Latest news with #Vantara
India.com
3 hours ago
- General
- India.com
Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's son Anant Ambani gets a new guest, it will live in...
Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's son Anant Ambani- File image New guest has arrived at Anant Ambani's house: In a significant development for the Ambani family and more specifically Anant Ambani, the Bombay High Court approved the relocation of Mahadevi, an ailing elephant currently in Kolhapur, to the Radhe Krishna Elephant Welfare Trust, a specialised elephant care centre in Jamnagar. Notably, the Radhe Krishna Elephant Welfare Trust, supported by Anant Ambani's Vantara initiative, is known for its dedicated care, veterinary expertise, and expansive natural enclosures. The specialised elephant care centre of Anant Ambani has been notably designed to offer long-term rehabilitation. As per a report by news agency ANI, the move comes in response to concerns raised over her health and overall well-being. Who's the new guest at Anant Ambani's Vantara? Reports presented to the court indicated that Mahadevi was suffering from severe injuries and needed a better environment to heal and thrive. After reviewing her condition and the available facilities, the High Court concluded that her best chance at healing lies in a sanctuary purpose-built for elephant care. How Mahadevi was transferred to Anant Ambani's Vantara? Invoking the parens patriae principle to safeguard the rights of the 'voiceless and hapless Mahadevi', in its ruling, the court said, 'We have considered and chosen the survival of the elephant and its right to quality life, over and above the rights of men to use the elephant.' The panel also quoted the words of Lawrence Anthony from his book 'The Elephant Whisperer' to support the argument for better treatment of the elephants. This decision marks a compassionate step toward recognising the emotional and physical needs of animals who cannot voice their suffering. With this transfer, Mahadevi is expected to receive focused treatment and the peaceful surroundings essential for her recovery. The Jamnagar-based sanctuary offers a robust ecosystem of veterinary staff, natural foraging space, and continuous care, ensuring elephants like Mahadevi are given a second chance at a dignified, comfortable life. (With inputs from agencies)
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Work on first phase of jungle safari in the Aravalis to begin soon: Haryana Minister
Haryana Forest and Wildlife Minister Rao Narbir Singh on Friday said work on the first phase of the 10,000-acre jungle safari in the Aravalis would begin soon, adding that the project would be equipped with world-class facilities. Mr. Rao made the remark after meeting Union Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav in Delhi to discuss the project. The project would give a new identity to the National Capital Region in the direction of a green and sustainable environment, said the Minister, adding that it would be developed in four phases. 'Green tourism' 'Of the total project area, 2,500 acres will be developed in the first phase. The project will play an important role in promoting green tourism as well as conservation of wildlife,' said Mr. Rao. With the aim of equipping the project with world-class facilities and adopting the best model in its construction, the Minister said that he, along with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Mr. Lal, had recently visited the 'Vantara' Jungle Safari in Jamnagar, Gujarat. This visit provided important support in understanding the technical, structural, and conservation-based aspects of the project, he said. BJP's poll promise The project, which is spread across Gurugram and Nuh districts of the State, was one of the poll promises made by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in its manifesto last year. However, it has faced stiff opposition ever since it was first mooted. A group of 37 retired Indian Forest Service officers had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year demanding that the project be scrapped. They argued that the project's aim was to simply increase tourist footfall and not conserve the mountain range.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Bombay HC Approves Transfer of Elephant Mahadevi to Gujarat Sanctuary Backed by Anant Ambani's Radhe Krishna Trust
The Bombay High Court has approved the relocation of Mahadevi, an ailing elephant currently in Kolhapur, to the Radhe Krishna Elephant Welfare Trust, a specialised elephant care centre in Jamnagar. The move comes in response to concerns raised over her health and overall well-being. The trust, supported by Anant Ambani's Vantara initiative, is known for its dedicated care, veterinary expertise, and expansive natural enclosures. Designed to offer long-term rehabilitation, the facility has been at the forefront of animal welfare in India. Reports presented to the court indicated that Mahadevi was suffering from severe injuries and needed a better environment to heal and thrive. After reviewing her condition and the available facilities, the High Court concluded that her best chance at healing lies in a sanctuary purpose-built for elephant care. _'We have considered and chosen the survival of the elephant and its right to quality life, over and above the rights of men to use the elephant,'_ the Court said in its ruling, invoking the parens patriae principle to safeguard the rights of the _'voiceless and hapless Mahadevi.'_ The panel also quoted the words of Lawrence Anthony from his book 'The Elephant Whisperer' to support the argument for better treatment of the elephants. This decision marks a compassionate step toward recognising the emotional and physical needs of animals who cannot voice their suffering. With this transfer, Mahadevi is expected to receive focused treatment and the peaceful surroundings essential for her recovery. The Jamnagar-based sanctuary offers a robust ecosystem of veterinary staff, natural foraging space, and continuous care, ensuring elephants like Mahadevi are given a second chance at a dignified, comfortable life.
