THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
JAMNAGAR
(GUJARAT), MARCH 2, 2026
One year after its
inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vantara has emerged as a major
force in wildlife rescue, advanced veterinary care and science-driven
conservation, restoring thousands of rescued animals to health and returning
many to their natural habitats.
Founded by Anant
Mukesh Ambani, the institution has treated animals across a wide spectrum of
species including big cats, reptiles, primates, birds and other mammals. Its
veterinary teams have conducted complex surgical procedures and facilitated
rewilding programmes that have enabled numerous rescued animals to be released
back into the wild after recovery.
In recognition of his
global contribution to wildlife care, Anant Ambani received the prestigious
Global Humane Award during the year. Vantara also secured international
affiliations with EARAZA and SEAZA, obtained Global Humane Conservation
Certification and was honoured with the Prani Mitra Award 2025, reflecting
growing global acknowledgement of its conservation model rooted in compassion
and scientific rigour.
A major focus of the
initiative has been long-term care for more than 250 elephants rescued from
logging operations, circuses, rides and begging, many of them suffering from
arthritis and age-related ailments. The organisation is also providing
sustained care for thousands of crocodiles relocated from overcrowded
facilities, while supporting rescue efforts both within India and
internationally.
Designated as the
National Referral Centre for Wildlife (West Zone), Vantara has strengthened
India’s One Health framework by integrating wildlife health with disease
surveillance and coordinated response systems. Its scientific infrastructure
includes a central laboratory and 11 satellite laboratories staffed by over 70
specialists, processing more than 2,000 diagnostic samples daily across
disciplines such as molecular diagnostics, pathology, toxicology and
next-generation sequencing.
The scale of daily
animal care is supported by the production of 1,56,000 kg of specialised
nutrition through automated systems, distributed via temperature-controlled
vehicles and managed by 200 trained professionals with the support of over
1,000 farmers cultivating fodder and feed. A 24x7 response team of 200 members
has undertaken more than 50 international rescue operations and multiple
Wildlife Rapid Response deployments.
Among the year’s key
conservation milestones was the release of 53 spotted deer into Barda Wildlife
Sanctuary in collaboration with the Gujarat Forest Department, alongside an
international snake-necked turtle rewilding initiative in Indonesia. The
organisation also trained hundreds of veterinarians in conservation medicine,
hosted over 50 national and global knowledge forums and engaged thousands of
schoolchildren through outreach programmes.
Vantara extended its work beyond wildlife during the devastating Punjab floods, supporting relief efforts that safeguarded thousands of animals and assisted more than one million people, underscoring the interdependence of ecological resilience and human wellbeing.
One year after its launch, Vantara has evolved into an integrated conservation ecosystem combining rescue, research, rehabilitation and community engagement at scale, with a stated mission to deliver measurable conservation outcomes that protect wildlife while strengthening communities and advancing sustainability in India and beyond.
