A job I'd really love to do in the future is to become a wildlife veterinarian, working with injured and orphaned animals rather than with pets. At the moment I'm nineteen and studying biology at university in Chennai, so it's still a few years away.
It needs a lot of training. First I'd have to complete a veterinary science degree, which takes about five years, and then I'd want some specialist experience with larger animals, maybe at a rescue centre or a national park. Apart from the science, you need patience, physical stamina and the ability to stay calm when an animal is frightened and possibly dangerous.
To prepare, I've already started volunteering on Sundays at a small animal shelter near my home. It's mostly cleaning and feeding, but I've watched the vets treat dogs and once a monkey that had been hit by a car. I'm also trying to improve my English, because many of the best courses and conferences abroad are taught in English.
The main reason I want this job is that I grew up near a forest area where I often saw animals hurt by roads or electric wires, and nobody seemed to be responsible for helping them. It always bothered me. I'd like to be the person who actually does something. I also think wildlife vets have a growing role, because as cities spread into forests, conflicts between people and animals are increasing. It won't be well paid, and my parents would prefer me to be a doctor, but I think I'd find it far more meaningful.