What We Know About Vantara?

Can you imagine a buzz around a zoo so secretive that no one has ever visited, yet it is famous for its exclusivity? It has already earned a God-like status, which no one has seen but believes in it. And all this story becomes interesting because it has the name ‘Ambani’ associated with it. Now, read this news all over again, it becomes even more mysterious, right? We are talking about the shimmering mirage in the Gujarat desert. The 3,000-acre Garden of Eden kind of concept has come to life amidst the grit of Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery. This is the story of Vantara Zoo, Anant Ambani’s ambitious vision and it’s suddenly the place to be, whispered about from Mumbai’s Bollywood parties to hushed corners of Delhi’s power circles. 

But here’s the question that has everyone buzzing, why are country’s A-listers so effusive in their praise for a zoo they’ve probably never even stepped foot in? What are the secrets hidden behind Vantara’s glittering veil? Is it just the name Ambani the reason behind its exclusivity? How many rules did they ignore to achieve this personal ambition? Does that mean that money indeed holds all the power to override everything? 

Let Corporate Soldiers shed light on every aspect!

Why So Secretive & Exclusive? 

The secrecy of Vantara is so exclusive that nobody has ever visited the zoo in person. Now comes our question, why are celebrities, who probably haven’t set foot in Vantara, so eager to tweet about it? Is it because it is inaccessible and seems like an unachievable and rare treasure like ‘One-Piece’? (The most popular Anime worldwide) Perhaps, indeed it’s the allure of the inaccessible. 

Yes, our readers, Vantara remains a forbidden fruit for 99.99% of India’s population which includes you as well. It’s a private zoo, shrouded in mystery and exclusivity, making it the perfect topic for the elite to flaunt their supposed environmental credentials. Let’s see who recently went gaga over this!

The Zoo of Elites?

When there is Ambani, there are elites. Of course, they themselves are elites, but we are talking about the attention-worthy news. 

The Inauguration:

While other conservation efforts struggle for attention, Vantara has our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurating it and celebrities tweeting about it. It’s not just a zoo; it has become a topic of conservation among common people because it is not open to the public yet.

The Celebrity Cheerleaders For Vantara:

Any news that has a celebrity connection, automatically becomes the talk of the town. Whether they are related to the news or not, doesn’t matter! Even if it’s a simple tweet, people want to know every piece of that particular news. Now since the news is directly associated with Ambanis, how could they not go gaga over it? 

From the silver screen to the cricket pitch, the country’s A-listers are tweeting up a storm about Vantara. They cheered for something they never even visited. From Kareena Kapoor, and Ranveer Singh to Shahrukh Khan, all praised the zoo alongside the pictures of animals. Kareena Kapoor gushed about Tarzan, an elephant whose sight was restored through cataract surgery. Similarly ever so colourful and outspoken, Ranveer Singh hailed it as a ‘Watershed moment in animal welfare’. Even Shah Rukh Khan waxed poetic, linking the ‘purity of a person’s heart’ to their love for animals.

But amidst this symphony of excessive admiration and praise, social media users are raising eyebrows and asking questions. As per the astute observation by one netizen, “Vantara is not conservation; it’s enclosure”. Let us see how much we know about this mysterious zoo and can you visit it in person?

Rumours Rise When Truth Hides, Isn’t?

When there is so much secrecy about anything, then rumours rise like wildfire. The secrecy surrounding Vantara has only fuelled its mystique. Some ask, ‘Are they really rescuing animals, or building a real-life Jurassic Park?’, ‘Are they trafficking animals in the shed of rescuing?’ The rumour mill is working overtime, and Reliance is laughing all the way to the bank of public opinion. Anant Ambani has hinted at some interesting future developments that put all this ruckus aside. He teased, ‘The zoological park will be opened to the public soon.’

The Controversies And Concerns:

As we said before, rumours rise when truth hides. This phenomenon has even sparked controversies and concerns. Vantara, the wildlife rescue center and zoo owned by Reliance Industries, has faced several allegations of bending or potentially violating wildlife laws and regulations. However, the truth is that no definitive ruling has been made against Vantara for breaking specific rules. But let’s see what were the controversies that surround Vantara.

