JAMNAGAR: On World Animal Day, Anant M. Ambani, Executive Director of Reliance Industries Limited and philanthropist working in animal welfare, announced ‘Champions of Care’, a new Vantara initiative aimed at strengthening community animal welfare through practical and sustainable support.
The initiative brings together more than 50 animal welfare organisations from across India working with community dogs, cats and large animals, as well as organisations providing veterinary hospitals, mobile rescue and veterinary services, shelters and long-term care.
The initiative is estimated to reach and support around two million animals every year through veterinary treatment, rescue, shelter, feeding and long-term care. It will also support responsible population management for community dogs and cats, including animal birth control programmes.
Eight members of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), the statutory advisory body on animal welfare, participated in the gathering.
As part of the two-day programme, delegates visited Vantara’s facilities for rescued elephants and big cats, including lions, tigers and leopards, besides naturalistic environments housing free-roaming herbivores. The visits focused on practices related to nutrition, veterinary care, housing, enrichment and lifelong animal care.
The second day featured discussions among participating organisations on common challenges and potential areas of collaboration. A key outcome was the signing of a Letter of Understanding between Vantara and all participating animal welfare organisations, providing a framework for collaboration, knowledge sharing, capacity building and practical support.
The initiative will support needs identified by participating organisations, including infrastructure, animal housing, ambulances and mobile veterinary services, rescue equipment, diagnostic and treatment facilities, training and capacity building, and arrangements for lifelong care.
Support will also cover sustainability measures such as solar power systems, rainwater harvesting and improved drainage, while some organisations have identified the need for awareness programmes for children and young people and infrastructure for quarantine and disease management.
The participating organisations were also presented Certificates of Appreciation signed by Anant Ambani in recognition of their work for animal welfare.
The initiative is envisioned as a growing national network, with more organisations expected to join in the coming years. It aims to facilitate greater sharing of knowledge, expertise and resources among animal welfare groups working across different parts of the country.
‘Champions of Care’ is being positioned as an extension of Vantara’s ‘Every Life Matters’ approach, with the initiative seeking to strengthen the work of organisations caring for community animals and expand access to veterinary care, rescue, shelter and long-term support.
