Anant Ambani’s Vantara: From elephants to tigers, over 2000 rescued animals find state-of-the-art home
Sprawled within the green belt of Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery Complex in Gujarat, the Vantara ecosystem comprises of a 3,000 acres Elephant Centre, which is home to over rescued 200 elephants, as well as ‘Green Zoological Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre’, which is home to over 2,000 animals across 43 species.
The story of Deva, the nine-year-old leopard, highlights both the plight of endangered wildlife and the dedicated efforts of individuals and organizations like Vantara in wildlife conservation and rehabilitation.
Deva’s ordeal, trapped in a metal wire snare for two days, underscores the threats faced by animals due to human activities like hunting and habitat destruction. However, thanks to the swift response of the forest department and the intervention of Vantara’s team of vets and experts, Deva received timely treatment, ultimately leading to his recovery.
Vantara’s initiative, spearheaded by Anant Ambani, reflects a commitment to protecting endangered species native to India and restoring their habitats. The comprehensive approach of Vantara encompasses not only rescue and rehabilitation but also conservation efforts aimed at addressing the urgent threats to wildlife.
The Vantara ecosystem, situated within the green belt of Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery Complex in Gujarat, is a testament to the integration of industrial operations with wildlife conservation. The Elephant Centre, spanning 3,000 acres and home to over 200 rescued elephants, and the Green Zoological Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre, housing over 2,000 animals across 43 species, represent significant strides in wildlife protection.
Crucially, Vantara operates within the legal framework established by the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and adheres to the guidelines set forth by the Chief Wildlife Wardens and the Central Zoo Authority. This ensures that its conservation efforts are conducted ethically and with the necessary approvals.
While the elephant centre remains closed to the public, the rescue and rehabilitation centre is poised to serve as an educational resource for institutions, fostering greater awareness of conservation issues among the public. Moreover, Anant Ambani’s plans for a 500-acre zoological facility, slated to open to the public in the future, signal further expansion of Vantara’s reach and impact in wildlife conservation.
In essence, Vantara exemplifies how private initiatives can complement governmental efforts in safeguarding endangered species and preserving biodiversity, ultimately contributing to the sustainable coexistence of humans and wildlife.
Elephant Centre
Anant Ambani’s Vantara: From elephants to tigers, over 2000 rescued animals find state-of-the-art home
Rescued from all over the country, over 200 elephants — injured or rescued from unfortunate situations like circuses — walk the swathes, alongside their mahouts, of the 3000-acre forest, which was a barren parcel until 1998.
Besides state-of-the-art shelters, scientifically designed day and night enclosures, hydrotherapy pools, water bodies, ayurveda treatment sections & a large elephant jacuzzi for treating arthritis in elephants, the centre is also home to a 25,000 sq ft elephant hospital, one of the largest in the world.
Keeping in mind their most necessary physical needs including their oral health, the nutrition of each elephant is curated by professor Dr Petra Wolf, a renowned expert roped in from Germany last year, who is now leading a team of five nutritionists from India to prepare the food for the rescued elephants, in a special kitchen of over 14,000 sq ft.
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Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre
Tigers rescued from the hunting lodges of South Africa, Pygmy hippos brought in from Sri Lanka while the country was undergoing a financial crisis, over 1,000 crocodiles from a severely overcrowded and congested facility in Tamil Nadu, 200 leopards from all over India, which have suffered injuries in road accidents or man-wild conflicts, lions — these are some of the animals rehabilitated at the 650-acre centre.
The animals within — as well as those rescued from accidents and brought in after recommendations — receive treatment at a hospital spanning one lakh sq ft, possessing the most advanced technology such as ICU, MRI, CT scan, X-ray, ultrasound, endoscopy units amongst others.
Goals, going forward
Having given a fresh lease of life to many animals, birds and reptiles, Vantara is eyeing to partner with the Zoo Authority of India and other relevant government organisations in improving all the 150-plus zoos in India in terms of training, capacity building and animal care infrastructure. “We hope Vantara becomes a beacon of hope globally and can showcase how a forward-thinking institution can help the global biodiversity conservation initiatives,” said Anant Ambani.
Anant Ambani’s Vantara: From elephants to tigers, over 2000 rescued animals find state-of-the-art home
