Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation, on Monday, announced the launch of Vantara, an Animal Rescue, Care, Conservation and Rehabilitation programme, within the Green Belt of Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery Complex in Gujarat.
The centre, spread over 3,000 acres, aims to focus on the rescue, treatment, care and rehabilitation of animals that have been ill-treated, endangered or injured, in India as well as abroad. The facility houses about 50-60 endangered species of rescued animals, according to media reports. A dedicated team of 3,000 people are taking care of the animals.
Anant Ambani, son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, said this is his passion project.
The first-of-its-kind animal rescue and conservation programme in the country, Vantara houses a veterinary hospital with state-of-the-art technology. "The hospital has MRI & CT scan machines, endoscopic robotic surgery machines and six surgical centres. We also put prosthetics for the animals at the hospital here," Anant Ambani said.
He said he drew inspiration from his mother to begin such an initiative. "In the Hindu religion, it is said that animals are dear to the gods. This also inspired me to open this animal rescue and rehabilitation centre."
Noting that a 600-acre area has been developed as a natural habitat for elephants, he said they have already saved 200 elephants and brought them to the centre.
"We started the wildlife rescue center building in the peak of Covid. We have created a jungle of 600 acres. We created an entire habitat for the elephants and in 2008, we rescued our first elephant."
"What you have seen is 8-10 per cent of my vision. My vision is that in Jamnagar, we would like to be the world's most advanced wildlife institute, and we would also like to conserve and breed critically endangered species and release them back into their habitat," he added.