“Volunteering at Jagat Satwa Nusantara taught me that conservation is not only about caring for animals—it is also about inspiring people, building confidence, and creating meaningful connections that leave a lasting impact.”
Ardhanareswari Syarahani
Being a volunteer at Jagat Satwa Nusantara, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. Especially, in Komodo Museum gave me more than I expected. It wasn’t only about helping animals or learning how a zoo works. It was also about learning responsibility, teamwork, and caring for living creatures that depend on us every single day. One thing that made this experience even more special was meeting tourists from different countries. Before joining this program, I had never had an experience like that. At first, I was a little nervous, but it turned out to be really fun. I got the chance to talk with people from different cultures, answer their questions, and even explain some information about the animals. It made me feel like a tour guide, which was something I had never imagined doing before.
I’m really happy that I joined this volunteer program. To be honest, I never planned to join it in the first place. It wasn’t even on my bucket list. I only joined because I thought it would be a good opportunity to try something different during my holiday. But somehow, I ended up saying yes, and I’m so glad I did. Looking back now, I honestly can’t imagine missing this experience because it gave me so many memories, new friends, and lessons that I never expected.
“Seeing all reptiles and getting to know something new, It was a blast!”
Because of this program, I learned so many new things—not only about wildlife, but also about communication and how to interact with people from different backgrounds. For me, those conversations were one of the most memorable parts of the whole experience. They helped me become more confident, and they showed me that stepping out of my comfort zone can lead to amazing memories.
“Confidence is not about standing out; it is about standing yourself!”
One of the best parts of this experience was meeting so many fun, kind, and easy-going people. We laughed together, worked together, and even got tired together. It honestly felt like I had known them for much longer than just a few days! I’m especially grateful to Mr. Budi, Mr. Faisal, Mr. Erik, Mr. Wahyu, and Mr. Solihin. I’m really happy that I had the chance to meet them because they taught me so many things during the program. They showed me how to take care of different reptiles, not only turtles but also snakes and bearded dragons. Before this, I knew almost nothing about reptile care, so everything felt new and interesting. One thing that really surprised me was learning that some reptiles need their vitamin pellets to be softened before feeding them. I had never heard of that before, and I honestly thought it was so unique! Looking back, moments like that made the whole experience even more fun and memorable.
We also got the chance to film a campaign for Run for Animal. By the way, don’t forget to join us on 9 August 2026! It was such a fun experience. Of course, we were tired, it was hot, and we spent hours filming, but honestly, we enjoyed every moment of it. The funniest part was that we all wore different animal costumes to represent Indonesia’s amazing wildlife. It looked a little silly at first, but once we started filming, everyone gave their best.
“Amazing people = Amazing memories!”
Jagat Satwa Nusantara also has many great programs, and one of them is the Junior Zoo Keeper program. During my volunteer work, I had the chance to help the children who joined this activity, and it became one of my favorite moments. The kids were so smart, curious, and full of questions. They were really excited to learn about reptiles, and it was amazing to see how interested they were. Some of them were a little nervous at first, but after seeing and learning more about the animals, they became much more confident
Helping them made me happy because I wasn’t just taking care of the animals, I was also helping children discover and appreciate wildlife!
Looking back, I’m really thankful that I decided to join this program. What started as something I never thought about turned into one of my favorite experiences this year. If I had the chance, I would definitely do it all over again.