Vantara

Vantara (Star of the Forest)^[2] is a large-scale animal rescue centre, care, conservation, and rehabilitation centre established by Reliance Industries with Reliance Foundation.^[3] It is located within the Reliance Jamnagar Refinery Complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.

Vantara
Anant Ambani at Vantara with elephants
22.326517°N 69.924159°E / 22.326517; 69.924159
Date opened	4 March 2025
Location	Jamnagar
Land area	12.14 Square Kilometer
No. of animals	2000+ Animals[1]
No. of species	43
Annual visitors	0 (Off-Display Facility/Non-Public Access Zoo)
Management	Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Reliance Foundation
Website	https://vantara.in/

The 3,000-acre sanctuary focuses on wildlife conservation and animal welfare. It was initiated by Anant Ambani, director on the boards of Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation.^[4] Vantara was officially inaugurated by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 March 2025.^[5] But in a May 2025 editorial in Marksmen Daily, the off-display facility was questioned as a vanity project due to its private, non-public access.^[6] Furthermore, the project has elicited controversy regarding the unethical sourcing of animals and their use for private exhibition and entertainment purposes.

As of 2025, Vantara has housed over 1.5 lakh rescued animals from more than 2000 species.^[7][8][9] In recognition of its work, Vantara received the 'Prani Mitra Award' in the corporate category from the Government of India.^[10][11]

History

Anant's idea for Vantara was influenced by his mother, Nita Ambani. In an interview, He recounted an experience from his childhood when, at the age of 12, he and his family encountered an elephant in distress during a journey from Jaipur to Ranthambore. This led to the rescue of the animal, which he described as the beginning of their involvement in wildlife care. Over the decade, the effort gradually developed into a more structured initiative with scientific backing named Vantara.^[12][13]

Vantara was opened on 26 February 2024 but is not yet open to the public.^[14][15]

Acquisitions of Animals

• In 2024, Gauri was the first elephant relocated to Vantara's care facility. Previously kept in urban conditions in Rajasthan.^[16] In the same year, the facility received 20 elephants from Arunachal Pradesh, where they were earlier used for logging work.^[17][18] Vantara claimed that the relocation was done with approval from forest departments and followed wildlife laws, under the supervision of a court-appointed committee.^[19][20][21] However, significant concerns were raised by wildlife activists and legal experts about transferring these jumbos to a far corner of the country that only superficially resembles their natural habitat.^[22]

Conservancy

Vantara was officially inaugurated on 4 March 2025^[23] by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is dedicated to the rescue, treatment, care, and rehabilitation of animals.^[24] The programme claims to have since "rescued over 200 elephants, and thousands of other animals, reptiles and birds from unsafe situations, including rhinos, leopards and crocodiles".^[25] Despite all these, some animal rights groups in India have expressed skepticism over the privatization of the animals, along with the remote, over-developed, polluted and unsuitable nature of the reservation's location, as Jamnagar is located in a hot, arid climate and the Jamnagar Refinery, the largest oil refinery in the world, is owned by the same company and is located only a short distance away.^[26]

Facilities

The facility is equipped with modern veterinary technology, including ICU, MRI, CT scan, X-ray, ultrasound, and endoscopy units.^[27]

Awards and recognitions

• 'Prani Mitra' National Award in the corporate category from the Animal Welfare Board of India.^[28][29]

Controversies

Allegations of Unethical Animal Sourcing and Wildlife Trade Links

A March 2024 investigative report by Himal Southasian^[30] alleges that Vantara may be indirectly fueling the illegal global wildlife trade under the guise of conservation. The sanctuary has imported around 39,000 animals from 32 countries, including those known for trafficking, raising concerns about the legitimacy of sources and potential violations of international and Indian wildlife laws.^[31] Critics question the transparency of these operations and warn that such large-scale acquisitions—especially from dubious or small-scale suppliers—could incentivize illegal wildlife capture and trade, despite Vantara's claims of legal and ethical compliance.^[32] The investigative report was republished by the Pulitzer Center.^[33]

As a follow-up to earlier reports scrutinizing Vantara's wildlife acquisition practices, the Delhi High Court on 19 May 2025 dismissed a contempt of court petition filed by Vantara (Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre) against the Himal Southasian. Vantara had accused Himal of violating a court order by not removing an investigative article published in March 2024. The court ruled that no such judicial directive existed, rendering the contempt allegation baseless.^[34][35]

In March 2025, a coalition of 30 South African animal rights groups, under the Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa (WAPFSA), urged their government to investigate the export of wild animals to Vantara. The coalition expressed concerns over potential violations of international wildlife trade regulations, particularly regarding the sourcing of animals from South African breeding facilities. They highlighted that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species had previously raised issues about India's compliance concerning live animal imports, including critically endangered species. Vantara refuted the allegations, stating that all animal transfers were conducted in full compliance with South African and Indian laws.^[36]

Muzzling of Free Press Coverage

Following reports on concerns raised by the WAPFSA, several Indian media outlets have taken down their articles on the matter.^[37] Outlets such as Deccan Herald, The Telegraph (India), and The Tribune (India) removed their stories without explanation,^[38] while others like The Financial Express (India) replaced critical pieces with promotional content. Some media organizations, including Northeast Now and Vartha Bharati, reported receiving threatening emails and offers of financial incentives to delete or modify their coverage.^[39]

Allegations of the Use of Animals for Private Display and Entertainment

During the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, allegations against Vantara suggest that it may have violated these guidelines by hosting high-profile guests as a part pre-wedding festivities^[40] such as Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Ivanka Trump, with instances like Ivanka posing with an elephant, which critics argue prioritizes prestige over animal welfare.^[41][42] While Vantara claims these tours are educational and approved by the Central Zoo Authority under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009, the absence of concrete evidence indicating animal stress or exploitation means no formal violation has been documented. Nevertheless, the optics raise ethical concerns regarding adherence to the CZA’s mandate to prohibit entertainment-focused use of animals.^[43]