Vantara to welcome 20 rescued elephants from logging industry and two from ISKCON Mayapur

Anant Ambani’s dream project Vantara is all set to welcome 20 elephants from Arunachal Pradesh which have been rescued from the exploitation of the logging industry. There are 10 male elephants, eight females, one sub-adult, and one calf among the rescued animals.

At the same time, two female elephants from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Mayapur, near Kolkata, are set to find their new home at animal welfare organisation located in Gujarat’s Jamnagar. These elephants will be kept free of chains at Vantara and never forced into labour.

20 elephants rescued from logging industry

Twenty elephants, rescued from the exploitation of the logging industry, will be given shelter at Anant Ambani’s Vantara, as per an announcement made by Reliance Industries. Elephants suffer a lot in the logging industry as they are forced to carry heavy logs and work tirelessly for long hours.

The elephant rescue operation has been done with the approval of a high-powered committee constituted by the Tripura High Court and entrusted by the Supreme Court of India. The rescue operation has been made after full consent of the current owners of the animals.

Talking about the same, Tabang Jamoh, Divisional Forest Officer, Namsai shared, “With an active breeding population of approximately 200 captive elephants in Arunachal Pradesh, DNA profiling is being conducted to closely monitor their health and welfare. The transfer of 20 elephants to the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust at Vantara, as directed by the Supreme Court-appointed committee ensures a bright future for these animals. This initiative enhances animal welfare when providing local communities with alternative livelihoods, striking a balance between conservation, community well being and forest protection.”

The rescued elephants will be transported from their current home in Arunachal Pradesh to the rescue centre in Jamnagar. Specially-designed elephant ambulances are being used to transport these elephants from Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat.

The elephants have been suffering since a long time due to exploitation in the logging industry. One 10-year-old sub-adult, named Laxmi who was born in captivity, struggles to bear weight on her hind legs due to deep, untreated wounds. Laxmi also has a fresh hole of one-inch diameter piercing her right ear pinna. Both the injuries were caused to her during brutal taming process by human trainers. Maya, a 2-year-old captive-born calf was rescued along with her mother.

Vantara to give shelter to two elephants from ISKCON Mayapur

Vantara will also be the new home for two female elephants from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Mayapur, near Kolkata, which were used for performing regular temple rituals and during festivals.

The two elephants are Bishnupriya (18 years) and Lakshmipriya (26 years). While Lakshmipriya has been staying at ISKCON Mayapur since 2007, Bishnupriya was living there since 2010. In April, last year one of the two elephants attacked her mahout leaving him fatally injured.

The announcement of the transfer was made by Reliance Industries Limited in an official release on Monday. Apart from providing care for elephants, Vantara also offers livelihood opportunities to the owners, mahouts and their families.

Vantara

Vantara was conceptualized under the passionate leadership of Anant Ambani. The Reliance Foundation unveiled the initiative on February 26, 2024. The grand animal conservation and rehabilitation centre consists of state-of-the-art healthcare facilities for animals with several in-house wildlife veterinarians and doctors, a research centre, and an academic institution. It also boasts an old-age facility and disability care facility for old and sick animals.

Since its inception, the organisation has rescued and rehabilitated a large number of elephants, and thousands of other animals, reptiles, and birds including rhinos, leopards, and crocodiles. The organisation has also participated in international rescue operations in Mexico, Venezuela, and other countries.