrounds, from passionate newcomers to seasoned professionals.

• General Wildlife & Conservation Projects: For the majority of our programs, no specific conservation or veterinary experience is required. We believe that a passion for wildlife and a desire to help are the most important qualifications. As long as you are at least 18 years old, in good physical condition, and can communicate in English, you are welcome to join us. What we value most is a positive, hard-working attitude and a deep respect for local cultures and sanctuary rules.

• Specialised Placements & Veterinary Internships: While our general projects are open to all, some of our more technical placements—specifically our Veterinary Internships—do require a specific professional or educational background. These roles are reserved for qualified veterinarians or current vet or vet nurse students who wish to gain hands-on experience in a clinical setting.

• Marine & Diving Projects: Our marine projects are open to both non-divers and experienced divers. If you aren’t certified yet, many of our projects offer the opportunity to complete your PADI certifications on-site!

Still unsure? If you’re having trouble deciding which project best fits your goals, feel free to reach out to our team. We’d be happy to chat about your interests and find the perfect match for your 2026 adventure.

Safety is our top priority, both for you and the wildlife. We follow strict ethical protocols depending on the type of experience:

• At Rescue Centres: We enforce a strict no-physical-contact policy. This is essential to prevent the spread of disease and to allow animals to behave naturally. You will never enter an enclosure without professional supervision, and our staff provide full on-site support at all times.

• On Eco-Tourism Trips: We adhere to the highest international wildlife-watching standards. This means we always keep a safe distance, maintain a quiet environment, and never feed or touch the animals.

Our “Leave No Trace” approach ensures that we leave nothing behind but footprints, keeping the animals safe in their natural habitat while providing you with a secure, world-class observation experience.

Generally, we welcome anyone who meets our core criteria: you must be at least 18 years old, in good physical and mental health, and able to tolerate a hot, humid tropical climate. A positive, practical attitude toward animal welfare and a respect for local cultures and traditions are essential.

While most of our general projects require no prior experience, please note:

• General Projects: Require basic English (or a local language such as Bahasa or Thai) and a willingness to work hard.

• Career Internships: Specialised placements—such as our Veterinary or Research internships—do have specific requirements, including relevant professional backgrounds or current university enrolment in a related field.

Activities vary depending on the ecosystem you choose, but your daily tasks will generally fall into these four categories:

• Animal Care: Assisting with food preparation, enclosure cleaning, and designing behavioural enrichments to keep rescued animals mentally and physically active.

• Marine Conservation: Participating in beach clean-ups and underwater surveys (for divers). This also includes hands-on coral restoration, where you may help create and establish specialised elements to accelerate the recovery of local reef systems.

• Community Work: Engaging with the local communities living in or around our conservation sites. This involves teaching basic English or maths or collaborating on sustainability initiatives that empower the people who share these vital habitats.

• Maintenance & Restoration: Contributing to habitat restoration through tree planting for wildlife corridors or assisting with essential infrastructure maintenance at the project sites.

Note: some of our career internships, such as field research, veterinary or communication, will have a more specific focus on skills relevant for these disciplines.

Your time off is a great opportunity to recharge and experience the beauty of your host country. Depending on your project’s location, you can explore a variety of local nature and cultural attractions.

• Included Activities: At some sites, organised group tours or excursions are already included as part of your stay.

• Independent Exploration: Often, our local team is happy to help you arrange your own adventures, such as hiking, sightseeing, or visiting nearby markets for shopping and sampling authentic local foods.

Whether you choose to relax at the project site or head out to explore, your coordinators can provide the best “insider” tips for making the most of your downtime.

While we operate on the same core principles as a conservation charity, we are a purpose-driven social enterprise (technically a company limited by guarantee).

The key difference is our funding model: rather than relying on donations or grants, we fund our mission through ethical business operations, such as our wildlife travel, volunteering, and internship programs. We are proud to pledge that 80% of our income goes directly back into the local wildlife and marine projects we support, ensuring your trip creates a lasting, measurable impact.

Founded in 2015 by Barbara de Waard, Biodiversity Business is a purpose-driven social enterprise dedicated to protecting endangered animals and their habitats in Malaysia, Indonesia and other biodiversity hotspots in this region.

We bridge the gap between global supporters and local conservation by partnering with NGOs to provide ethical volunteering, professional internships, and educational tourism. Through our flagship program, Malaysian Wildlife, we turn transformative travel into a powerful tool for wildlife advocacy and habitat preservation.

Transparency is at the heart of our mission. As a social enterprise, we ensure that your contribution is used effectively to drive real conservation results. We pledge that 80% of our income goes directly to the field.

Here is how your fee is put to work:

• Direct Project Support: Funding the daily operations of the wildlife sanctuaries and marine stations, including food and medical supplies for rescued animals, and materials for coral or forest restoration.

• Local Employment: We prioritise hiring from the adjoining villages, providing stable livelihoods for local staff members and their families.

• On-Site Costs: This covers your essential infrastructure, including project-site accommodation, local vegetarian meals, and 24/7 on-site support from our coordinators.

• Conservation Initiatives: A portion of your fee funds long-term goals, such as achieving official protection status for endangered habitats and running community education programs.

