Pandemics and the exploitation of wildlife — what’s the connection?

The origin of Covid-19 is believed to be a market selling live wild animals. Eco-Business asked Anbarasi Boopal of Singapore-based animal welfare charity Acres about the link between the exploitation of animals and pandemics, and what can be done to curb the illegal wildlife trade.

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, which is believed to have started in a wet market in Wuhan, China, has drawn global attention to the potential consequences of exploiting wildlife.

Singapore is one of the world’s most important hubs for the wildlife trade, and local animal welfare charity Acres, short for Animal Concerns Research & Education Society, campaigns for tougher measures to curb the trade in wild animals, as well as an end to the sale of live wild animals in wet markets.

Anbarasi Boopal, deputy chief executive, Acres

Anbarasi Boopal, deputy chief executive, Acres

In this video tour of Singapore’s only wildlife rescue centre, Acres deputy chief executive Anbarasi Boopal talks about the extent of the illegal wildlife trade in Singapore and Southeast Asia, explores the link between wildlife trafficking and disease outbreaks, and shares what can be done to tackle an illicit industry worth US$26 billion a year.

This video was produced by Irene Sánchez-Prieto for the Singapore Eco Film Festival.

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