PT Taman Benoa Eksotik, the manager of Bali Exotic Marine Park, has officially signed a cooperation agreement with Hasanuddin University (Unhas) in the field of education and conservation. This collaboration aims to develop marine education and animal conservation for students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Unhas, who are interested in studying aquatic science and conservation.
The signing ceremony took place at Bali Exotic Marine Park and was attended by the Director of PT Taman Benoa Eksotik and a delegation from Hasanuddin University. Through this agreement, both parties are committed to opening up structured and in-depth internship opportunities for Unhas students so that they can go directly into the field and be involved in various aspects of management, animal care, and marine ecosystem conservation.
This collaboration also provides an opportunity for Unhas students to submit research proposals at Bali Exotic Marine Park. With the support of facilities and expertise provided by PT Taman Benoa Eksotik, students can hone their research skills, apply knowledge in practical situations, and study conservation techniques, especially for dolphins. This year, five interns from Unhas have been accepted and studied directly at Bali Exotic Marine Park, where they had the opportunity to study the behavior and characteristics of dolphin habitats, understand nutritional needs, and be involved in managing feed with appropriate nutritional standards and schedules. This program provides invaluable practical experience for students in caring for animals and managing marine conservation. Through the guidance of the professional team at Bali Exotic Marine Park, students can develop skills that are important for animal conservation and welfare.
Bali Exotic Marine Park Collaborates with Hasanuddin University
Director of PT Taman Benoa Eksotik, I Wayan Adi Setiawan, said, “Collaboration with Universitas Hasanuddin is a strategic step to support sustainable marine environmental conservation, especially for the younger generation in coastal areas. We are proud to be involved in developing students who care about preserving marine ecosystems.” He also added that this collaboration is expected to strengthen research and innovation capacity in the marine sector, to provide real solutions. PT Taman Benoa Eksotik is committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment, where students can directly apply their knowledge in dolphin conservation. “We hope that this young generation can later contribute directly to efforts to protect and conserve marine animals in Indonesia,” added I Wayan Adi Setiawan.
The Hasanuddin University Delegate, Mrs. Drh. Rini Amriani, M.Biomed also expressed her appreciation, “We hope that this partnership can enrich our students’ insights through concrete field experiences and make real contributions to dolphin conservation. Our faculty is very open to research in the aquatic field, and we are sure that this collaboration will strengthen our commitment to community service.” She also emphasized that the hands-on learning experience at Bali Exotic Marine Park will provide students with a deep understanding of ex-situ dolphin conservation and the challenges faced. In addition, this collaboration is expected to encourage students to develop science-based solutions for dolphin species conservation.
PT Taman Benoa Eksotik and Hasanuddin University hope that this collaboration can be an inspiring example for other partnerships that want to support environmental education and marine conservation. This initiative is expected to produce innovation and sustainable research to protect Indonesia’s marine resources.