The scion of the Reliance industry, Anant Ambani, has shown that he possesses a compassionate heart for the sorrows of animals. This passion has led him to create something that was certainly unexpected by many. 'Vantara' is one such initiative by Anant where a sprawling 3000 acres of space has been converted into a jungle-like environment that mimics the natural, enriching, lush, and verdant habitat for rescued species to thrive in.
Vantara has a sophisticated facility to scientifically and lovingly nurture elephants that were beaten, burnt, mentally depressed, physically unfit, abandoned, injured, tortured, or aged.
The Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Trust started in 2010, and currently has over 200 elephants who have access to hundreds of acres of jungle, appropriate accommodations, 45 hydrotherapy ponds, walking and grazing tracks, portable sonography, and x-ray machines, among other things. There is a full-fledged 25,000 sq ft elephant hospital with facilities like endoscopy, CT scan, hydraulic crane, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and restraining device.
The well-trained veterinarians perform surgeries to help elephants recover from their ailments. There are a total of 300 Mahavats, 9 specialist trainers from the Philippines, several junior and senior Veterinary doctors, and nutritionists who take care of the health of these elephants.
Anant Ambani in a recently released video, said that ‘if any elephant is in trouble anywhere in India, our rescue team will reach there to help the animal.’
Anant, who knows every elephant by name, spends a considerable amount of time at the facility caring for these elephants.
He says that this is ‘not a Prani Sangrahalay but a Prani Sevalay’.
Vantara also rescues animals in problems from around the world and rehabilitates them in a conducive environment under the Green Zoological Rescue Trust.
The facility currently houses thousands of animals, reptiles, and birds from 100+ species, which also includes 5 endangered ones.
They are rescued from circuses, congested zoos, animal shows, captivities, accidents, etc. These animals are provided with the exact natural habitat, medical treatments, and an opportunity to live their lives freely.
Here also there is a world-best veterinary hospital with the World’s best animal ICUs, Operation Theatres, 40 wildlife ambulances, a live vaccine-making facility, robotics, and a team of intensivists, radiologists, senior doctors, research professionals, professors, and 96 lab technicians. Surgeries are performed by surgeons and robotics in live consultation with expert doctors from the USA.
With a staff strength of about 2100+, the rescue and rehabilitation Centre has rescued about 200 leopards from all over India which have suffered injuries in road accidents or man-wild conflicts.
It has rescued over 1000 crocodiles from a severely overcrowded and congested facility in Tamil Nadu. It has rescued animals from hunting lodges in Africa, animals under threat of euthanasia in Slovakia, severely distressed animals from facilities in Mexico.
Anant’s passion for animals was first experienced by the family when he rescued 400 chickens with the help of his grandfather and nurtured them in his backyard. At the age of 10, he was a caregiver to 18 cows in his home. Soon Anant will have the credit to put Jamnagar on the map as the ‘Animal Rescue Capital of the World’.