India Today
4 days ago
- Health
- India Today
Court rejects Jain trust's plea, upholds elephant Mahadevi's transfer to Vantara
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by a Jain religious trust challenging the transfer of its captive elephant, Mahadevi alias Madhuri, to a specialised welfare facility in Gujarat.A division bench comprising Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Dr Neela Gokhale upheld the decision of the High Power Committee (HPC), which had directed the elephant's relocation to the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (Vantara) in Jamnagar for long-term care and petitioner, Swasthishri Jinsen Bhattarak of the Pattacharya Mahaswami Sanstha Math in Kolhapur, argued that the elephant had been part of its religious tradition since 1992 and that her transfer infringed upon its rights under Article 25 of the Constitution, which protects religious freedom. Senior counsel Surel Shah, appearing for the Math, contended that the transfer orders—issued on December 27, 2024, and reaffirmed on June 3, 2025—were arbitrary. He maintained that the elephant had recovered from earlier injuries and that the institution had taken measures to improve her care. The petitioner also alleged that the complaint filed by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), which initiated the proceedings, was driven by ulterior motives to add Mahadevi to Vantara's advocate Vishal Kanade, representing PETA, presented photographic and veterinary evidence that highlighted Mahadevi's deteriorating health, including foot rot, abscesses, and signs of psychological distress due to solitary confinement and poor conditions. PETA alleged that the elephant had been subjected to commercial exploitation and denied basic court, after reviewing the HPC's comprehensive evaluation, observed that Mahadevi's living conditions at the Math were 'absolutely dismal,' with inadequate hygiene, nutrition, veterinary care, and social environment. 'The evaluation clearly establishes that the elephant suffered injuries while under the 'care' and custody of the Math,' the bench remarked, noting that the Math failed to provide any explanation for her the treatment of the elephant 'callous and brutal,' the court strongly criticized the use of Mahadevi to carry people and equipment during religious processions. While acknowledging that the Math had made some improvements following complaints, the bench dismissed these as 'cosmetic' and 'too little, too late.'The court emphasised that animal welfare must take precedence over religious customs, endorsing the HPC's finding that Vantara was best suited for the elephant's rehabilitation. The bench also noted that Maharashtra currently lacks a dedicated elephant sanctuary and that Vantara—located in Jamnagar—is both experienced and geographically closest, minimizing transportation bench concluded by affirming the HPC's decision and directed that Mahadevi be relocated to Vantara for continued care and protection.- EndsTrending Reel
The Hindu
5 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Gujarat's Banni Grasslands ready to host cheetahs, say officials
The Banni Grasslands in Gujarat, the largest such expanse in the Indian subcontinent and one of the 10 sites selected for cheetah rehabilitation in the country, is now fully prepared to host the big cats, officials said on Wednesday (July 16, 2025). Jaipal Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Gujarat, told PTI that a breeding centre for cheetahs has been set up and efforts are underway to further enhance the prey population of chital and sambar. "We are ready with everything, including quarantine and soft release bomas [enclosures]. However, the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Cheetah Project Steering Committee will decide when the animals will be brought here," he said. Mr. Singh said a 600-hectare enclosure has been developed, the herbivore population has been increased, and facilities such as CCTV monitoring and a dedicated veterinary centre have been established. Fences have been installed to prevent the infiltration of other large carnivores into the cheetah enclosures. Veterinarians have also been trained at Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park, the first site in India to host cheetahs translocated from Africa, he added. According to the plan to introduce cheetahs in the Banni Grasslands, the natural habitat preferences of cheetahs in Africa include grasslands, savannahs and scrublands, and the habitat conditions in Banni closely match these. Vantara, a Jamnagar-based rescue, conservation and rehabilitation facility of the Reliance Foundation, posted on Instagram that in collaboration with the Gujarat Forest Department, it has reintroduced spotted deer into the Banni Grasslands. "The introduction of spotted deer marks a key step in restoring ecological balance in Banni. As a committed partner, Vantara supports this effort with scientific expertise, veterinary care and technical support, working alongside the government to protect India's natural heritage," it said. Mr. Singh said the move is part of broader efforts to increase the prey population in the arid grassland landscape. Officials said that cheetahs are likely to be introduced in the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh before they are sent to the Bunni Grasslands. The State government officially declared Veerangana Durgavati a tiger reserve in September 2023. Located about 20 kilometres from Bhopal, it spans 2,339 square kilometres and covers parts of Narsinghpur, Sagar and Damoh districts. An NTCA team reviewed the preparations in the tiger reserve in June. Thereafter, officials said, cheetahs will be introduced into the Bunni grasslands in Gujarat's Kutch district and then in the Shahgarh Bulge region in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. The 10 potential sites listed in the action plan for cheetah introduction are: Guru Ghasidas National Park in Chhattisgarh; Banni grasslands in Gujarat; Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary, Sanjay National Park, Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary, Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary (now Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve) and Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh; Desert National Park and Shahgarh grasslands in Rajasthan and Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh. Seventy years after cheetahs went extinct in India, the government launched the Project Cheetah to establish a sustainable population of the big cat in the country. As part of the reintroduction effort, 20 African cheetahs were brought to Kuno National Park: eight from Namibia in September 2022 and 12 from South Africa in February 2023. Eleven of them have survived, including two that were transferred to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in April. Since the introduction of African cheetahs, 26 cubs have been born in India, of which 17 have survived.
