PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Vantara, a wildlife rescue and conservation centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, initiated by Anant Ambani, director at RIL and Reliance Foundation.
Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, along with Nita Ambani, Anant Ambani, and Radhika Merchant, also attended the inauguration.
Vantara spans 3,000 acres and houses over 1.5 lakh rescued, endangered, and threatened animals from 2,000+ species. It is dedicated to animal welfare and conservation.
According to a PMO release, Modi toured the centre’s facilities and interacted closely with rehabilitated animals.
PM Modi fed and played with several animals, including Asiatic Lion cubs, a White Lion cub, a rare Clouded Leopard cub, and a Caracal cub.
PM Modi visited Vantara's wildlife hospital, which features advanced facilities like MRI, CT scans, ICUs, and departments for anesthesia, cardiology, nephrology, dentistry, and internal medicine.
The rescued animals at the centre are housed in environments carefully designed to replicate their natural habitats as closely as possible.
PM Modi was also spotted playing with orangutans at the center.
The PM patted an Okapi and came face-to-face with chimpanzees rescued from a facility where they were previously kept as pets.
Key conservation efforts at the centre focus on species such as the Asiatic Lion, Snow Leopard, and One-Horned Rhinoceros, among others.
The PM had close encounters with several fierce animals, including sitting face-to-face with a Golden Tiger.