Vantara

Vantara (transl. Star of the Forest) is a privately-owned, non-public access wildlife rescue, care, rehabilitation and conservation centre in Motikhavdi, Jamnagar district, Gujarat, India. It is founded by Anant Ambani and operated in association with the Reliance Foundation. Its operations are centered on the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC), a large wildlife-care facility located within a 3,500-acre green belt, and include specialized facilities operated by the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT). Vantara's activities include the rescue and veterinary treatment of wild animals, long-term care and rehabilitation, conservation programs with initiatives aimed at rewilding and wildlife management. Its facilities include specialized veterinary infrastructure and species-specific care centers. The initiative developed from animal-care activities that predated its public launch in February 2024 and was formally inaugurated on 4th March 2025 by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. The scale of the initiative has attracted international attention. Reported animal numbers vary according to the facilities included in different counts, while Vantara has reported a wider population exceeding 150,000 animals representing more than 2,000 species. Vantara has received recognition from national and international animal-welfare organisations and has worked with government wildlife authorities and conservation institutions in India and abroad. The initiative has also drawn scrutiny over animal sourcing, transfers, its non-public status and media-related disputes. In August 2025, the Supreme Court of India appointed a Special Investigation Team to examine allegations relating to wildlife acquisition and related issues. The investigation did not find violations of laws and regulations, and the Supreme Court subsequently accepted the SIT's findings and closed the proceedings. In 2026, the Supreme Court declined a further petition seeking a fresh investigation into the same. Separately, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Secretariat raised concerns in November 2025 about aspects of India's wildlife-import procedures, but the...