Reliance Foundation Launches Vantara: A Wildlife Sanctuary & Holistic Rehabilitation Initiative

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On February 26, 2024, the Reliance Foundation proudly unveiled a groundbreaking initiative: Vantara. This ambitious project transcends the realm of a mere wildlife sanctuary, establishing itself as a comprehensive hub dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, treatment, and care of animals in need. Nestled within the green embrace of Reliance’s Jamnagar refinery complex, Vantara sprawls across a vast 3,000 acres, serving as a beacon of hope for animal welfare in India and beyond.

Vantara: A Haven for Animals in Need

Rescue: Vantara acts as a lifeline for animals facing various challenges. Their dedicated teams actively seek out animals in need within India and internationally. This includes animals suffering from:

Injuries: Whether from accidents, human conflict, or natural disasters, Vantara provides critical support to injured animals, offering them a safe space to heal.
Displacement: Habitat loss due to human activity or natural disasters can leave animals disoriented and vulnerable. Vantara helps these displaced animals find a new home and the care they need.
Endangerment: Vantara protects endangered species by rescuing vulnerable individuals and contributing to conservation efforts.

Rehabilitation: Once rescued, animals at Vantara receive specialised care and treatment tailored to their needs. This comprehensive rehabilitation program focuses on:

Nutritional support: Providing each animal with a customised diet that meets their needs and promotes optimal health. Vantara’s team of nutritionists formulates diets based on the animal’s species, age, and medical condition. They also consider the animal’s natural diet and preferences whenever possible. Additionally, Vantara incorporates Ayurvedic practices into its holistic approach to animal care. Ayurvedic practitioners work alongside veterinarians and nutritionists to develop customised dietary plans and therapeutic regimens based on Ayurvedic principles. These plans often include herbal supplements, massage therapy, and other natural approaches to healing and promoting well-being.

Psychological well-being: Addressing the emotional and psychological trauma animals may have experienced before their rescue.

Treatment: Vantara boasts state-of-the-art veterinary facilities and a team of highly skilled professionals. This ensures that rescued animals receive the necessary medical attention, including:

Advanced diagnostics: Utilising cutting-edge equipment like MRI and CT scans for accurate diagnoses and treatment planning.
Expert surgery: Performing various surgical procedures, including minimally invasive robotic surgery, to ensure the best possible outcomes for animals requiring complex medical interventions.
Medication and ongoing care: Providing essential and ongoing medical care to address existing health conditions and prevent future ones.

Care: Vantara goes beyond just providing medical attention. They offer a safe and natural environment that fosters long-term animal recovery for rescue animals. This includes:

Spacious enclosures: Replicating the animals’ natural habitat as much as possible, allowing them to express natural behaviours and roam freely.
Enrichment activities: Providing mental stimulation and physical exercise through enrichment activities like climbing structures, pools, and interactive toys.
Compassionate care: Vantara’s dedicated staff provides constant care and attention to the animals, ensuring their well-being and promoting their emotional recovery.

Vantara’s comprehensive approach to animal welfare offers hope for animals in need. By combining rescue efforts, specialised rehabilitation, advanced treatment, and compassionate care, Vantara strives to create a haven where rescued animals can heal, thrive, and potentially even be released back into the wild.

Vantara’s mission transcends geographical boundaries, extending its reach to support animal welfare efforts on a global scale. This signifies a commitment by the Reliance Foundation to play a crucial part in wildlife conservation and promote the responsible service of our precious biodiversity.

Facilities within Vantara

State-of-the-art veterinary hospital: This hospital has advanced medical facilities, including MRI and CT scan machines, surgical centres, and endoscopic robotic surgery machines. It also has a team of highly skilled veterinarians and veterinary technicians who provide specialised care to rescued animals.
Specialised kitchen: This 14,000-square-foot kitchen prepares customised diets for each animal, considering their needs and preferences. The kitchen also ensures the animals receive the necessary nutrients to maintain their health.
Enclosures

Diverse design: Vantara boasts a variety of enclosures meticulously designed to resemble the natural habitats of the animals residing within them. This provides a more comfortable and familiar environment for the animals, allowing them to exhibit natural behaviours like climbing, foraging, and swimming.
Spaciousness: Recognising the importance of exercise and movement for animal well-being, Vantara ensures that all enclosures are spacious enough for the animals to roam freely. This helps to reduce stress, promote physical activity, and encourage natural behaviours.

