‘Vantara University’: India’s first global wildlife institution

The foundation stone of India’s first global wildlife institution, Vantara University, has been laid in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

It will be launched under the vision of Anant Ambani and is set to become the world’s first integrated global university dedicated to wildlife and veterinary science.

The foundation stone of the university was laid by Anant, his wife Radhika, and his father and Chairman and MD of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani. This occasion coincided with Anant’s 31st birthday.

Along with this, the launch of ‘Vantara University Founding Fellows’ and ‘Every Life Matters’ scholarships was also announced.

The wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center, which recently completed its first year, is spread across a vast area of 3,500 acres and houses around 1,50,000 animals.

Vantara University

It will be designed as a modern gurukul, and its objective is to make India a global leader in conservation, animal welfare, and veterinary education.

Vantara University stands out as a unique academic initiative that integrates multiple subjects under one ecosystem with a focus on wildlife and conservation.

According to Vantara, the university will offer undergraduate, postgraduate, fellowship, and specialized programs in subjects such as wildlife medicine and surgery, behavioral science, genetics, epidemiology, conservation policy, and ‘One Health’.

The university will attempt to integrate field-based conservation practices with academic training by leveraging Vantara’s experience in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.

Vantara: Animal rescue and rehabilitation center

Vantara (“Star of the Jungle”) is a 3,500-acre animal rescue and rehabilitation center located in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.

Situated within the Reliance Jamnagar refinery complex, this facility includes advanced veterinary hospitals (including the ‘Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust’) and specialized rehabilitation centers.

Led by Anant Ambani and supported by the Reliance Foundation, it was launched in early 2024 to care for abused, injured, or neglected animals; it focuses especially on rescued elephants, big cats (such as tigers and lions), and reptiles.