THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

JAMNAGAR, APRIL 28, 2026

In a remarkable gesture of compassion and global conservation leadership, Executive Director, Reliance Industries Limited, and Founder of Vantara, Anant Mukesh Ambani has appealed to the Government of Colombia to halt the planned culling of 80 hippopotamuses in the Magdalena River basin and instead allow their humane relocation to Vantara in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

The appeal, conveyed through a formal letter to Colombia’s Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Irene Vélez Torres, proposes a fully funded, scientifically managed translocation programme that would provide the hippos with a safe and permanent home at Vantara, one of the world's largest wildlife rescue, care and conservation centres.

"These eighty hippos did not choose where they were born, nor did they create the circumstances they now face," Ambani said. "They are living, sentient beings, and if we have the ability to save them through a safe and humane solution, we have a responsibility to try."

Vantara has offered Colombian authorities a comprehensive plan covering every aspect of the operation, including veterinary leadership, expert capture and transport, stringent biosecurity measures, and a specially designed naturalistic habitat in Gujarat that closely mirrors the animals' existing environment. The facility would ensure lifelong care and welfare for all 80 hippos.

"Compassion and public safety are not opposing forces," Ambani added. "With sound science and careful planning, it may be possible to protect riverine communities, preserve ecosystems and save animal life. Vantara has the expertise, infrastructure and resolve to support this effort, entirely on Colombia's terms."

Vantara has formally requested Colombia to defer the lethal removal while its alternative proposal is thoroughly evaluated. The organisation has also expressed readiness to engage directly with Colombian authorities to present detailed scientific, operational and animal welfare plans.

The proposal highlights Vantara's guiding philosophy that every life matters and reinforces India's growing stature in delivering science-driven, large-scale solutions to complex global wildlife challenges. Any translocation would be undertaken only after securing all necessary approvals from the governments of Colombia and India, along with relevant international regulatory clearances.

Colombia's Magdalena River basin is currently home to an estimated 200 hippopotamuses, descendants of a small group introduced in the 1980s. With no natural predators and favourable ecological conditions, the population has expanded rapidly, prompting Colombian authorities to classify the species as invasive due to concerns over biodiversity, ecosystem disruption and public safety.

Located in Jamnagar, Vantara has emerged as a global leader in wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation, offering world-class facilities for elephants, big cats, primates, reptiles and numerous other rescued species. Through its science-led approach, habitat restoration efforts and international collaborations, Vantara continues to set new benchmarks in wildlife protection and conservation worldwide.