Page 58 - HSBC NYAA Youth Environmental Award 25th Anniversary

Sankar Ananthanarayanan

Sankar is a National University of Singapore graduate,
he co-founded the Herpetological Society of Singapore
(HSS), a key organisation dedicated to studying and
conserving reptiles and amphibians.

Through HSS, Sankar has mentored numerous
volunteers to become proficient nature guides,
surveyors, and naturalists. His monthly guided nature
walks through Singapore's diverse habitats, such as the
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and MacRitchie TreeTop
Walk. These walks serve as a platform to dispel common
misconceptions about reptiles and amphibians while
nurturing a culture of respect and curiosity for the
lesser-known aspects of Singapore's wildlife.
Sankar Ananthanarayanan
PhD Student and Graduate Tutor,
Sankar's influence extends beyond Singapore, where his National University of Singapore
international conservation efforts include conducting
fieldwork in Sri Lanka's Sinharaja Forest Reserve and In collaboration with the Lee Kong Chian Natural History
Yala Nature Reserve. Museum, Sankar also contributed to discovering and
describing a new frog species, Subaraj's Paddy Frog
Sankar has played pivotal roles in advancing (Micryletta subaraji), showcasing his deep involvement in
herpetological research and awareness on a global scale. expanding scientific knowledge of regional biodiversity.
He co-organised the symposium on Changing Community
Perceptions of Herpetofauna at the World Congress Sankar, alongside fellow environmental advocate Woo
of Herpetology (WCH10) in Malaysia, contributing Qiyun, co-hosts the podcast Climate Cheesecake,
to reshaping public attitudes towards reptiles and which aims to demystify complex environmental
amphibians. His research contributions were recognised issues by breaking them down into accessible, easy-to-
at WCH9 and WCH10, where his research posters on the understand terms for everyday listeners. The podcast
python diet and reptile population recovery in Singapore has successfully aired for two seasons, providing an
won Best Poster awards. engaging platform for raising awareness and fostering
understanding of critical sustainability topics among a
Sankar's leadership extends to his role in editing and wider audience.
publishing the Singapore Terrestrial Conservation
Plan (STCP). This groundbreaking community-driven Sankar's contributions to biodiversity conservation and
initiative consolidated the collective knowledge and public education were honoured with the 2018 HSBC
recommendations of environmental academics and NYAA Youth Environmental Award. As he pursues a
stakeholders. Launched in 2024 and submitted to PhD in Biological Sciences at the National University of
Singapore's Minister for National Development, the Singapore, focusing on reptile extinctions and potential
STCP is a critical document influencing terrestrial and reintroductions, Sankar continues to blend rigorous
freshwater ecosystem conservation policy. research with his vision of building a society that
respects and protects its natural environment.

56 The Journey of Sustainability: 25 Years and Beyond