PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lauded the unique wildlife conservation, rescue and rehabilitation initiative ‘Vantara’, which he visited this week, and urged people to focus on kindness towards animals. Modi on Sunday visited Vantara, the animal rescue, conservation and rehabilitation centre in Gujarat’s Jamnagar district. Spread over 3,000 acres, Vantara is located at Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refinery complex. It is a rescue centre dedicated to the welfare of captive elephants and wildlife, providing sanctuary, rehabilitation and medical care to animals rescued from abuse and exploitation.

 

Modi said in a post on X, “InauguratedVantara,aunique wildlife conservation, rescue and rehabilitation initiative, whichprovidesasafehavenfor animalswhilepromoting ecological sustainability and wildlife welfare. I commend Anant Ambani and his entire team for this very compassionate effort.” “An effort like Vantaraistrulycommendable, a vibrant example of our centuries-old ethos of protecting those we share our planet with,”hesaid,sharingpictures from his visit. AtVantara,Modi saidhesaw anelephantwhichwas thevictim of an acid attack.

 

“The elephant was being treatedwithutmostcare.There were other elephants, too, which were blinded and that, too,ironicallybytheirmahout. Another elephant was hit by a speeding truck. This underscores an important question -- how can people be so careless and cruel?” he said. “Let us put an end to such irresponsibility and focus on kindness towardsanimals,”he added. There were other instances, too, Modi said and added that a lioness suffered severespinalinjuriesafteritwas hit by a vehicle.