Questionable animal acquisitions: 

There are some questionable things and allegations about Vantara that it may have acquired animals, including Asian elephants, that were not in need of rescue. These allegations raise the questions about the legitimacy of their conservation claims.

Weak wildlife laws and CITES compliance issues:

Critics are now raising their voices and critiquing recent amendments to India’s wildlife laws, particularly the Wildlife Protection Amendment Act 2022. Why?  Because these amendments enable easier acquisition of animals by private entities like Vantara. Now, people are suspicious of whether this was a move in advance.

Similarly, ‘The Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa’ has raised concerns about potential violations of the ‘Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species’ (CITES) regulations in the export of animals to Vantara. This concern makes it even more serious.

Lack of transparency: 

There have been calls for greater transparency in the operations of the Supreme Court-appointed High Powered Committee (HPC) that has been overseeing animal transfers to Vantara.

Involvement of authorities:

The major concern that critics and people all over social media is expressing that the Supreme Court-appointed High Powered Committee (HPC) has been involved in approving animal transfers to Vantara. Also, Vantara claims that all animal exchanges and rescues are done with the approval of the Central Zoo Authority and relevant state authorities. The facility was visited by the court-appointed HPC in December 2022. 

Vantara maintains that it has obtained necessary permissions and licenses from statutory authorities for all animals housed in its facilities.

The response to critics? Well, of course, Vantara and Reliance Industries have consistently denied any wrongdoing. They state that they comply with all relevant laws and regulations. However, the situation remains complex, with ongoing debates about the legality and ethics of Vantara’s operations. 

What We Know About Vantara?

For those souls who are yearning to visit this animal Eden, here’s what Corporate Soldiers managed to uncover about this secretive zoo!

Apart from these aspects, Vantara has a dedicated team of 2,100 professionals, including veterinarians and biologists who are responsible for taking care of rescued animals overall.

The Concept of Invisible Zoo:

As far as the word spreads, Reliance has managed to make Vantara become a household name without a single household actually stepping foot inside. How is it even possible? 

We all know that if Reliance does something, it does it big. This is the exact case with Vantara as well. It isn’t just a zoo; it’s a 3,000-acre wildlife extravaganza with more high-tech gadgets. From MRI machines for monkeys to Jacuzzis for jumbo elephants, Vantara is equipped with all the advanced machinery for the animals. People are even saying that It’s the Noah’s Ark got a billion-dollar makeover. 

Vantara’s Elephant Rescue: Conservation or Captivity?

So, how did Vantara gain its immense popularity? It’s because of the news about rescued elephants. Recently, Vantara rescued 20 elephants from the logging industry, but this rescue triggered questions. The question was, ‘Is this truly conservation, or a grand display of showing off wealth as environmental stewardship?’

While Vantara promised a chain-free life for its elephants, critics argue that true conservation means restoring animals in their natural habitats, not creating artificial ones, no matter how luxurious they are. But this doesn’t stop Vantara from claiming enormous fame, especially among celebrities. As the tweets flow and the celebrities glow, Vantara remains an enigma, a paradise for some, a paradox for others. Will it truly become the ‘World’s Most Advanced Wildlife Institute’ as Anant Ambani envisions, or will it remain a flimsy secretive zoo forever out of reach for the common Indian?

Only time will tell if Vantara can shed its secretive skin and truly become a hope for wildlife conservation. Until then, it remains a zoo of dreams, whispers, and unanswered questions, a place where the wild things are, but few can see.

Corporate Soldiers believes that Vantara has pulled off the ultimate magic trick! It has become India’s most famous zoo without anyone actually seeing it. It signifies the power of the Reliance brand, proving that in India, you don’t need to open your doors to open people’s minds, you just need the right name on the letterhead or there’s more to it. We will be keeping a hawk-eye on the news for you!