Anant Ambani’s Vantara has been conferred with the ‘Prani Mitra’ National Award, India’s highest honour in animal welfare, by the Government of India in the ‘Corporate’ category. The award recognises the contributions of the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT), an organisation under Vantara dedicated to the rescue, treatment, and lifelong care of elephants.
Vantara’s Elephant Care Centre houses over 240 rescued elephants, including 30 from circuses and more than 100 from the logging industry, as well as others saved from exploitative practices such as rides and street begging.
Spanning 998 acres of specially created forest, the centre provides a chain-free environment where the elephants can roam freely, socialise, and engage in natural behaviours such as foraging, mud and dust bathing, and swimming in natural ponds.
The facility is designed to ensure both the physical and psychological well-being of the elephants, many of whom have endured years of neglect and mistreatment before their rescue.
The award was presented by the Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Vivaan Karani, CEO of Vantara, expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, “This award is a tribute to the countless individuals who have devoted their lives to protecting and caring for India’s animals. At Vantara, serving animals is not just a duty—it is our dharma and seva, a commitment deeply rooted in compassion and responsibility. We remain relentless in our mission to elevate welfare standards, drive impactful initiatives, and safeguard India’s rich biodiversity for generations to come.”
The Prani Mitra Award in the Corporate category is given to corporations, public sector undertakings, government bodies, and cooperatives for their continuous contributions to animal welfare over the past five years, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding dedicated to such initiatives.
Vantara’s Elephant Care Centre also houses the world’s largest elephant hospital, which integrates allopathic and alternative medicine, including Ayurveda for chronic disease management and acupuncture for pain relief. The facility includes a hydrotherapy pond with high-pressure water jets for arthritis treatment, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for wound healing, and a dedicated foot care centre staffed with pedicure specialists.
A hydraulically operated surgical platform and specialised lifting equipment facilitate stress-free medical procedures, while an advanced endoscope, the longest-ever customised for elephants, enables internal diagnostics. The hospital features one of the world’s largest chain-free musth enclosures for the safe management of bulls and can treat three elephant patients simultaneously.
Vantara also operates a fleet of 75 custom-engineered elephant ambulances equipped with hydraulic lifts, rubber mat flooring, water troughs, showers, and caretaker cabins, ensuring the safe and stress-free transport of rescued elephants. Through these initiatives, Vantara is setting new standards in ethical elephant management, veterinary excellence, and lifelong care.
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