International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026
11 February 2026
To mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re shining the (operating theatre) light on the amazing women that make up the majority of our veterinary teams.
Whilst our Veterinary Nurse, Anne Karvinen; Veterinary Support Manager, Theresa Ruellan; and Veterinary Surgeon, Violaine Colon are all based at Jersey Zoo, we also have vets based in our field sites, such as our Madagascar based vets Natacha Rasolozaka and Ravo Rakoto; and one of our Assam based vets, Dr Debjani Borah.
We want to inspire more women to consider a career in veterinary science, so we asked Anne, Theresa, Violaine, Ravo and Debjani to tell us about their roles, what inspires them, and what advice they have to give other women wanting to give it a go.
What do you do day-to-day?
Anne: As a zoo veterinary nurse I’m involved with the day to day running of the veterinary centre from monitoring anaesthesia for a variety of species and assisting with any procedures happening on the day to working in the on-site laboratory and anything in between!
Theresa: My role is diverse. It ranges from monitoring animals undergoing anaesthesia, assisting the vets during procedures, or carrying out medical procedures delegated to me by a vet. I also deal with any diagnostic samples, for instance bloods, swabs and faecal samples, by processing them either in our own laboratory, or for more specialist tests, sending them away. I also take part in meetings to discuss clinical cases with the animal keepers and am involved in making sure we are continually improving our welfare standards using an evidence-based approach. There is also a good amount of time spent at my desk arranging paperwork, maintaining accurate medical records and complying with all statutory legislations involved in running a veterinary department.
Violaine: I am one of the veterinary surgeons at Durrell, so when I am in Jersey and working at the zoo, my days can vary a lot from anesthetising a 191kg Aldabra tortoise, treating a gorilla or examining a 10g bird. I also have days with meetings to keep in touch with the field team abroad and within the zoo. There are also office days for paperwork, research and scientific writing. I also visit several of our field site including Madagascar, Montserrat and St Lucia supporting the different projects and captive population.
Debjani: My day-to-day work involves monitoring of Pygmy hogs in both the breeding and pre-release units with close attention to their nutrition, enrichments, health status, and welfare. It requires routine health monitoring, disease surveillance, preventive care, ensuring strict biosecurity measures and overall management of the centre.
What’s your favourite part of the job?
Anne: I like to do a variety of things, but I do weirdly enjoy looking at various parasites and blood smears through the microscope.
Ravo: Surgery, because it is my passion. I also enjoy analysing data, which allows me to measure the impact of our actions and better guide our decisions.
Theresa: In this job, there is never a time where you’re not discovering something new. With so many different species to care for, together with the world of veterinary science ever evolving, every day is a school day!
Violaine: I really feel that through this job and my participation in field work, I can contribute to the conservation of the species that Durrell work with. One example is the St Lucia racer project where the racers require intense veterinary intervention that has a direct impact on our ability to save the species.
Debjani: The favourite part of my job is quietly observing the Pygmy hogs from a distance and watching their natural behaviour unfold, such as foraging, wallowing, grooming, eating and building nests. These moments not only provide valuable behavioural insights but are also deeply calming. The Pre-Release centre itself is a very peaceful, nature-immersed space and spending time there makes the work especially grounding. Beyond this, being directly involved in hands-on conservation and knowing that the care provided at the centre plays a crucial role in the survival and successful reintroduction of an endangered species in the wild is incredibly fulfilling.
What might people not know about working in veterinary services?
Anne: We’ve recently started doing physiotherapy with some of the Aldabra tortoises and it’s been nice to get to know them better and seeing them willingly participate in the process.
Ravo: Our work is not limited to technical interventions: we also analyse data and train staff on-site. Even if I don’t have all the answers, sharing my knowledge is very important to me.
Theresa: There are endless opportunities for research, especially with the weird and wonderful species at the zoo. This includes evidence-based nursing, contributing to scientific papers, creating posters to present at conferences, or obtaining normal physiological ranges for healthy animals to name a few.
Debjani: One interesting aspect about my role is the level of biosecurity I need to ensure to safeguard the Pygmy hogs from the deadly viral African Swine Fever. The Pre-Release centre is divided into different zones including sanitization, controlled and restricted areas, each designed to minimise the risk of disease transmission, following the Swiss cheese model. Each zone has designated foot dips, tools and equipment, separate sets of slippers and clothing. We also undertake a regular biosecurity evaluation of staff every three months. These measures may seem small and repetitive, but they are very critical layers of protection for the endangered Pygmy hogs.
What/who inspired you to get into this field of work?
Ravo: My childhood in the countryside, where we often relied on local veterinarians, and my love for nature guided me toward conservation and veterinary medicine.
Debjani: I have loved nature and wildlife since childhood, spending hours watching the documentaries of Sir David Attenborough and doing paintings inspired by nature. The Pygmy Hog Breeding Centre in Basistha sparked my interest in wildlife conservation. After my Master’s, I joined the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme as an intern. Working under the supervision and guidance of the Project Director, Dr. Parag Deka was had a big influence on me. I learned not only about practical conservation but also about the dedication and vision required for long-term success; lessons that I continue to build on every day. I was also inspired by the work of Gerald Durrell and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Their philosophy of science, compassion and commitment in protecting the small but mighty endangered species and their habitats motivated me to continue working in conservation and shaped my career path.
Violaine: I wanted to work in conservation since I was a child, I don’t really remember where this idea came from. After a lot of years of unsuccessful application to zoo jobs, I almost gave up on my dream until I got the job at Durrell. So, it is never too late!
Anne: I studied Linguistics originally but was drawn to working with wildlife and ended up spending a decade as a keeper looking after wild animals. I was always interested in the veterinary side of things and tried to get involved as much as I could. Eventually I decided to train as a veterinary nurse and afterwards was lucky enough to get a job at Durrell where I can combine the things I’m interested in and hopefully contribute to bigger picture conservation efforts, as well as help to improve the health and wellbeing of the resident animals at Jersey Zoo.
Do you have any advice for girls wanting to pursue a similar career?
Debjani: Don’t be afraid to take unconventional paths. People might suggest that working in wildlife is tough for girls, and sometimes it might be. But if you have deep love for nature and wildlife, the rewards far outweigh the challenges. Be curious, resilient and determined and definitely ask questions, try new things and always seek mentors who inspire and guide you. Remember that there are wonderful people who are ready to teach and support you. Learning from them will help you grow both professionally and personally.
Anne: Get as much wildlife experience as you can by volunteering. Wild animal nursing is a niche field, and jobs don’t come up very often so seeing different places and working with different species is invaluable.
Ravo: Always do what you need to do so you never have regrets. Let's not tire ourselves trying to equal men in certain physical aspects (despite my suffragette spirit!) We can match them in intelligence, mental endurance, and determination.
Theresa: Opportunities in this field can sometimes feel scarce, so my advice would be to just enjoy the journey whilst keeping your eyes on the prize. Gain your qualifications and perfect your veterinary nursing skills, whilst also networking and building experience working with wildlife and exotic species when chances arise.
Violaine: Zoological and conservation positions are very competitive and very few and far between. Your first few years should be focusing on becoming a vet by working on domestic animals, these skills can then be transferred to zoo/wild species. Be prepared to volunteer in local zoos, wildlife rescue centres and network at conferences. Also, be realistic about what it means to be a zoo/field vet as a lot of people romanticise the idea and might not realise the reality of the job.”