Acres co-CEO, a 'powerhouse' in wildlife rescue, steps down

Tireless advocate hopes to work on policies on welfare of farmed animals next

- Chin Hui Shan

After close to two decades of being an advocate for wildlife and caring for them at the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), Ms Anbarasi Boopal has packed up her bags to take a break.

The 42-year-old officially stepped down as co-chief executive of the wildlife rescue group on April 30.

Ms Boopal hopes to take some time off in the next few months, but told The Sunday Times she next hopes to work on policies on the welfare of farmed animals.

"Nature makes me feel at peace, so the peace is lost when I see nature suffering," she said in an interview on April 21 at the Acres Wildlife Rescue Centre in Sungei Tengah.

"When I see animals suffering, I find it very unfair."

Ms Boopal is known among the nature community for her passion for animals and her deep conviction in advocating their rights, giving talks on human-wildlife coexistence, and taking part in biodiversity events.

No animal is too small or unimportant, and she has spoken up for all sorts of creatures, from well-loved pangolins, to the pythons and pigeons that many people complain about.

The Singapore permanent resident from Tamil Nadu in India has also contributed to efforts to tackle the illegal wildlife trade here.

For example, Ms Boopal oversaw the repatriation of 51 illegally trafficked Indian star tortoises back to India in 2018. The tortoises, coveted for their star-patterned shells, were rescued from a variety of places in Singapore, from homes to the briefcases of smugglers.

She also helped to expose the trade in alleged tiger parts being illegally sold in jewellery shops here in 2010.

Her journey with Acres started in 2005, when she was a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in environmental management at NUS.

Ms Boopal - more affectionately known as Anbu - had found an Indian star tortoise that was being kept illegally in a backyard, and informed Acres about it.