An offer from Reliance-backed Vantara to build three wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres in Assam, including one dedicated exclusively to Asian elephants, has run into sharp pushback from the state's wildlife conservation community, who say the proposal cannot be evaluated in good faith given ongoing, unresolved concerns about how the Jamnagar, Gujarat facility has already been acquiring elephants from Northeast India.
Background
Vantara, the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility built by the Reliance Group in Jamnagar, Gujarat, has grown rapidly into one of the world's largest such centres, drawing both praise for its scale of animal care and sustained criticism over the ethics and transparency of how it acquires animals — particularly elephants transferred from captivity elsewhere in India, including Northeast India. Multiple transfers of elephants from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura to Vantara in recent years have drawn scrutiny from activists, opposition politicians and journalists, most notably the transport of 21 elephants through Assam originating from Namsai in Arunachal Pradesh, and the case of an injured, allegedly abused cow elephant named Pratima and her calf, who were intercepted in Assam by the state forest department while reportedly being moved from Tripura toward Vantara.
These transfers are formally overseen by a Supreme Court-appointed High Powered Committee (HPC) responsible for vetting elephant transfer and transport requests under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and the more recent Captive Elephant (Transfer and Transport) Rules, 2024. Assam-based wildlife activist Rohit Choudhury, from Bokakhat near Kaziranga, has separately petitioned the HPC demanding that its proceedings be made public, warning in a letter that the secrecy surrounding the committee's work was fuelling a regional fear that "all elephants from the Northeast will be taken to Jamnagar" — a concern that forms the immediate backdrop against which Vantara's new Assam proposal is now being read.
Key Details
- Vantara submitted its proposal to set up three wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres in Assam in a letter to the state's Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department dated August 12, 2026.
- One of the three proposed centres would be dedicated exclusively to the welfare of Asian elephants.
- Wildlife activists in Assam have raised concerns specifically around animal transfers, transparency of process, the facility's veterinary and rehabilitation capacity claims, and the broader trend of private entities taking on an expanding role in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation work traditionally handled by government forest departments and established conservation NGOs.
- Prominent Assam wildlife conservationist Jayanta Kr Das offered a more conditional response, saying rescue and rehabilitation centres located within Assam could be beneficial for the state's wildlife, but only if they are structured so as not to become a pipeline that facilitates further onward transfer of animals to Gujarat.
- Assam's Environment and Forest Minister has said the proposal is currently under examination by the department, without committing to a timeline or decision.
- The controversy connects to a wider, unresolved dispute over the transparency of the Supreme Court-appointed High Powered Committee that vets elephant transfers nationally, which activist Rohit Choudhury has separately petitioned to make its proceedings public.
At a Glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Proposal date | Letter to Assam Forest Dept dated August 12, 2026 |
| Proposed centres | 3 total, including 1 dedicated to Asian elephants |
| Proponent | Vantara (Reliance Group, Jamnagar, Gujarat) |
| Main activist concerns | Animal transfers, transparency, veterinary capacity, private-sector role in conservation |
| Conditional conservationist view | Beneficial only if centres don't facilitate further transfer to Gujarat (Jayanta Kr Das) |
| Government position | Proposal "being examined" — no decision announced |
| Related ongoing dispute | Activist petition for transparency in Supreme Court-appointed elephant-transfer HPC |
Local Impact
For Assam's captive and rescued elephant population — a species with deep cultural and religious significance in the state as well as major conservation importance given Assam's role as a stronghold of wild Asian elephant populations — the outcome of this debate has consequences well beyond a single infrastructure decision. If activists' concerns prove founded and any resulting Assam-based Vantara centres do function as a staging point for onward transfer to Gujarat, critics argue it could accelerate the same pattern of elephants leaving the Northeast that has already drawn opposition political criticism and activist petitions over the past two years.
Conversely, dedicated in-state rescue and rehabilitation infrastructure — if built with genuine local retention and robust veterinary standards — could address a real capacity gap: Assam's existing government-run rescue infrastructure, such as the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation near Kaziranga, is not elephant-specific and handles a broad range of species, meaning specialised elephant care capacity within the state could plausibly benefit distressed or injured elephants that currently have limited local treatment options.
What Happens Next
The Assam Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department's examination of Vantara's proposal is ongoing, with no public timeline for a decision. Given the intensity of activist pushback, the department will likely face pressure to attach binding conditions — such as guarantees against onward transfer, independent veterinary oversight, or public reporting requirements — before any approval, if it chooses to proceed at all. The broader, unresolved question of High Powered Committee transparency around elephant transfers nationally also remains before the Supreme Court process, and its outcome could shape how any future Assam-Vantara arrangement is structured or scrutinised.
Frequently Asked Questions
What has Vantara proposed for Assam?
Vantara has proposed setting up three wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres in Assam, including one dedicated exclusively to Asian elephant welfare, in a letter to the state's Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department dated August 12, 2026.
Why are wildlife activists opposed to the proposal?
Activists cite concerns over how animal transfers would be managed, lack of transparency in the process, questions about veterinary and rehabilitation capacity, and unease about the growing role of private entities like Vantara in wildlife conservation work traditionally led by government and established NGOs.
Is there precedent for concern about elephants moving from Assam to Vantara?
Yes. Previous transfers, including 21 elephants moved through Assam from Arunachal Pradesh's Namsai, and the case of an injured cow elephant named Pratima and her calf intercepted in Assam, have drawn sustained criticism from activists, opposition politicians and journalists over transparency and animal welfare.
What is the High Powered Committee and why does it matter here?
It is a Supreme Court-appointed committee responsible for vetting elephant transfer and transport requests under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and the Captive Elephant (Transfer and Transport) Rules, 2024. Activist Rohit Choudhury has separately petitioned it to make its proceedings public, citing regional fears about elephants being taken from the Northeast to Jamnagar.
Do all conservationists oppose the proposal outright?
No. Conservationist Jayanta Kr Das has taken a conditional position, saying rescue centres within Assam could benefit the state's wildlife, provided they are structured so as not to facilitate further transfer of animals to Gujarat.
What has the Assam government said?
The state's Environment and Forest Minister has said the proposal is currently being examined by the department, without indicating a timeline or decision.
Where is Vantara located and who runs it?
Vantara is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility in Jamnagar, Gujarat, built by the Reliance Group, and has grown into one of the world's largest such centres.
What conservation infrastructure for elephants currently exists in Assam?
Assam has general wildlife rescue infrastructure, such as the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation near Kaziranga, but it is not elephant-specific, which is part of the argument for a dedicated elephant welfare centre if built with adequate safeguards.
Sources
Northeast Now (nenow.in), Down To Earth, The Assam Tribune, Northeast News (nenews.in), Deccan Herald.