Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: The Vantara Foundation wants to build three wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centers across Assam. Anant Ambani founded the organization, and it intends to fund the construction entirely. State Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah confirmed receipt of the plan on World Elephant Day. He noted that the state government is currently reviewing the proposal.
The initiative centers on a dedicated hub for Asian elephants. This site would feature a full veterinary hospital, diagnostic tools, and specialized enclosures. It would also house medical and nutritional centers for species-specific care. All three proposed locations remain subject to approval from the Assam Forest Department. The facilities will operate under the department's direct supervision.
The state government is evaluating the project to address ongoing human-wildlife conflicts. Officials hope these centers will protect vulnerable species and preserve biodiversity. Minister Mallabaruah welcomed the contribution. "Assam will continue to engage with like-minded partners and institutions whose expertise and resources can complement our efforts to protect wildlife and strengthen their natural habitats," he said.
Updated at 13th August 2026 at 6:30pm
Vantara CEO Vivaan Karani officially delivered the proposal in a letter dated August 12, 2026, addressed to the Special Chief Secretary of the state's Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department. The foundation plans to hand over the centers to the Assam government after construction, leaving the state with no financial or legal obligations for the properties.
This initiative marks a shift for the Gujarat-based organization, which operates out of Motikhavdi village in Jamnagar. The facility previously faced heat from activists and conservationists who questioned the ethics of moving elephants from Assam and the Northeast to the Jamnagar site.
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