Indonesia partners with Anant Ambani's Vantara to boost wildlife healthcare
Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry has signed a partnership with Vantara, a wildlife conservation initiative founded by Anant Ambani, Executive Director of Reliance Industries Limited, to strengthen wildlife health infrastructure, veterinary care, and conservation efforts across the country.
The programme announced on Wednesday includes training for elephant caregivers, veterinarians, and officials involved in wildlife management. It also plans to set up ten veterinary hospitals, described as 'Hospitals on Wheels', to provide mobile medical care for wild animals in various regions of Indonesia.
A key component of the partnership is the upgrade of the Way Kambas Elephant Hospital into an Elephant Treatment and Care Centre, equipped with modern technology and medical equipment. According to the announcement, the upgraded facility is expected to support 62 Sumatran elephants under human care and nearly 100 wild Sumatran elephants living in the surrounding landscape.
The collaboration is part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Indonesian government and Vantara covering wildlife health, animal welfare, and conservation. The broader scope includes conservation breeding, rehabilitation, rewilding, in situ and ex situ conservation, and capacity building.
Under the agreement, Vantara will provide veterinary expertise, technical support, infrastructure assistance, and training in programmes led by Indonesian authorities. The work will involve national institutions and Faunaland, an Indonesian wildlife organisation.
Indonesia's Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said the cooperation would strengthen the country's ability to care for its wildlife while ensuring that all programmes remain under Indonesian authority. 'Wildlife conservation is ultimately our responsibility, and we must ensure that Indonesia has the facilities, expertise, and resources to care for our wildlife wherever they need us,' he said.
Vantara CEO Vivaan Karani said the organisation would share its experience in wildlife health, veterinary care, animal husbandry, and conservation, while also learning from Indonesia's conservation work. 'Indonesia is home to some of the world's most extraordinary biodiversity, and it is a privilege for Vantara to support the country in protecting this heritage for future generations,' he added.
Faunaland CEO Danny Gunalen said the partnership could help strengthen local capacity and wildlife infrastructure. 'We hope this partnership will build local capacity, strengthen the infrastructure available to wildlife and, most importantly, make a real and lasting difference to the animals and the people dedicated to protecting them,' he said.
The cooperation will follow Indonesia's national conservation priorities and applicable laws and policies. Its success will be measured by how effectively the new support reaches animals in need and translates into stronger, lasting protection for endangered species across the country.
