Elephants Haven: Anant Ambani’s Vantara

Only 40-50 k elephants are left! And this number is declining.

This is why elephants have been declared as are endangered species worldwide.

In my previous blog, I have discussed why Indian elephants are endangered, along with what we can do to make India a better place for these beautiful giants.

Here is some good news for us- that is Vantara.

You might have heard of Vantara first during the wedding ceremony of Anant Ambani.

Vantara is an initiative of Anant Ambani, which is a rehabilitation center and elephant hospital in Jamnagar, India.

The best thing about Vantara is that this is not just a safe and happy home for elephants, but it is a home for over 2000 rescued animals.

In this blog, I will discuss Vantara, and Anant Ambani’s vision that can be a good move in saving their species.

About Vantara:

The meaning of Vantara is “start of the forest”. Vantara is carved out of Gujarat’s Green Belt, Vantara occupies 3,000 acres within the Reliance Jamnagar Refinery Complex. It is a home for over 200 rescued elephants, and 2000 other animals across 43 species. It is also one of the world’s largest elephant hospitals, with world class facilities.

Anant Ambani’s wife, Radhika Merchant, spoke about Vantara during their pre-wedding celebrations in Jamnagar. She shared a touching story about Anant spending 8 hours calming a laboring elephant. They even named the baby elephant “Hanuman”. This anecdote highlights Anant’s dedication to this non-profit project. You can check out that event speech here:

Being a rescue and rehabilitation center, Vantara is designed to provide elephants with the life they deserve. The facility features hydrotherapy pools, sand wallows, and plenty of trees to create a natural environment.

They have everything from portable X-ray machines for quick checkups to fancy laser machines for various treatments. There’s even a whole pharmacy stocked with elephant-sized medicine, and a special lab to run all sorts of tests.

They’ve got all the latest tools too, including a special restraint system to keep the elephants safe during examinations, and even hydraulic lifts and cranes to help them move around comfortably. Plus, they have a one-of-a-kind surgical table and an oxygen chamber to aid recovery.

No matter what kind of surgery an elephant might need, Vantara’s team is equipped to handle it, even performing delicate procedures like cataract removal and special endoscopies. Basically, they’ve got everything an elephant hospital could ever need!

Ananat’s Great Initiative And Love For Elephants:
Anant Ambani’s passion for wildlife, particularly elephants, led him to learn the Mahout language. This unique language, a blend of Urdu, Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, and Kannada, originated during Mughal times and is used throughout India to communicate with elephants, who are known to respond to this language.Isn’t this amazing?

You can watch his interview with Rahul Kanwal for India Today here:

Elephants Get a Gourmet Experience:

To make sure these rescued giants get the best food possible, they have a team of top experts. They even brought in a famous nutritionist all the way from Germany, Dr. Petra Wolf, to lead a team of Indian specialists. They make delicious and nutritious meals in a special 14,000 square foot kitchen, that is even safe for human consumption.

Their diet is designed to meet all their needs, including keeping their mouths healthy. In Vantara’s kitchen they make khichdi (rice and lentil dish), Raagi ladoos (healthy millet balls), and other types of nutritious ladoos.

You might be surprised to know that even popcorn is also on the menu! Yes, it’s a treat for the elephants. Vantara goes beyond just food. They also use traditional Ayurvedic techniques to pamper their elephants.

Is Vantara open to the public?

Anant Ambani confirmed that Vantara’s zoological park will soon be welcoming visitors. He further elaborated in an interview that Vantara’s mission extends beyond its own walls.

They are committed to partnering with the Zoo Authority of India and other government organizations to improve animal care across all of India’s 150-plus zoos.

This includes providing staff training, building capacity for better animal welfare practices, and upgrading infrastructure to create enriching environments

Final Words:

Anant’s dedication to Vantara is truly heartwarming. I am truly impressed by his efforts. After all they’ve faced years of brutal exploitation for their ivory, elephants desperately need a safe space to heal and thrive. Vantara’s mission to provide that sanctuary, combined with their innovative approach to care, gives me real hope for the future of these magnificent creatures. I truly believe that initiatives like this can make a lasting difference in the fight to save endangered elephants.