Anant Ambani, Director at Reliance Industries, has embarked on an ambitious endeavor to open the world's largest zoo and animal rescue and rehabilitation centre. In an exclusive interview with Anuj Singhal of CNBC Awaaz, Ambani shared his deep affection for animals and elaborated on his visionary dream project.
Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation on February 26 announced the launch of Vantara (Star of the Forest) programme, an umbrella initiative to focus on rescue, treatment, care and rehabilitation of injured, abused and threatened animals, both in India and abroad. Spread over 3,000 acres within the Green Belt of Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery Complex in Gujarat, Vantara aims to be one of the leading contributors to conservation efforts globally.
Ambani talked about his family's love for animals, citing his parents as his primary inspiration for the new initiative. “What started as a passion for me at a very young age has become a mission now with Vantara and our brilliant and committed team. We are focused at protecting critically endangered species native to India. We also want to restore vital habitats and address urgent threats to species and establish Vantara as a leading-edge conservation programme," Anant said.
He said the rescue center houses over 200 elephants, while the zoo has more than 100 species of animals and a dedicated team of 3,000 people to manage it.
Ambani has displayed a deep passion for animal welfare since his early years. He is actively involved in various initiatives aimed at rescuing, providing healthcare, rehabilitating, and conserving animals.
Jamnagar is currently buzzing with excitement as preparations are underway for the upcoming pre-wedding festivities of Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Mukesh and Nita Ambani, with Radhika Merchant, the daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant. The celebrations are scheduled to take place from March 1 to 3.
Below are the edited excerpts of the interview:
Q: You have been explaining stuff to us patiently and passionately for the last 12 hours. Do you get this from your grandfather Dhirubhai Ambani?
A: For me, it’s my father, my honourable grandfather, my mother, and even my grandmother..
Q: Your grandmother is from Jamnagar?
A: Yes, she’s from Jamnagar… I am inspired by all of them. If I am able to achieve a fraction of what they have, it will be a big thing for me. My father and grandfather have set up the world’s biggest oil refinery here (Jamnagar). My mother built this massive township you see here. Our colleagues, all Reliance employees, all live here in this city that my mother has built.
It was Dhirubhai’s dream but when he passed away, my father helped accomplish that dream till the end.
Q: It’s said that Dhirubhai’s vision began where the thought of the common man ended. I was looking at this project. It’s so grand, I couldn’t imagine. When did you get the idea for this project? Hat you wanted to do something like this, and at this scale.
A: Like you said, my grandfather and my parents have always said do something that will be your legacy in the world. Dhirubhai’s philosophy was that the public should benefit from it. At one time, he gave mobile phones for ₹500 and everyone benefited from it.
It gave my father the idea for the 4G revolution. In every business, my father always says this, always look at how to help people, how to make their lives easier. He’s always ventured into businesses with that philosophy and he has taught us the same.
Now, we are all, including my colleagues, part of his team. We are trying to realise his vision. The entire team, all Reliance employees, my brothers and friends, we are all trying to take that vision forward.
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Q: How much have your siblings helped you in this project?
A: My Bhai-shri (Akash Ambani) and my sister (Isha) have supported me a lot in this project. All the family members are big animal lovers. My father has been taking us to forests since we were children.
Even my grandfather was very fond of going to the jungles. In Gir forest (Gujarat), my grandfather is from Chorwad, they used to see lions there. We have roamed around Gir forest many times with him.
My sister who runs the Reliance Foundation and Reliance Retail, she has supported me a lot. She has contributed a lot. Everyone knows my mother is the inspiration. Whatever I know today, I have learnt from her. We were able to build this because of our parents’ contribution.
Q: A project this big can’t be built only with a business motive. It needs passion and I can see that in you.
A: You’re from CNBC Awaaz so you will see the business angle…
Q: Yes, I talk about business but I can see a lot more than that here. That’s why I asked...
A: If you see the whole thing here, it’s for service. Whether it’s an elephant or any other animal, it’s a rescue centre. We have got over 200 rescued elephants here. We have 20-25,000 other animals that have been rescued.
There are over a 100 species of animals here. We protect even the endangered species. We are taking efforts for their safety, breeding and conservation, so that they can be released back into the wild one day.
You may have seen that we have built this (rescue and rejuvenation centre) over 2,000 acres. If any wild animal needs help, we welcome it with our arms wide open. There are over 3,000 people working here and they treat the animals like they are their own kids. That’s how our veterinarians treat the animals.
Q: As you mentioned I am from a business channel, so this question keeps coming to mind: did you already have all this land or did you buy it for this project?
A: This land has been with us from Dhirubhai’s time. It was leased to our animal welfare trust. Reliance Foundation is one of the sponsors for the trust. It’s one of the big contributions from my mother. She inspired me to take up this project.
The whole thing that you see here, runs on solar energy. We have built a lot of these things using scrap material. You must have seen it already, it’s spread over 2,000-2,500 acres.
