Anant Ambani recently unveiled his ambitious wildlife conservation initiative, ‘Vantara,’ which aims to establish one of the world’s largest zoos and rehabilitation centers at Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery Complex. Anant Ambani, the younger son of Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, asserted that the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT) in Jamnagar, Gujarat, shelters over 200 “rescued” elephants.
However, inquiries have been raised regarding the nature of these “rescues” and the procurement process for these animals. Ambani claimed that RKTEWT rescues elephants from various regions in India, providing them with specialized care and a natural habitat in a 600-acre “jungle.” Nevertheless, an investigation by “Northeast Now” has exposed inconsistencies in this narrative.
The investigation suggests that many of these elephants, described as “healthy” and “fit for travel,” were transported from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Tripura to RKTEWT, prompting concerns about the genuine nature of “rescuing” animals in need. Akhtar commented, “How can these be considered rescued elephants if veterinarians deemed them fit to travel? Such certifications are not typically issued for animals in poor health, which is commonly associated with rescue situations.”