Enrichment elements: Vantara understands the need for mental stimulation beyond just providing basic needs. To address this, they incorporate enrichment elements within the enclosures. These elements can include climbing structures, pools, hiding spots, and interactive toys, encouraging natural behaviours and preventing boredom.

Herbaceous Garden:

Supplementing diets: Vantara’s extensive herbaceous garden serves a dual purpose. Primarily, it provides a source of fresh, healthy, and seasonal vegetables, fruits, and herbs for the animals. This allows Vantara to supplement their customised diets with natural and enriching food sources, promoting optimal nutrition and mimicking the animals’ natural feeding patterns.
Pollinator haven: Beyond its primary function, the herbaceous park is essential for pollinating bugs like butterflies and bees. These insects play an important role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem, and their presence within the garden fosters biodiversity and contributes to a balanced environment for all inhabitants.
Sustainable practices: Vantara employs sustainable practices in maintaining the herbaceous garden. This may include using organic fertilisers, rainwater harvesting, and natural pest control methods, ensuring the garden flourishes while minimising environmental impact.

Delving Deeper into Vantara’s State-of-the-Art Veterinary Hospital

Vantara’s Veterinary Hospital is a testament to its dedication to providing rescued animals with the highest care. Let’s explore the specific features that make this facility truly remarkable:

Advanced Medical Equipment

MRI and CT scan machines: These marvels of modern technology allow veterinarians to peer inside an animal’s body, creating detailed 3D images of bones, organs, and tissues. This level of attention to detail is crucial for accurate diagnoses and effective treatment plans.
Surgical Expertise: Vantara’s veterinary surgeons possess a wide range of expertise, enabling them to perform a diverse array of procedures. This is facilitated by:

Six dedicated surgical centres: Each centre is specifically designed for different types of surgeries, ensuring a sterile and controlled environment for even the most complex procedures.
Specialised equipment: From advanced surgical instruments to cutting-edge monitoring systems, Vantara has everything needed to perform surgeries with precision and care.
Endoscopic robotic surgery: This revolutionary technique allows surgeons to operate through tiny incisions using robotic arms. This minimally invasive approach minimises pain and discomfort for the animals, leading to faster recovery times and improved outcomes.

In-patient and ICU Facilities: Whether an animal requires short-term post-operative care or needs intensive monitoring, Vantara is prepared:

In-patient facilities: These areas provide a comfortable and controlled environment for animals recovering from surgery or illness. Veterinarians and veterinary technicians closely monitor their progress, ensuring they receive the necessary care and support.
Intensive care unit (ICU): For animals in critical condition, Vantara’s ICU is equipped with advanced life support systems and constant monitoring by experienced professionals, maximising their chances of recovery.

VI. Laboratory: Time is of the essence when it comes to animal healthcare. Vantara’s in-house laboratory allows for the following:

Prompt testing: Blood tests, tissue analysis, and other diagnostic procedures can be performed quickly and efficiently, enabling veterinarians to make informed treatment decisions swiftly.
Accurate results: The laboratory’s advanced equipment and highly trained technicians ensure the reliability of test results, leading to the most effective treatment plans.

Prosthetics Program: Vantara’s commitment to animal well-being extends beyond healing. Their innovative prosthetics program offers a chance at a renewed life for animals who have lost limbs due to injury or illness. Here’s what sets them apart:

Custom-made prosthetics: Each prosthetic is carefully crafted to meet the specific needs and anatomy of the individual animal, ensuring optimal fit and functionality.
Advanced materials and technology: Vantara uses cutting-edge materials and techniques to create lightweight, durable, and comfortable prosthetics for the animals to wear.

Vantara’s unwavering dedication to continuous improvement ensures that the animals receive the most advanced and comprehensive medical attention. By combining cutting-edge technology, a team of passionate professionals, and a commitment to innovation, Vantara strives to create a haven where rescued animals can heal, thrive, and experience a renewed sense of well-being.

