An underwater revelation led this Singaporean to quit a safe retailing career to nurture sea jellies
An underwater revelation led this Singaporean to quit a safe retailing career to nurture sea jellies
Ms Vivian Cavan, a lead animal care specialist at the Singapore Oceanarium, carefully transfers baby sea jellies, each barely larger than a grain of rice. “This doesn't even feel like work to me,” she said.
A diving trip she made in her 20s helped her discover a deep love for marine life. So when the aquarist opportunity arose a year later, she decided to give it a shot.
She started with no experience, and was initially placed in the coral and fish team before moving to sea jellies months later. She embarked on a journey of intense self-study learning to breed and care for fragile sea jellies in controlled habitats.
Ms Cavan also enters the water habitats for cleaning and maintenance, but even such menial tasks are more laborious and painstaking than in other habitats. Each jelly is made up of about 90 per cent water, and is thus easily damaged.
When it comes to the breeding of sea jellies, results are never guaranteed. "The whole team waits together, like a family outside a labour ward," said Ms Cavan.
