On the Ground in Ujung Kulon: Iwan
From life as a bus conductor to the jungles of Ujung Kulon
Iwan, field officer, WWF Ujung Kulon, on life in the jungle.
It was love for nature that took Iwan from his life as a bus conductor to the jungles of Ujung Kulon. One of the key people of the Ujung Kulon project, Iwan is originally from Halimun, a nearby town in western Java.
When a friend at the Ujung Kulon National Park got him interested in what was going on there, Iwan saw an opportunity for training in something he was more interested in. He took the risk and was involved with the Park as a volunteer for 4 years. In 1997, he joined WWF.
An office in the forest
"I prefer being in the forest", stresses Iwan, which is fine, considering he has to spend 20 days a month there, tracking the elusive rhino to find out about its behaviour, population and distribution. But there are some downsides. Iwan has gone down twice with malaria. Any reoccurrence could prove fatal.
So what skills are needed to make it as a field person? "You certainly need to be convinced that this is what you want to do", Iwan points out, before adding that the job is certainly not for those interested in money. Logistic skills are also essential.
You certainly need to be convinced that this is what you want to do.
Iwan