Vantara’s Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre: How many animals have they rescued?

Vantara’s rescue and rehabilitation centre has successfully saved and provided shelter to more than 2,000 animals spanning 43 species, all rescued from exploitative conditions. The dedicated staff, numbering 2,100, continues their unwavering commitment to offering refuge to needy animals.

The Meaning and Philosophy Behind Vantara: Anant Ambani’s Passion Project

Anant Ambani, reflecting on the philosophy that led to the establishment of Vantara, elucidates, “Vantara embodies the timeless ethical value of compassion seamlessly integrated with the cutting-edge proficiency of modern science and technology.

Jeev Seva (animal care) is perceived as a service to the divine and humanity. The inspiration for such a noble endeavour stems from Ambani’s deep reverence for his mother and the profound Hindu belief that animals hold a special place in the eyes of the Gods.”

FAQs

1. What is the primary objective of Vantara, as mentioned in the article?

Answer: Vantara aims to serve as a comprehensive hub for the rescue, rehabilitation, treatment, and care of animals in need beyond the traditional role of a wildlife sanctuary.

2. How large is Vantara, and where is it located?

Answer: Vantara spans a vast 3,000 acres and is situated within the green surroundings of Reliance’s Jamnagar refinery complex.

3. How many animals have Vantara’s rescue and rehabilitation centre saved, and from how many different species?

Answer: Vantara has saved and sheltered over 2,000 animals across 43 species from exploitative conditions.

4. What is unique about Vantara’s approach to animal care in terms of rehabilitation?

Answer: Vantara’s rehabilitation program includes specialised nutritional support based on individual needs, Ayurvedic practices, addressing psychological well-being, and providing advanced veterinary treatment.

5. What facilities are available within Vantara’s state-of-the-art veterinary hospital?

Answer: Vantara’s veterinary hospital boasts advanced medical equipment such as MRI and CT scan machines, specialised surgical centres, in-patient and ICU facilities, a laboratory for prompt testing, and an innovative prosthetics program.

6. How does Vantara ensure a naturalised environment for rescued animals regarding enclosures?

Answer: Vantara designs diverse enclosures resembling natural habitats, ensures spaciousness for animals to roam freely, and incorporates enrichment elements like climbing structures, pools, and interactive toys.

7. How does Vantara contribute to sustainability within its herbaceous garden?

Answer: Vantara’s herbaceous garden supplements animal diets and is a pollinator haven. Sustainable practices, including organic fertilisers, rainwater harvesting, and natural pest control, are employed to minimise environmental impact.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the launch of Vantara by the Reliance Foundation represents a monumental stride in India’s commitment to holistic animal welfare. Establishing this comprehensive wildlife sanctuary and rehabilitation initiative not only underscores Anant Ambani’s passion for compassionate care but also sets a commendable standard for the nation’s efforts in safeguarding the well-being of animals.

Vantara’s rescue and rehabilitation centre, with its state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated staff, has successfully rescued and provided sanctuary to over 2,000 animals across 43 different species, marking a significant contribution to the cause of animal welfare. This initiative, nestled within the expansive green surroundings of Reliance’s Jamnagar refinery complex, stands as a beacon of hope for animals facing various challenges, ranging from injuries and displacement to endangerment.

As India forges ahead in its mission to protect and care for its diverse wildlife, it is crucial to recognise the collective efforts of NGOs and individuals who have long championed the cause of animal welfare. With social media and crowdfunding platforms, such as Ketto, the support landscape for animal welfare initiatives has evolved. Individuals can now leverage these platforms to raise funds for animal welfare and many causes, fostering a community-driven approach to addressing societal needs.

In this era, where compassion and technological prowess converge, Vantara’s holistic approach to animal care is an inspiring example. By combining rescue efforts, specialised rehabilitation, advanced treatment, and compassionate care, Vantara creates a haven for rescued animals and propels India onto the global stage in pursuing responsible and comprehensive wildlife conservation. As the nation embraces these endeavours, support from platforms like Ketto becomes increasingly crucial, providing a means for individuals to contribute actively to the well-being of animals and preserve biodiversity.