Reliance Foundation announces 'Vantara' program, 3000 acres of animals will be cared for and rehabilitated

Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation today announced the Vanatara Program – a comprehensive initiative to focus 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, Vanatara aims to be among the leading providers of conservation efforts globally. Working with leading animal husbandry and welfare experts, Vanatara has transformed the 3000-acre sprawling space into a natural, rich, green and lush habitat resembling a forest for the rescued animals to live happily.

India's unique Vanatara initiative was conceived and brought into existence under the passionate leadership of Anant Ambani, Director of the Board of RIL and Reliance Foundation. Ambani is also heading Reliance's ambitious renewable energy business in Jamnagar, and in that capacity, spearheads Reliance's journey to become a net carbon zero company by 2035.

Vanatara focuses on determining the best animal protection and care practices within its range, including state-of-the-art healthcare, hospitals, research and educational centers. Among its programs, Vanatara also focuses on integrating advanced research and collaboration 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 past few years, the program has rescued more than 200 elephants and thousands of other animals, reptiles and birds from unsafe situations. The initiative has also undertaken rehabilitation of key species including rhinos, leopards and crocodiles.

Recently, Vanatara has also participated in foreign rescue missions in countries like Mexico, Venezuela etc. Many large animals have recently been brought there in response to a plea for help from the Central American Zoo Authority. All such rescue and rehabilitation missions are conducted under a 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 Vanatara and our brilliant and committed team. We are focused on protecting critically endangered species of Indian origin. .We want to restore critical habitats and address immediate threats to species and establish forestry as a leading conservation program. We are happy 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 continues to be a beacon of hope globally and shows how an organization with innovative ideas can help global biodiversity conservation initiatives."

Explaining the philosophy that inspired him to set up Vanatara, Ambani said, “Vantara combines the age-old ethical value of compassion with the excellence of modern scientific and technological professionalism. I see Jiva Seva (caring for animals) as a service to God and humanity.

Vanatara 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 3000 acres of premises with state-of-the-art shelters, scientifically designed day and night enclosures, hydrotherapy pools, reservoirs and a huge elephant jacuzzi for treating elephant arthritis. The center is home to over 200 elephants where they are cared for round the clock by a specialized and trained staff of over 500 including veterinarians, biologists, pathologists, nutritionists and naturalists.

The center has 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 elephant restraining devices for diagnosis, hydraulic pulleys and cranes, hydraulic surgical Equipped with a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for tables and elephants. The hospital performs cataract and endoscopic guided surgeries (with the first of its kind specially designed endoscopy equipment) and is capable of performing any surgery required.

The center has a special kitchen of over 14000 square feet dedicated to preparing a specially selected diet for each elephant keeping in mind their most essential physiological needs including their oral health. The center also tries out Ayurvedic techniques for elephant care, with Ayurvedic practitioners working around the clock for the elephants, with treatments ranging from hot oil massages to Multani mud.

Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre

A Rescue and Rehabilitation Center has been developed over 650 acres of 3000 acres for wild animals deployed in circuses or overcrowded zoos where animals rescued from torturous and dangerous environments from India and around the world are housed in state-of-the-art large enclosures and shelters.

The center rescued 200 injured leopards

With a staff strength of over 2100, the Rescue and Rehabilitation Center has rescued around 200 leopards from all over India injured in road accidents or human-wildlife conflicts. The center has rescued more than 1000 crocodiles from overcrowded and overcrowded facilities in Tamil Nadu. The center has rescued animals from hunting grounds in Africa, suffering under the threat of euthanasia in Slovakia, and critically ill animals in facilities in Mexico.

The center has a one lakh square feet hospital and medical research center. OROne Technology for Live Video Conferences for ICU, MRI, CT Scan, X-ray, Ultrasound, Endoscopy, Dental Scaler, Lithotripsy, Dialysis, Surgeries and Blood Plasma Separator This hospital and research center has is

Over 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 exotic species of endangered species, with the objective of building up the reserve numbers of these endangered species to be able to restore them to their original 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 Vanatara after obtaining prior approvals from the Central Zoo Authority as well as the Chief Wildlife Warden of the respective State as per the provisions of the Zoo Rules, 2009 as well as the provisions established under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. All animal exchanges are carried out 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 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 immensely from working closely with international organizations such as the Venezuelan National Foundation of Zoos, as well as partnering 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

In order to increase the awareness of animal husbandry among the people, especially the youth and children, maximum emphasis is also placed on close cooperation with educational institutions including exchange of knowledge and resources under the Vanatara initiative. Under it, a modern and futuristic, climate-controlled enclosure has been created for viewing of certain animals, setting new benchmarks in compassionate and caring work.

Green Area

Vantara strongly believes in the complementary approach of animal rescue and conservation and under the Vantara program the concept of greening the areas of Reliance Refinery is being realized, thus far thousands of acres of land have been greened. is