• Project Development: The remaining 20% covers the essential administration, insurance, and marketing required to keep our global volunteer network running and our project support sustainable for the long term.

By joining us, you aren’t just paying for a trip—you are directly financing a second chance for wildlife.

The minimum age is 18 years old. Some projects, such as our Perhentian Turtle Volunteering, accept 17-year-olds with a parental consent letter. Additionally, some of our projects welcome families with children from 12 or 13 years old.

You can use the “Book Now” links on the webpage or enquire via contact us.

Pricing varies depending on the program and duration. You will find details in the ‘pricing’ sections on our website. If you cannot find what you are looking for, then please reach out to us via ‘Contact Us’.

Start dates vary depending on the type of experience you choose:

• Volunteering & Internships: Many of our core projects have fixed start dates, typically beginning every Sunday or Monday.

• Seasonal Projects: Some programs are seasonal. For example, our marine projects only operate outside of the monsoon season to ensure safety and optimal diving conditions.

• Eco-Travel Experiences: For maximum flexibility, our eco-tours (typically lasting 3 to 5 days) do not have fixed start dates. These can begin any day, subject only to the availability of our naturalist guides.

Check the specific page for your chosen project to see the current schedule and seasonal availability.

Our core projects are located in Malaysia, Malaysian Borneo and Indonesia. Additionally, we also have project partners in nearby countries such as Thailand, Laos and Bangladesh.

Yes. Valid travel and medical insurance are mandatory for all participants to safeguard against accident, sickness, loss of money, flight delay/cancellation or lost baggage. If you are joining a marine project, your policy must specifically cover scuba diving.

Feel free to message us for further advice.

Visas: Requirements depend on your nationality and the country i.e. Malaysia, Indonesia, or Thailand. For example, Bali projects require a specific C6 volunteer visa, which the team will assist you with.

Vaccinations: You should consult a travel doctor. For wildlife projects, common recommendations include Hepatitis, Typhoid, Tetanus, and Rabies.

Getting to our remote project sites is made as seamless as possible. Transfers from major airports and regional transport hubs are typically included in your project cost, or they can be easily booked as an add-on during your registration.

Once you arrive at the designated meeting point, our team will handle the logistics of getting you safely to the sanctuary, island, or rainforest site. For your international flights and any independent travel before or after your placement, we are always happy to assist with local travel advice to help you navigate the region with confidence.

Specific arrival instructions and meeting times will be provided in your project-specific info pack once your booking is confirmed.

We ensure our volunteers are well-fed and energised for their work! Most projects provide prepared, cooked meals that offer a mix of both local flavours and familiar Western dishes.

• Special Diets: We are happy to cater to various dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, and other common allergies or preferences. Please just let us know your needs in advance.

• Communal Living: In some of our more remote or community-focused placements, participants cook their own meals communally. In these cases, we provide either a dedicated food allowance or a steady supply of fresh ingredients delivered by our local team.

Whether you are enjoying a prepared meal or cooking with your teammates, food is a great way to bond and experience the local culture!

Our on-site accommodation is designed to immerse you in the project environment while ensuring comfort and safety. The style of housing varies depending on your location:

• Standard Housing: Most sites feature shared dormitories and communal bathrooms, which are great for bonding with fellow volunteers. Some projects also offer twin rooms or shared chalets.

• Upgrades: Depending on the specific site, you may have the option to upgrade to a private room with added amenities like air conditioning and a private shower.

• Sustainable Living: Regardless of the setup, all our accommodation is managed with a focus on sustainability. We work hard to minimise our environmental footprint and ensure our presence has a positive impact on the surrounding communities and the local ecosystem.

While most of our locations have Wi-Fi access, it is typically restricted to specific zones like the office or communal areas. Because these are remote sites, the connection may not be as fast or reliable as what you are used to at home.

For more consistent communication, we generally recommend obtaining a local SIM card upon arrival. We provide guidance on the best local providers for your specific project area to help you stay connected more easily.

Because we work where the wildlife is, most of our project locations are in remote, rural areas. This means that standard amenities like ATMs, pharmacies, and grocery stores may be quite far away or difficult to reach.

To ensure you are fully prepared, we provide detailed project guides for every location. These guides will advise you on exactly what to bring, which often includes:

• Sufficient Cash: ATMs are rarely available on-site, so you’ll need enough local currency for your entire stay.

• Specific Comforts: Items like your preferred breakfast cereal, snacks, or specific toiletries.

• Essentials: Some sites require you to bring your own towels or toilet paper.

We operate in less-developed areas where resources can be limited. We ask all our travellers to arrive with an open mind and a deep respect for local circumstances and culture, embracing the simplicity of life in the heart of conservation.

Volunteers can refer to the project’s volunteer guide, which includes a list of recommended kit that they should bring. Volunteer guides are provided at the time of booking your volunteer placement.

Of course! We are very proud of our friendly and talented local team, who are happy to help throughout your stay. Our dedicated on-site Volunteer Coordinators are always available to help with scheduling, animal care, or personal issues. They will also provide a full orientation upon your arrival, including a tour, health and safety instructions, and a deep dive into our mission. If you have any questions or concerns before your trip, then please reach out via contact us.

We are always happy to help you with any enquiries. Feel free to contact us.