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Celebrating Women in Science

International Day of Women and Girls in Science was created to recognise the critical role women play in science and technology. The day is an opportunity to promote equal access and participation in science.

Durrell is proud to have so many inspirational women working around the world to save species from extinction. We gave our Instagram followers the chance to ask several of Durrell’s women in science some questions.

Name: Dr. Becca Young
Job title: Conservation Impact Manager
Location: UK
What my job involves: Working with our field, zoo and science teams to understand how the work we are doing is impacting biodiversity.

What did you study to get into this role?

I studied Biology for my undergraduate degree at the University of Nottingham, and then I undertook a Masters of Research (MRes) in Parasite Ecology, also at the University of Nottingham. I then completed a PhD at Cardiff University which combined my interests in parasitology and conservation, looking at the role of diet and parasites in the decline of the European turtle dove.

What advice would you give your younger self about working towards a career in science?

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and ask people about potential opportunities. People are often very willing to help where they can. The worst that could happen is people say no, they don’t have anything available, but you might open doors. My first experience with Durrell was an internship during my PhD, which would never have happened if I hadn’t approached Carl Jones when he was visiting my university to give a lecture and asked him if there were any possible opportunities.

Name: Dr. Debjani Borah
Job title: Community Biosecurity Project Officer, Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme
Location: India
What my job involves: Health, care, and management of pygmy hogs in the pre-release centre and African Swine Fever and biosecurity awareness education in local communities.

What was your career path to get into this role?

I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry in 2020, followed by a Master’s degree in Veterinary Parasitology in 2022 from the College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam. I was always excited about wildlife. With a desire to work in this field, I initially joined the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme in 2023 as an intern. Under the mentorship of Dr Parag J Deka, the Director of the Programme, this internship really helped me understand the field of wildlife conservation. After the completion of the 4-month internship, I was grateful to be offered a full-time role which gave me a wonderful platform to grow in my career.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

The biggest challenge is engaging with the community. Building trust and educating them on biosecurity to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever among domestic and wild pigs, including pygmy hogs, requires a significant amount of time, effort, patience and understanding. Despite these challenges, seeing the small wins and making a positive impact on the survival of this species makes it all worthwhile.

Name: Elodie Rahantasoa
Job title: Responsible Reforestation
Location: Madagascar
What my job involves: Reforestation activities in the Lake Sofia area to help restore degraded forest and reduce soil erosion.

What do you love about your job?

I love the direct contact with nature and bringing the history of a place to life through the planting of trees to create the forest again.

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

In my role, I take part in fieldwork, which includes installation of the plant nursery, planting saplings, attending village meetings to carry out public consultations, and raising awareness on the importance of the environment – especially the protection of the remaining forest, the importance of forest reforestation, and fire management. When I am in the office, I typically check emails, send reports, write various documents, and attend online meetings.

Name: Chloe Allen
Job title: Senior Bird Keeper
Location: Jersey Zoo
What my job involves: My job involves the care of a variety of bird species - mainly songbirds and pigeons.

What qualifications or experience did you have to become a bird keeper?

I studied BSc Animal Management, and between my second and third year, I took a summer internship in the bird department at Jersey Zoo. I then returned after I’d finished university to do what was meant to be a year’s internship split between the three animal departments. However, I was offered a paid job in the bird department three months later, where I've been for the last 8 years.

What is your favourite species that you work with?

It’s so hard to choose one species! I think I'd have to go with our wrinkled hornbills. They are really intelligent birds. We currently have five at the zoo, and they have such different personalities and will react to the same situation or stimulus totally differently. It's been great getting to know them all and their individual quirks over the years! But Montserrat orioles and red-tailed laughing thrush would be close runners-up. Even rounding down a top three was difficult. They're all amazing in their own ways!