Vantara

Vantara (transl. Star of the Forest) is an animal rescue, care, and rehabilitation initiative established by the Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries. It is located within a 3,500-acre green belt at Motikhavdi village in Jamnagar district, Gujarat, India. The project was officially launched on 26 February 2024 and was later inaugurated by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on 4 March 2025.

As of 2025, the facility reportedly housed more than 150,000 animals across over 2,000 species. Vantara received the Prani Mitra award in the corporate category from the Animal Welfare Board of India for its contributions to animal welfare.

The initiative has been subject to significant public controversy, multiple legal challenges, and criticism as a "vanity project" due to its lack of public access. It has also faced criticism over the alleged unethical sourcing of animals, with investigative reports and animal rights groups alleging links to the global wildlife trade. Vantara has also been accused of using animals for private entertainment during pre-wedding festivities, attempting to muzzle critical press coverage, and using fake legal notices to intimidate journalists. The court-ordered relocation of a revered temple elephant, Mahadevi, to the facility in July 2025 also sparked widespread public protests. Following these public concerns, the Supreme Court of India appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in August 2025 to examine allegations of illegal animal acquisition and financial irregularities. In September 2025, the Supreme Court accepted the SIT's sealed report, which cleared Vantara of any legal or ethical violations, and subsequently closed all pending petitions against the facility. However, the same report has been challenged by CITES, which has imposed a blanket ban on all wildlife imports to India based on its own findings.