Vantara: Anant Ambani's Wildlife Initiative

If you switch on any news channel today, you're likely to hear about Anant Ambani, the younger son of Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, and his ambitious wildlife preservation endeavor, Vantara.

So, what exactly is Vantara?

Anant Ambani recently unveiled Vantara, a project he conceptualized. Serving as a director on the boards of RIL and Reliance Foundation, Anant named the initiative "Vantara," which means "star of the forest." Its primary objective is to rescue, treat, care for, and rehabilitate injured, abused, and endangered animals, both in India and abroad.

In a recent interview, Anant Ambani shared that the Vantara center spans over 3000 acres within the Reliance Jamnagar Refinery complex, housing more than 2000 animals across 43 species. Over the past year alone, the program has rescued over 200 elephants and thousands of other animals, reptiles, and birds from precarious situations. 

Moreover, the new center boasts advanced facilities including modern healthcare, hospitals, research, and educational centers. It also collaborates with renowned animal conservation organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF).

According to a press release by Reliance Foundation, the Vantara center for elephants currently shelters over 200 elephants and cares for more than 500 individuals, including veterinarians, biologists, pathologists, nutritionists, and naturalists. The center features a 25,000 square feet elephant hospital, one of the world's largest, and a specialized 14,000 square feet kitchen dedicated to preparing tailored diets for each elephant.

Additionally, there's a rescue and rehabilitation center spanning 650 acres within the Jamnagar Refinery, with 200 personnel caring for 200 rescued leopards, 100 crocodiles, and other animals and reptiles. The center also houses a 100,000 square feet hospital and medical research center.

In a recent interview, Anand Ambani emphasized that the initiative aims to provide a better life and hope to over 200 elephants, more than 300 larger felines such as leopards, tigers, lions, and Jaguars, as well as 300 herbivores including deer, and over 1200 reptiles like crocodiles, snakes, and turtles.