Anant Ambani's Vantara Lights Up Diwali Compassion With Airlift For 3 Distressed Elephants

Jamnagar: Anant Ambani , businessman and son of industrialist Mukesh Ambani , in a welcome gesture booked a charter flight for three distressed African elephants to airlift m from Tunisia to Vantara, which is a 3000-acre animal shelter in Gujarats' Jamnagar. place is a beacon of hope for animals in need. elephants include two females and one male, d 28 to 29 years, who will soon find a compassionate new home at Vantara.

Founded by Anant Mukesh Ambani , Vantara which is one of world’s most esteemed wildlife rescue centers, was approached by a private zoo in Tunisia that struggled to meet elephants’ complex dietary, housing, and veterinary needs due to financial constraints.

3 distressed elephants to get new care home at Vantara

More than two decades ago, at just four years old, Achtaum, Kani, and Mina were transferred from Burkina Faso to Friguia Park, a zoo in Tunisia, where y have remained as a spectacle for visitors for nearly 23 years.

All regulatory and legal compliance with national and international law, including requirements of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), has been completed. elephants will be transported to India via a chartered cargo aircraft.

Tunisia's zoo facing financial crunch 

Despite being a focal attraction at Friguia Park, financial constraints began to impact zoo, leading to decision to retire three African forest elephants and offset costs. zoo recognized that, after years of captivity and a heavy reliance on human care, a return to wild was neir feasible r desirable. Consequently, y sought a facility that could offer elephants best chance for a peaceful and fulfilling retirement—one that would meet all ir specialized health needs and provide compassionate care y deserve. Ultimately, Vantara was identified as ideal destination.

A recent health assessment by Vantara’s veterinary experts revealed that elephants are facing various healthcare challenges. Untreated skin conditions had caused hair loss and matted skin, underscoring need for consistent medical attention. Achtaum has a split tusk and a molar tooth infection requiring careful medical and surgical manment, while Kani shows signs of cracked nails, likely due to prolonged exposure to hard flooring. Currently, elephants live in a poorly ventilated concrete house and a paddock that lacks essential enrichment necessary for ir mental and physical well-being. ir diet has primarily consisted of dry hay, with limited access to clean water.

While African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) are native to dense tropical forests of Central and West Africa, wild populations of this species exist in Tunisia. In ir natural habitats, se elephants thrive in vast forest landscapes, enjoying freedom to for on diverse foli and access mud wallows that benefit ir skin health. Vantara has recreated se comforts through expansive, enriched enclosures featuring native flora, mud pools, and thoughtfully designed food enrichments that encour natural foraging behaviours. ir new home at Vantara will provide Achtaum, Kani, and Mina with an environment that closely resembles ir wild habitat while offering specialized care to support ir physical, psychological, and social well-being—a renewed opportunity for m to live a life filled with compassion.