Vantara’s Global Rescue Missions: From Mexico to Venezuela:

On his three-day visit to Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Vantara animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in Jamnagar on Sunday.

The Vantara center’s yearly budget amounts to an unbelievable ₹572.43 crore, which funds the care of more than 1.5 lakh rescued and endangered animals' animals. Using state of the art interactivity and escape technology, the PM was able to personally meet various species of wildlife that have been rescued and rehabilitated at the center. A few of the inspiring international rescue stories done by Vantara will be covered ahead.

A new beginning for the big cats

In Slovakia on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 a man named Jozef who had a history of owning 16 big cats was infamously killed, being Forcefully pugged down by ferocious animals which included lions. Jozef had, at his command, a small zoo situated in Kysucké Nové Mesto Slovakia. The helpless 2 lions which were present at the site of the incident were shot just to shield the officers which had come on the scene. With 14 big cats remaining—11 tigers and 3 lions, the fate of these animals was likely doom to euthanize. Turns out, the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) in India has decided to take those magnificent, majestic creatures and give them a new chance at life.

After becoming aware of the situation, GZRRC, a rescue center that focuses on the welfare of animals, took action immediately. In regard to the urgency of the matter, the GZRRC team started discussions with both governments of Slovakia and India to get the required permissions for taking the remaining big cats to the sanctuary in India.

It is apparent that obtaining permissions from two governments is no easy task, but the sheer willpower and grit of GZRRC's team has certainly paid off. After dealing with the red tapes, they received the go ahead to put their plans into motion, which includes transporting big cats to a site which is hundred percent safe and comfortable for them.

This is an extraordinary day for all those who were a part of this incredible achievement as the 14 big cats have been successfully moved from Slovakia to GZRRC in India on the 27th of August 2023.

Not only did this rescue save the animals from an unfortunate outcome, but it also set forth a new chapter in their lives. Animals which have been rescued are able to flourish at GZRRC which is situated at a sprawling sanctuary in Jamnagar, India. With extensive care for each species and their requirements, each big cat is given the utmost care and freedom to roam around in the vast greenery.

With GZRRC’s modern facilities and advanced technology, the dedicated team of zookeepers and veterinary experts are unparalleled in their approach to conservation and animal welfare. Proper medical attention, a nutritious diet, and stimulation activities are essential for the health of the lions and tigers, and these professionals expertly provide those needs.

Ambassadors of compassion and wildlife protection, the rescued big cats stand as symbols of what can be achieved with the right care. For the GZRRC educational programs advance the cause and inform everyone about the problems such animals face and reminds us of the importance of conserving wildlife.

The effective saving of the 14 big cats serves as a remarkable reminder of what compassion, collaboration, and resolve can achieve. GZRRC’s commitment to ensuring animal welfare has not only saved countless lives but has enabled these majestic creatures to live in a respectful and safe environment. GZRRC has achieved yet another astounding rescue and equally showed us the difference that passionate people and organizations can do for those who cannot speak for themselves.

International Rescue Operation in Mexico

In December 2020 a Mexican agency contacted Vantara for help. The challenge was unique, considering they took in multiple animals from various zoos in Mexico which neglected them during the Covid-19 pandemic. These animals were placed into quarantine facilities, but their conditions were horrifying to say the least.

Vantara stepped in right away, but it was beyond grotesque. So many of the cats were kept in such appalling conditions that a lot of them were emaciated or sick while some were way too weak to even walk. Their state of malnourishment was disturbing. These felines were entirely left to starve, which led to them cannibalizing each other. A lot of them were suffering from severe dehydration due to lack of water and were showing great unwillingness to live.

An immediate step was taken by a team at Vantara which led to the cats being fed and given vital medical treatment. Eventually, more than one hundred big cats were rescued and placed in advanced state rescue facilities built at Vantara, all with the appropriate permissions under the national laws and international conventions. “With proper care and feeding, these animals have started to demonstrate tremendous levels of confidence and their brute strength. They also show naturalistic behaviors such as swimming, playing, and most importantly, they’ve been able to survive. They are now free; these cats have truly been given a new lease on life,” it said.

Rescue Operations: Venezuela

In November 2023, the Venezuelan National Foundation of Zoos, Breeding Farms, and Aquariums appealed for support from Vantara on behalf of a number of rescued birds and mammals placed in the care of San Antonio de Abad Zoo in Caracas. The zoo was in crisis, and the animals under its care were in even more dire need of life-saving assistance. The post-COVID era embargo on medicine and food imports, compounded with previously existing high inflation, had left over 700+ animals, including Giant Anteaters and Giant River Otters, starving. The situation propelled the zoo to a state of dire emergency.

As a first step response to this, Vantara mobilized staff and veterinarians with medicines and supplies needed to address the animal’s health and wellbeing. Days later, San Antonio de Abad Zoo harnessed the power of Vantara Cares and requested that the animals be removed. After securing the necessary permits from national laws and the CITES Convention, 700 animals were relocated. They now live happily in Vantara’s designed and luxuriant enclosures.

As Vantara pointed out, they house these animals at Vantara with the highest international standards and have allowed Tapirs to swim in a pool, Giant Anteaters to consume special insectile diet, and highland parrots to live in air-conditioned rooms that mimic their paramo environment's climate.