How Anant Ambani’s devotion to animals inspired Vantara

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding was filled with many joyful moments. However, one in particular stole our hearts: Anant’s pet Happy. As the bride and groom exchanged wedding vows, Happy stood by, adorably dressed in a beautiful sherwani. Happy is a cherished member of the Ambani family, but Anant’s love for animals extends far beyond that. He has many others in his care at his animal shelter.
Since childhood, Anant Ambani has been fascinated by the animal world. In a widely shared Instagram video by @vantarareliancefoundation, Anant’s mother Nita Ambani recalls a touching incident that shows Anant’s obsession with animals. She recounts how, at just two years old, Anant rescued a group of chickens from Crawford Market. This early act of kindness and empathy towards animals has remained a constant theme in Anant’s life, shaping his deep love for them.
Driven by his compassion for animals, Anant embarked on a monumental project to create Vantara, a renowned wildlife conservation project. Today, Vantara serves as a sanctuary for a wide variety of wild animals, including 200 elephants, over 300 big cats such as leopards, tigers, lions and jaguars, and 300 herbivores such as deer. The sanctuary is also home to over 1,200 reptiles, including crocodiles, snakes and turtles. Each resident of Vantara represents Anant’s unwavering vision and deep compassion for animals.

As Anant embarks on this new journey, we hope his dedication to animal welfare will become even stronger.