Vantara-Reliance zoo-Anant Amban

Reliance Foundation, the non-profit arm of Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries has announced a new initiative to rescue and rehabilitate injured animals.

Called Vantara (Star of the Forest), the initiative was announced on Monday by Anant Ambani, one of the Directors on the boards of RIL and Reliance Foundation.

All You Need To Know About Vantara, The 3,000-Acre Animal Shelter Of Reliance
Reliance Foundation

A forest for rescued animals
Vantara is spread over 3,000 acres and located in Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery Complex, which is also the Green Belt Of Gujarat.

The area has been turned into a jungle-like environment that mimics the natural, enriching, lush, and verdant habitat for the rescued species to thrive in.

“Vantara is focused on creating best-in-class animal conservation and care practices including state-of-the-art healthcare, hospitals, research and academic centres. Within its programmes, Vantara also focuses on integrating advanced research and collaboration with reputed international universities and organisations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF),” the company said in a statement.

All You Need To Know About Vantara, The 3,000-Acre Animal Shelter Of Reliance
Reliance Foundation

Not just elephants
It said that the programme has rescued over 200 elephants, and thousands of other animals, reptiles and birds from unsafe situations over the last few years. It has also taken initiatives in species including rhino, leopard and crocodile rehabilitation.

The rescued animals were brought after obtaining prior approval of the Chief Wildlife Wardens of the respective states and the Central Zoo Authority as per provisions laid under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the recognition Zoo rules, 2009.

All You Need To Know About Vantara, The 3,000-Acre Animal Shelter Of Reliance
Reliance Foundation

World’s largest zoo
While it is being dubbed as the world’s largest zoo, Anant Ambani termed it as ‘sewalaya’.

“In Radha Krishna Elephant welfare trust, we have rescued more than 200 elephants from across India. We serve elephants. Only service work is done here. This is not a zoo, this is a ‘Sevalaya’ (service room). I believe that Shri Ganesh resides in elephants and the form of Ganesh is that of an elephant. So, I serve elephants with the spirit of serving Ganesha,” the youngest of the Ambani siblings told ANI.

“We have built a nutrition lab and kitchen. We have created a jungle in 600 acres of land so that elephants can feel they are living in their natural habitat and they can feel that they live in the jungle. We are doing surgeries of many elephants here. We are also doing different kind of care management work for the elephants,” Anant Ambani said.