Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited and inaugurated Vantara, an animal rescue, conservation and rehabilitation centre located in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat. Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, his wife Nita Ambani, their son Anant Ambani and daughter-in-law Radhika Merchant were also present at the inauguration. In a video, the Prime Minister was seen engaging closely with various animal species that have been rehabilitated there. The video, shared on PM Modi's official YouTube handle, shows him playing with and feeding several species, including Asiatic Lion cubs, a White Lion cub, the rare and endangered Clouded Leopard cub, and a Caracal cub, among others.
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Vantara, spanning 3,000 acres within the Reliance Jamnagar refinery complex, serves as a rescue centre committed to the well-being of captive elephants and wildlife. It offers sanctuary, rehabilitation, and medical care to animals rescued from abuse and exploitation. The center is home to over 2,000 animals across 43 species, supported by cutting-edge facilities such as advanced veterinary equipment, spacious enclosures mimicking natural habitats, and an expert team of over 2,100 staff, as per the facility's website. Vantara not only promotes animal welfare but also aims to educate visitors on conservation efforts and the importance of biodiversity.
The PM also visited the wildlife hospital at Vantara which has various facilities including MRI, CT scans, and ICUs among others. The hospital houses multiple departments including Wildlife Anesthesia, Cardiology, Nephrology, Endoscopy, Dentistry, Internal Medicine etc.He also visited the MRI room at the hospital and witnessed an Asiatic Lion undergoing an MRI. He also visited the Operation Theatre where a leopard was going through lifesaving surgery after being hit by a car on the highway and brought here after rescue.