THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
JAMNAGAR (GUJARAT), AUGUST 12, 2026
From the rescue of Gauri, the first elephant rescued by Anant
Ambani, to caring for more than 260 Asian elephants and building partnerships
across continents, Vantara on Wednesday marked World Elephant Day by unveiling
a broad-based effort to strengthen elephant welfare, support caregivers,
promote conservation education and advance collaborative action to secure a
safer future for the species.
Founded by Anant Ambani, Vantara’s elephant welfare programme
has evolved into a wider mission that brings together specialised veterinary
care, knowledge sharing, caregiver support, public engagement and international
cooperation, with initiatives spanning several Indian states and extending to
global efforts on human-elephant conflict.
“Elephants have always
held a very special place in my heart and in Vantara’s journey. Every elephant
we care for has a unique story, and every rescue reminds us of the
responsibility we have towards their welfare,” Anant Ambani, Founder, Vantara,
said.
“What began with the
rescue of Gauri has grown into a wider commitment to improving elephant
welfare, supporting the people who care for them, sharing knowledge and
learning with partners, and contributing to elephant conservation in India and
around the world. On World Elephant Day, we celebrate these magnificent animals
and reaffirm our commitment to working together to secure a better future for
them,” he said.
Vantara, which is home to more than 260 Asian elephants, said
elephants occupy a special place in its journey and reflect its larger
commitment to providing rescued animals with specialised care and a life of
dignity. Gauri's rescue by Ambani marked the beginning of a journey that has
since expanded into a comprehensive animal welfare initiative.
As part of efforts to strengthen elephant welfare beyond its
own facilities, Vantara has partnered with the Rajasthan Forest Department to
support elephants at Hathi Gaon in Jaipur.
On World Elephant Day, Sanjay Sharma, Minister for Forest,
Environment and Climate Change, Government of Rajasthan, announced the
collaboration, which will focus on improving the care and quality of life of
elephants at the facility.
The initiative will include a state-of-the-art Elephant
Treatment & Care Facility with an advanced hospital, nutrition centre and
hydrotherapy facility, besides a dedicated Retirement & Care Centre for
elderly elephants.
The collaboration will combine the experience of the
Rajasthan Forest Department and Vantara to support elephants through different
stages of their lives, with greater emphasis on understanding and addressing
their individual health and welfare needs.
Vantara has also recently completed a large-scale Elephant
Welfare Outreach Programme in partnership with State Forest Departments across
eight locations in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and the Andaman &
Nicobar Islands.
The programme brought together teams and professionals
working directly with elephants to facilitate knowledge sharing and exchange of
best practices aimed at improving the health and welfare of 182 elephants,
while also engaging 242 mahouts.
The outreach included preventive veterinary care and
practical sessions on elephant health, humane handling, first aid and musth
management. Veterinary and welfare kits, as well as nutritional support, were
provided during the programme.
Through such partnerships, Vantara said it seeks to create a
continuing exchange among elephant-care professionals, encourage adoption of
best practices and strengthen collaborative approaches to elephant welfare.
In an effort to introduce children to the values of empathy
and compassion towards elephants, Vantara has also launched “My Friend
Leelavati”, a social media campaign built around the story of Leelavati, one of
its most beloved elephants.
Leelavati was separated from her mother as a calf, spent
years in a circus and later suffered extensive burn injuries after a circus
tent caught fire. Her journey from trauma and hardship to a life of care at
Vantara is being used to help children understand that elephants deserve
kindness, compassionate treatment and a life of dignity.
As part of the campaign, children are invited to solve a
themed puzzle and write a message for Leelavati. Winners will receive a
Leelavati gift hamper and an opportunity to visit Vantara, meet Leelavati and
her caregiver, and learn first-hand about elephant rescue and lifelong care.
Vantara is also extending its efforts to the international
conservation arena, particularly the growing challenge of human-elephant conflict.
The organisation is providing a grant to the Elephant
Protection Initiative (EPI) Foundation to support participation by experts,
practitioners and youth representatives from Asian and African elephant range
states at the first Global Human-Elephant Conflict Summit and the second
International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence, scheduled
to be held in Bangkok in March 2027.
The grant will support delegates from all 13 Asian elephant
range states, at least five African elephant range states working with the EPI
Foundation, as well as youth representatives from both regions.
The initiative will also facilitate the expansion of the EPI Youth Ambassadors Programme into India for the first time, providing a platform for practitioners and young conservationists to exchange experiences, learn from conservation approaches across Africa and Asia, and deepen international cooperation on human-elephant conflict mitigation and coexistence.
On the ground in India, Vantara continues to deploy rapid-response veterinary teams, thermal drone surveillance and community engagement programmes to address human-elephant conflict, provide veterinary assistance to injured elephants and promote long-term coexistence between communities and elephants.
