Reliance’s Animal Welfare Initiative ‘Vantara’ Unveiled by Anant Ambani

On the 26 of February 2024, Reliance Industries and the Reliance Foundation launched the ‘Vantara’ program (the star of the forest program). It will focus on the rescue, rehabilitation, treatment, and care of injured, abused, threatened, or vulnerable animals in India and abroad. The initiative is the brainchild of Anant Ambani, who is a director on the boards of RIL and the Reliance Foundation. 

"What started as a passion for me at a very young age has become a mission now with Vantara and our brilliant and committed team. We are focused on protecting critically endangered species native to India," said Ambani to news agency ANI. "We also want to restore vital habitats address urgent threats to species and establish Vantara as a leading-edge conservation programme. We are delighted that our efforts have been recognised in India and internationally," he added.

Anant Ambani also shared that a selection of top zoological & medical experts from India and the world abroad have joined the Vantara mission, with the program collaborating with different government bodies, educational institutions, and research institutions. He also detailed plans for the future, wherein Vantara aims to partner with the Zoo Authority of India and other government institutions to improve the quality of the 150-odd zoos in the country concerning training, animal capacity, and animal care infrastructure.  

A space of 3000 acres within the Green Belt of Reliance's Jamnagar Refinery Complex in Gujarat has been converted into a habitat under the Vantara project, which aims to mirror a jungle-like environment and create a lush and serene environment for rescued animal species where they can thrive. 

A Brief Overview of the Vantara Programme 

The Vantara programme involves collaboration with many international organizations and universities dealing with animal rescue, preservation, and rehabilitation, with organizations like the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), as reported by ANI. 

Over the last few years, the Vantara venture has saved thousands of animals from dangerous situations, including birds, and reptiles, even rescuing 200 elephants too. Aside from their rescue missions, they've also taken rehabilitative measures for animal species like rhinos, crocodiles, and leopards. These missions have been both in India, as well as overseas in countries like Mexico and Venezuela. 

The Vantara programme has worked and collaborated with international animal organizations in India and abroad, with some of them including the Venezuelan National Foundation of Zoos and by associating with reputed organisations worldwide like the Smithsonian and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums; in India, it collaborates with the National Zoological Park, Assam State Zoo, Nagaland Zoological Park, Sardar Patel Zoological Park and many more.