Eva Ruppel sits with two rescued puppies at her rural property near Kandy, Sri Lanka. Ruppel does not cage the approximate 170 rescued dogs living with her, allowing them freedom to roam and interact in small packs throughout her home and property. She created Tikiri Trust, with the financial assistance of her father, to rescue and re-home Sri Lanka's street dogs.
Eva Ruppel left Germany for a three-month visit to Sri Lanka, which included time in a Buddhist meditation retreat, and she remains in this island nation 37 years later.
Ruppel is fluent in German, English and Sinhala.