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Ma Ya, 25, from Jiangsu province, claimed that her new employment offers her a more active lifestyle and is rewarding in terms of experience.
Ma Ya is researching animal diet and disease treatment. {representative image}
A Chinese woman with a postgraduate degree from the University of Cambridge abandoned a lucrative position at a biopharmaceutical business to work at the Shanghai Zoo. The 25-year-old from Jiangsu province claimed her new employment offers her a more active lifestyle and is rewarding in terms of experience. As per reports, while the average monthly compensation for the researcher was around 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) at her company, she makes approximately half that amount at the zoo.
In a conversation with the South China Morning Post, she explained that despite the reduction in pay, she has no regrets. Working at the zoo allows her to study animals up close, which aids her research into animal diet and disease treatment. “Animals have many magical behaviours, which unfold in front of me through day-to-day interactions,” she told the portal. She further stated that her position at the zoo has made her “healthier” since she enjoys an active lifestyle and no longer feels restricted to an office atmosphere.
The researcher has been working at the zoo full-time since February last year, caring for a variety of creatures such as elephants, hippos, monkeys, tigers, and red pandas. She currently tends to deer and goats. Ma Ya said that animals continue to surprise her with their behaviours. Sharing an example, she recalled an experiment in which researchers observed a red panda to see which paw it would use to retrieve food from a box. Instead, the animal startled them by using its mouth.
Sharing about her motivation to work at the zoo, Ma Ya stated, “Apart from feeding the animals, I have the opportunity to engage in comprehensive research on animal nutrition and the treatment of illnesses. I also aspire to refine my practical veterinary skills, enhancing the theoretical knowledge I gained during my studies.” On the other hand, she added that the animals at the zoo had taught her crucial lessons about bonding with them while respecting their untamed nature and instincts. Ma’s parents have been supportive of her professional choice.
Ma Ya has a bachelor’s degree in biological science from Imperial College London and a master’s in veterinary science from Cambridge.
- Location :
Delhi, India, India
