Otters, owls and campus cats: One student’s heartwarming shots of NTU wildlife
For mathematics PhD student and photography enthusiast Qin Jiaqi, NTU’s campus is full of wildlife surprises. See them through his lens as he shares the stories behind some of his favourite shots.
by Kwok Pei Fang / Photos by Qin Jiaqi
Jiaqi often walks across campus instead of taking the bus, camera in hand and eyes peeled for wildlife. Mathematics helps him behind the lens too: he draws on it to adjust ISO, aperture and shutter speed. An avid Sudoku solver and musician, Jiaqi (@noame_qin on Instagram) enjoys stretching his mind and expressing his creativity in other ways.
Jiaqi’s snap of a dragonfly has landed at the Nanyang Executive Centre. The shot is one of three of his photos on display there and was among the winners of NTU's photography and art competition last year.
Otterly attached
“The otters were the first wild animals I photographed at NTU that made me want to look closer. It is truly spectacular to find wild otters roaming right inside a university campus. Their playful nature, close family bonds and vocalisations fascinated me, and sparked my curiosity about the diverse wildlife that calls NTU home.”
We’ve got a good grip on this friendship
“I spotted these two plantain squirrels hanging upside down, almost as if they were holding hands. I’d never seen anything like it. Photographing them through the trees from a distance was tricky, but catching that moment made it worthwhile. I brought out the natural greens and blues in the photo to capture the peaceful vibe of Yunnan Garden.”
Always got your back
“This photo was taken at Hall 1, where two juvenile parakeets stayed for several days, unable to fly. I saw mynahs attacking them, yet they continued to support each other and stay close. They often looked towards the far side of the hill, as if eagerly awaiting the day they could take flight. I hope they are still together now.”
Sticking closely till fur-ther notice
“I took this last year, and it’s probably my most memorable shot. It’s of Dora and Boots, the ‘power duo’ of South Spine, who are among the campus cats lovingly cared for by the NTU community.
Knowing Boots was leaving for treatment for an injury and would be away for some time, I skipped dinner to photograph her and Dora. This photo of the campus cats is now my phone wallpaper. I love how they sit close together, looking in opposite directions, against a sky of blue and gold. It captures a hopeful moment from their last evening together before Boots left. Thankfully, they’re both back on campus now.”
Primal instincts
“Macaques can make us uneasy when they venture near our homes, But watching this family share a quiet moment at Hall 16, I was struck by how close they seemed – and how familiar that closeness felt.”
Life on campus is a hoot
“A friend spotted two owls near Hall 10 and Hall 11 one evening, so I went looking for them the next morning. I was lucky to find this pair of Spotted Wood Owls perched side by side. They were well hidden among the tall trees, and I had to find just the right angle to capture them.”
