JAKARTA: The Government of Indonesia and Vantara have launched a major wildlife health and conservation partnership aimed at strengthening veterinary care, field response, conservation infrastructure and in situ wildlife protection across the country.
Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni announced the expansion of the country’s wildlife health and conservation efforts at a press conference in Jakarta. The programme is being supported by Vantara, founded by Anant Ambani, Executive Director of Reliance Industries Limited, in collaboration with PT Fauna Land Group.
Antoni said the partnership was aimed at strengthening Indonesia’s own wildlife health and conservation infrastructure with support from Vantara’s experience, expertise and resources.
He said all facilities and programmes created under the cooperation would remain owned, operated and managed by the Government of Indonesia and relevant national authorities, ensuring that they remained aligned with the country’s conservation priorities.
Vivaan Karani, CEO, Vantara, said Indonesia was home to some of the world’s most extraordinary biodiversity and described it as a privilege for Vantara to support the country in protecting its natural heritage.
He said Vantara would share its experience in wildlife health, veterinary care, animal husbandry and conservation while also learning from Indonesia’s own conservation expertise.
Karani said the objective was to ensure that the partnership delivered practical and lasting benefits for wildlife.
Danny Gunalen, CEO, Fauna Land, said the collaboration would bring together the experience and expertise of the Indonesian government, Vantara and Fauna Land to strengthen wildlife health and care across the country.
He said the partnership was expected to build local capacity, strengthen available infrastructure and create lasting benefits for both wildlife and those engaged in protecting it.
The programme will focus on strengthening Indonesia’s wildlife health infrastructure and field capabilities, with Vantara providing specialist veterinary expertise, technical support, infrastructure assistance and capacity-building support for programmes led by Indonesian authorities.
10 Hospitals on Wheels Planned
Among the major initiatives announced are capacity-building training programmes for elephant caregivers, veterinarians and other officials involved in wildlife management.
The partnership will also introduce 10 Hospitals on Wheels, which will provide in situ veterinary support for wild animals across Indonesia.
Another major component will be the upgrade of the Way Kambas Elephant Hospital into an advanced Elephant Treatment and Care Centre, equipped with improved tools, equipment and technology.
The upgraded facility is expected to support 62 Sumatran elephants under human care and nearly 100 wild Sumatran elephants in the surrounding landscape.
Partnership Under Existing MoU
The initiatives form part of broader cooperation between the Government of Indonesia and Vantara under an existing Memorandum of Understanding, which provides a framework for collaboration across wildlife health, animal welfare and conservation.
Under the MoU, the parties have identified priority areas of cooperation in line with Indonesia’s national conservation goals.
Vantara will contribute expertise in veterinary care, animal management and conservation, along with technical capabilities, infrastructure support and capacity-building programmes, while working closely with Indonesian authorities, relevant national institutions and Fauna Land.
The broader cooperation includes wildlife health and veterinary care, in situ and ex situ conservation, animal welfare, conservation breeding, rehabilitation, rewilding and capacity building.
Vantara Expands International Conservation Role
For Vantara, the Indonesia partnership follows the release of its Five-Year Plan and represents a significant expansion of its international conservation engagement.
The initiative will extend expertise and capabilities developed at Vantara’s Jamnagar facility to support wildlife health, animal care and in situ conservation programmes outside India.
The partnership also aligns with Vantara’s voluntary commitments to the CITES management authority of India to further support conservation efforts within the natural ranges of wildlife species.
The Government of Indonesia and Vantara said they would continue developing the agreed areas of cooperation in accordance with Indonesia’s national conservation priorities and applicable laws and policies.
Vantara, based in Jamnagar, Gujarat, undertakes animal rescue, rehabilitation, treatment and long-term care, supported by specialised veterinary medicine, species-specific nutrition, infrastructure and multidisciplinary teams.
It also conducts conservation breeding and rewilding programmes and supports habitat restoration, native species recovery, community engagement and human-wildlife conflict mitigation in collaboration with governments and conservation institutions in India and abroad.
Fauna Land, meanwhile, is an Indonesian wildlife organisation working in wildlife conservation, animal welfare and biodiversity protection through collaboration with government authorities and conservation institutions.
