Watch: PM Modi And Lion Face-to-Face At Vantara Wildlife Conservation in Jamnagar

Jamnagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated ‘Vantara’, a unique wildlife conservation, rescue and rehabilitation initiative which provides a safe haven for animals in distress while promoting ecological sustainability and wildlife welfare. Vantara which is world’s largest animal rehabilitation centre, is owned by Anant Ambani, the younger son of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani. The entire wildlife conservation is spread in across 3,000-acre area in Gujarat’s Jamnagar. The name Vantara translates to ‘Star of the Forest.’

Visiting the wildlife conservation centre in Jamnagar, PM Modi said, "I commend Anant Ambani and his entire team for this very compassionate effort."

“An effort like Vantara is truly commendable, a vibrant example of our centuries old ethos of protecting those we share our planet with,” Prime Minister said.

During the visit, PM Modi spent time with lots of animal species including Asiatic Lion cubs, White Lion cubs, Leopard cubs, and other endangered species. Not just these, the Prime Minister shared adorable moments with tigers, zebras, lions, giraffes, elephants, and parrots.

In another photo, PM Modi was seen playing with orangutan babies at Vantara wildlife conservation. 

Apart from many photos and videos that surfaced from his visit, in one video, PM Modi was seen sitting alongside a lion, a snow leopard, snow tigers with a glass partition in between. Watch the clip below:

Sharing some glimpses from his visit to Vantara, PM Modi said that he saw an elephant which was the victim of an acid attack. The elephant was being treated with utmost care.

"There were other elephants too, which were blinded and that too ironically by their Mahout. Another elephant was hit by a speeding truck. This underscores an important question - how can people be so careless and cruel? Let us put an end to such irresponsibility and focus on kindness towards animals," PM Modi wrote on X.

In addition to this, there were other instances which he witnessed at the wildlife conservation. Telling further about his experience, PM Modi said, “A lioness was hit by a vehicle with severe spinal injuries. She was getting proper care while a leopard cub abandoned by her family got a new lease of life, with proper nutritional care.”

The Prime Minister complimented the team at Vantara for the care given to several such animals.

Wildlife Conservation houses world’s largest elephant hospital

Vantara houses world’s largest Elephant Care Centre with facilities including advanced veterinary care including hydrotherapy pond, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, specialised foot care and more.

One of the many goals of Vantara is to rescuing, treating, caring for and rehabilitating injured, abused and endangered animals, protecting critically endangered species among others.