It was barren land that we have now turned into a jungle.
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Q: If you need to rescue, say, another 10,000 animals, will you expand this project further in the future? Do you have the land and the resources for it?
A. We work with the government. The Gujarat department of forests has supported us a lot. They are already doing such good work, and it’s well known, in Gir and in Gujarat as a whole. We will partner with them, and work with their support.
What you’re seeing here is just a trailer. There’s a lot more to come.
Q: There’s clearly an economic angle. Dinesh, the person who takes care of the leopard, comes from a region affected by Naxalism.
A. He’s from Gadchiroli. We have about 3,000-4,000 caretakers here. They are all people from underdeveloped regions, Naxal-infested areas, and remote places in the northeastern states. We are bringing people from such places.
We are giving them a different kind of training. People who come from such places have a different kind of love for animals. The adivasi people serve the animals with all their heart.
There are 3,000 people who are finding livelihood here.
Q: Let me say this. It may be a passion project for you. But in an era when carbon credits, net-zero emissions are being spoken about, this could be a big business opportunity for you.
A. We don’t want to look at it as a business. It’s an institution for service. Not everyone gets an opportunity like this. God picked us for this service, we had the blessings of our parents, that’s why we are able to do this. Don’t want to bring a business angle into it.
Of course, the Foundation helps and nothing is possible without it. It’s a Trust. We don’t want to combine it with any business. We don’t want to use it for entertainment either.
It will always be a non-profit organisation. This is not for profit, it’s in the service of animals.
Q: I just saw a business angle…
We will plant trees, grow the jungle. It’s in the service of animals. We don’t expect anything in return.
Q: So, this is entirely part of your corporate social responsibility?
A. It’s a Trust. So it has the support of a lot of people. We are trustees. I am here like an advisor. We run it like a professional charitable organisation.
Q: Big congratulations on the wedding. My best wishes. You spend so much time with us, on this project, you spend so much time with animals, doesn’t Radhika-ji mind?
A. See, I spend an hour or two with the animals in a day. I have to work with my father on the business too. I have to spend time with my team, my colleagues too. There’s about 2,000-3,000 colleagues.So, I have to work anywhere 8-12 hours a day.
As far as Radhika is concerned, she’s also an animal lover like me. So, whenever I go, she also helps me. In fact, it will get easier for me after the wedding because she’s also very passionate.
If someone calls us in the middle of the night saying an elephant needs a surgery, both of us run to the spot.
I just pray that God gives me and my parents the strength to do more of this.
Q: Well, if you’ve found someone who shares your passion, what more do you need. Back to Jamnagar. It has the world’s biggest oil refinery. Not many people know but Jamnagar also has, possibly, the world’s biggest mango farm. Since you now lead the group’s new energy initiatives, will we more action here?
A. Of course! Our work is going on in full force. We are developing something over an area of over 4,000 acres. The moment it’s ready, you will be the first person to be invited here.
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Q: It’s been one of the big visions of your father. He has focused on this (new energy) a lot in the AGMs. So, there’s a lot of responsibility on you…
A. Yes. You were talking about carbon credits. We are trying to make the Jamnagar refinery into a net zero carbon emitter. It’s my father’s dream and we will get there soon.
Q: Can you tell us little more about the 4,000 acre new energy project?
A. We will tell you more when we bring you here next time. Let’s talk about the service initiative we have here.
Q: Sure. A regular hospital has a certain economics. Is it different from the one here, for animals?
A. I am not saying we want to do this but think about wildlife labs. There are over 150 zoos in the country. There are a lot of departments overseeing forest areas. There are many for-profit zoos. They all need labs.
While we are not-for-profit, we have to make some money. In the future, we want to build a centre of excellence in wildlife where samples from all over the world come for testing.
Like humans contracted COVID-19, animals also suffer from a lot of infections. These infections can affect humans too.
Q: So one last question. You have deep roots in Jamnagar. Is that why you picked the city for your wedding?
A. My grandmother is from Jamnagar. My mother has built the whole city. They have built the whole thing brick by brick. I have spent a lot of time here as a child. Mumbai is my home but my heart is in Jamnagar. My parents and grandmother also suggested that we pick Jamnagar as the venue. It also gives me an opportunity to celebrate with my colleagues, and the other people I work with.
Q: The Ambani family is known for its execution capabilities. Both Dhirubhai and your father are famous for it. Now, I am told that you are handling all the work in Jamnagar.
A. Nothing can be done one person. We have a whole team here. We work together. There are some senior people here. We learn something new from them every day.
Q: When will you invite me for more on the new energy project?
A. I will call you on December 20.
Disclaimer: Network18, the parent company of CNBCTV18.com, is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary.
(Edited by : Shweta Mungre)
First Published: Feb 26, 2024 12:36 PM IST
Note To Readers
Disclaimer: Network18, the parent company of CNBCTV18.com, is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary.
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