Daijiworld Media Network- Jamnagar
Jamnagar, Mar 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited Vantara, a large-scale wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation centre established by Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
Located within the Reliance Jamnagar Refinery Complex, the 3,000-acre sanctuary houses over 1.5 lakh rescued, endangered, and threatened animals across more than 2,000 species.
During his visit, PM Modi explored various facilities at Vantara, including the state-of-the-art wildlife hospital equipped with MRI, CT scans, ICUs, and specialized departments such as Wildlife Anaesthesia, Cardiology, Nephrology, and Internal Medicine. He observed an Asiatic Lion undergoing an MRI and witnessed a life-saving surgery being performed on a rescued Leopard.
A PMO statement highlighted that the Prime Minister interacted closely with several animals, including Asiatic Lion cubs, a White Lion cub, a rare Clouded Leopard cub, and a Caracal cub.
The White Lion cub, which Modi fed, was born at the facility after its mother was rescued. The Caracals, once abundant in India, are being bred at Vantara under a conservation programme before being released into the wild.
PM Modi also had close encounters with a Golden Tiger, four Snow Tigers rescued from a circus, a White Lion, and a Snow Leopard. He interacted with Chimpanzees that were earlier kept as pets, hugged and played with rescued Orangutans, and walked among Zebras. He also fed a Giraffe and a one-horned Rhino calf, which had been orphaned after its mother’s demise.
Among other rare species he observed were a two-headed snake, a two-headed turtle, a Tapir, Giant Otters, Bongo Antelope, Seals, and a large Python. The Prime Minister also witnessed elephants undergoing hydrotherapy treatment for arthritis and foot ailments in specialized jacuzzi pools at the world’s largest elephant hospital.
In a symbolic gesture, he released rescued parrots back into the wild, marking the centre’s commitment to wildlife conservation.
More details awaited.