Three African forest elephants are embarking on a new chapter in their lives, finding refuge and specialized care at Vantara, a wildlife rescue center established by Anant Ambani, son of Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani. The elephants, two females named Achtaum and Kani, and a male named Mina, are all around 28 to 29 years old. They have travelled a long distance from their previous home in a private zoo in Tunisia to Vantara, nestled in the heart of Jamnagar, Gujarat, one of the world’s most esteemed wildlife rescue centers.
The relocation was prompted by the Tunisian zoo’s struggle to provide the elephants with the complex dietary, housing, and veterinary needs they require. The financial constraints faced by the zoo led to untreated skin conditions causing hair loss and matted skin, highlighting the urgent need for specialized medical attention.
Vantara’s veterinary experts conducted a comprehensive health assessment and found that these African forest elephants, scientifically known as *Loxodonta cyclotis*, were in need of a new home. Native to the dense tropical forests of Central and West Africa, they are ill-suited for the environment in Tunisia.
To ensure the elephants’ well-being, Anant Ambani personally arranged a charter plane to bring them to Vantara. At the sanctuary, they will experience a completely different world – one designed to replicate their natural habitat. Vantara has created expansive and enriched enclosures, complete with native flora, mud pools, and thoughtfully designed food enrichments that encourage natural foraging behaviors. These features are essential for the elephants’ physical and psychological well-being, as they thrive in vast forest landscapes, enjoying the freedom to forage on diverse foliage and access mud wallows that benefit their skin health.
The move to Vantara marks a turning point for the elephants. They will receive specialized care to support their physical, psychological, and social well-being, giving them a renewed opportunity to live a life filled with compassion and comfort.
This compassionate initiative is just one example of Vantara’s commitment to animal rescue and conservation. Established in February 2023 by Reliance Foundation, Vantara has already made a significant impact. The sanctuary, spread across 600 acres, has already rescued over 200 elephants from various parts of India, providing them with a safe haven and specialized care. As Anant Ambani aptly stated, Vantara is not a zoological park but a ‘sewalaya,’ a place where they provide ‘sewa’ – service – to the animals. This dedication to animal well-being makes Vantara a beacon of hope for endangered species and a testament to the power of compassionate conservation.
