~Anant Ambani launches Vantara’s Champions of Care initiative to strengthen community animal welfare, supporting around 2 million animals annually across India.
Jamnagar, Gujarat, Oct 06 (VNI): Anant M. Ambani, Executive Director, Reliance Industries Limited and philanthropist dedicated to animal welfare, on the occasion of World Animal Day, announced Champions of Care, a new Vantara initiative aimed at strengthening community animal welfare across India through practical and sustainable solutions.
The initiative brings together more than 50 animal welfare organisations from across the country working for community dogs, cats and large animals, while providing veterinary hospital services, mobile rescue and veterinary services, shelter, feeding and long-term care. Through the initiative, around 2 million animals nationwide are estimated to be reached and supported every year through veterinary care, rescue, shelter, feeding and lifelong care.
At the heart of Champions of Care is the recognition that every community animal deserves care, protection and dignity. The initiative covers dogs and cats living on the streets, abandoned and working animals such as cattle, donkeys and horses, as well as animals rescued following injury, abandonment or neglect. It also recognises the need for responsible population management of community dogs and cats, including animal birth control programmes.
Eight members of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), the statutory advisory body mandated to promote animal welfare in the country, also participated in the gathering.
“Every day, there are countless people who quietly care for animals in need, often with limited resources and little recognition, but with immense compassion. Their work reminds us that kindness has no boundaries and that every life deserves care, protection and dignity. Through Champions of Care, we hope to stand alongside this work, strengthen the care available to community animals and help build a more compassionate India. For us, this is what Every Life Matters truly means,” said Anant M. Ambani.
S. P. Gupta, Former Chairman and Current Member, AWBI, appreciated Anant Ambani’s vision and leadership in bringing Champions of Care to life. He said that Vantara’s advanced facilities and technology, along with its level of animal care, were comparable to the standards aspired to for human care. He particularly highlighted Ambani’s personal effort to listen to participating organisations, understand their challenges and respond with practical and sustainable solutions.
The two-day gathering at Vantara was designed to promote learning, dialogue and collaboration. On the first day, delegates visited Vantara’s specialised facilities for rescued elephants and big cats, including lions, tigers and leopards, as well as naturalistic environments for free-roaming herbivores such as bison, zebras and various antelope species. The visit showcased approaches to nutrition, veterinary care, housing, enrichment and lifelong care that can also offer valuable lessons for community animal welfare.
The second day focused on collaboration, with participating organisations sharing their experiences, discussing common challenges and identifying areas where support is required. A key milestone was the signing of a Letter of Understanding between Vantara and all participating animal welfare organisations, formalising their shared commitment to strengthening community animal welfare through collaboration, knowledge sharing, capacity building and practical support.
Each participating organisation was also presented with a Certificate of Appreciation signed by Anant Ambani in recognition of its dedication and tireless efforts towards animal care and welfare.
Champions of Care will support diverse needs identified by participating organisations, including infrastructure, animal housing, ambulances and mobile services, rescue equipment, diagnostic and treatment equipment, training and capacity building, and facilities for lifelong care. Infrastructure support will include solar power systems, rainwater harvesting and improved drainage systems to help organisations develop more efficient, resilient and sustainable facilities. Proposed initiatives also include education and awareness programmes for children and young people, as well as quarantine and disease-management infrastructure.
The initiative is designed to provide sustainable solutions that strengthen organisational capacity and reduce dependence on short-term support. Champions of Care is envisioned as a growing national network, with more animal welfare organisations expected to join in the years ahead, creating opportunities to share knowledge, expertise and resources and build a stronger collective response to the needs of community animals across India.
Champions of Care extends Vantara’s Every Life Matters commitment beyond the animals in its care to animals supported daily by community animal welfare organisations across the country. Through the initiative, Vantara seeks to strengthen the ecosystem of animal welfare organisations and help ensure that more animals receive the care, compassion and dignity they deserve. VNI NEWS, Anant Ambani, Champions of Care, Vantara, community animal welfare, animal welfare India, Animal Welfare Board of India, AWBI, animal rescue, veterinary care, animal birth control, Anant Ambani Champions of Care, Vantara animal welfare initiative, community animal welfare India, animal rescue and veterinary care, Every Life Matters, VNINews, VNINews.com