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Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation today announced the Vantara Program – a comprehensive initiative focused on the rescue, treatment, care and rehabilitation of injured, persecuted and endangered animals in India and around the world. Spread over 3000 acres within the greenbelt at Reliance's Jamnagar Refinery complex in Gujarat, Vantara aims to become one of the leading providers of conservation efforts globally. Working with leading animal husbandry and welfare experts, Vantara has transformed the vast space of 3000 acres into a natural, rich, green and lush habitat like a forest for the rescued animals to live happily.
India's unique Vantara initiative was conceived and implemented under the enthusiastic leadership of Anant Ambani, Director of the Board of RIL and Reliance Foundation. Ambani is also leading Reliance's ambitious renewable energy business in Jamnagar, and in that capacity, is leading Reliance's journey to become a net carbon zero company by 2035.
Vantara focuses on setting the best animal protection and care practices within its range, including state-of-the-art health care, hospitals, research and educational centres. In its programmes, Vanatara also focuses on integrating cutting-edge research and collaborating with prestigious international universities and organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF).
Over the years, the program has rescued more than 200 elephants and thousands of other animals, reptiles and birds from unsafe conditions. The initiative has also involved rehabilitation of key species including rhinos, leopards and crocodiles.
Recently, Vanatara has also participated in overseas rescue operations in countries like Mexico, Venezuela etc. Several large animals have recently been brought there in response to a plea for help from a Central American zoo authority. All such rescue and rehabilitation missions are conducted under strict legal and regulatory framework in India and internationally.
Speaking on the occasion, Anant Ambani said, “What started as a passion for me at a very young age has now become a mission with Vantara and our talented and committed team. “We are focused on protecting critically endangered species native to India.” Seek to restore critical habitats and address immediate threats to species and establish forestry as a leading conservation program. We are glad that our efforts have been recognized in India and internationally.
Some of the top zoologists and medical experts from India and the world have joined our mission and we are fortunate to have active support and guidance from government bodies, research and academic institutions. Vantara aims to partner with the Zoo Authority of India and other relevant government organizations to improve infrastructure in terms of training, capacity building and animal care across all 150-plus zoos in India. “We hope Vantara will continue to be a beacon of hope globally and show how an organization with innovative ideas can help drive global biodiversity conservation initiatives.”
Explaining the philosophy that inspired him to establish Vantara, Ambani said, “Vantara combines the age-old ethical value of compassion with the excellence of modern scientific and technological professionalism. I see Jeev Seva (caring for animals) as a service to God and humanity.
Vantara has a center for elephants and facilities for lions and other large and small species including tigers, crocodiles, leopards etc.
elephant center
The center for elephants at Vanatara is spread over a 3000-acre campus with state-of-the-art shelters, scientifically designed day and night enclosures, hydrotherapy pools, reservoirs and a giant elephant Jacuzzi for treating elephants' arthritis. The center is home to over 200 elephants where they are looked after around the clock by a specialized and trained staff of over 500, including veterinarians, biologists, pathologists, nutritionists and naturalists.
The center houses the world's largest elephant hospital of 25,000 square feet, equipped with portable X-ray machines, laser machines for various treatments, fully equipped pharmacy, pathology for all diagnostic tests, imported elephants for diagnosis Equipped with restraining devices, hydraulic pulley and crane, hydraulic. Equipped with surgical table and hyperbaric oxygen chamber for elephants. The hospital performs cataract and endoscopic guided surgeries (with first of its kind specially designed endoscopy equipment) and is capable of performing any necessary surgeries.
The center has a special kitchen of over 14000 square feet dedicated to preparing specially selected diets for each elephant keeping in mind their most essential physical needs including their oral health. The center also uses Ayurvedic techniques to care for the elephants, with Ayurvedic therapists working around the clock to treat the elephants with treatments ranging from hot oil massage to multani mitti.
Rescue and Rehabilitation Center
A rescue and rehabilitation center has been developed in 650 acres out of 3000 acres for wild animals deployed in circuses or overcrowded zoos, where animals rescued from torturous and dangerous environments from India and across the world are housed in state-of-the-art large enclosures And shelter.
Center rescued 200 injured leopards
With a staff strength of over 2100, the rescue and rehabilitation center has rescued around 200 leopards from across India injured in road accidents or human-wildlife conflicts. The Center has rescued over 1000 crocodiles from overcrowded facilities in Tamil Nadu. The center has rescued animals from hunting grounds in Africa, those at risk of euthanasia in Slovakia, and seriously ill animals from facilities in Mexico.
The center has a one lakh square feet hospital and medical research centre. This hospital and research center has OROne technology for ICU, MRI, CT Scan, X-ray, Ultrasound, Endoscopy, Dental Scaler, Lithotripsy, Dialysis, Surgery and Live Video Conference for Blood Plasma Separator.
More than 2000 animals of 43 species are under the care of the rescue and rehabilitation centre. The Center has launched a Conservation Breeding Program of seven Indian and foreign species of endangered species with the aim of creating reserve numbers of these endangered species so that they can be reestablished in their native habitats to save them from extinction. Today the Vanatara ecosystem has given life and hope to 200 elephants, over 300 leopards, tigers, lions, jaguars etc., over 300 herbivores like deer and over 1200 reptiles like crocodiles, snakes and turtles.
Law enforcement in rescue and exchange
All rescued animals are brought to Vantara after obtaining prior approval from the Central Zoo Authority as well as the Chief Wildlife Warden of the concerned State in accordance with the provisions of the Zoo Rules, 2009 as well as the provisions established under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 . , All animal exchanges are done after obtaining permission/permission from the Central Zoo Authority. Vantara has also responded to exchange requests from other organizations in India and abroad. Such animals are brought after obtaining necessary approvals from the Central Zoo Authority, Ministry of Forest-Environment and Climate Change, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
National and International Cooperation
The Vanatara program has benefited greatly from working closely with international organizations such as the Venezuelan National Foundation of Zoos, as well as from partnerships with prestigious organizations such as the Smithsonian and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In India, it works in collaboration with institutions like National Zoological Park, Assam State Zoo, Nagaland Zoological Park, Sardar Patel Zoological Park etc.
Education and Awareness
Maximum emphasis has also been laid on close collaboration with educational institutions including exchange of knowledge and resources under Vantara initiative to increase awareness about animal husbandry among the people, especially youth and children. Under this, a modern and futuristic, climate-controlled enclosure has been built to view some of the animals, setting new standards in compassionate and caring work.
Green area
Vantara strongly believes in the complementary approach of animal rescue and conservation and the concept of greening the Reliance Refinery areas is being realized under the Vantara programme, thousands of acres of land has been greened so far .