Minister Raja Juli Antoni announces major new wildlife health and in situ conservation initiatives with Vantara, to begin with Capacity Building Trainings, Hospitals on Wheels and upgraded Way Kambas Elephant Hospital.
Jakarta, 24 August: Raja Juli Antoni, Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, today announced a major expansion of Indonesia’s wildlife health and in situ conservation efforts at a press conference in Jakarta. The programme is being supported by Vantara, one of the world’s largest wildlife conservation initiatives, founded by Anant Ambani, Executive Director of Reliance Industries Limited, in collaboration with PT Fauna Land Group, a renowned wildlife organisation in Indonesia.
Antoni said, “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. Through this partnership, we are strengthening our own wildlife health and conservation infrastructure, with Vantara supporting us with its experience, expertise and resources. All the facilities and programmes under this cooperation will be owned, operated and managed by the Government of Indonesia and our relevant authorities, ensuring that they serve Indonesia’s conservation priorities and our wildlife for generations to come.”
Vivaan Karani, CEO, Vantara, said, “We are grateful to the Government of Indonesia and our partners for the trust and opportunity to contribute to Indonesia’s wildlife conservation efforts. 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 natural heritage for future generations. Vantara has developed deep expertise in wildlife health, veterinary care, animal husbandry and conservation, and we are pleased to share that experience with Indonesia. We also look forward to learning from the country’s considerable conservation experience. Most importantly, we want this partnership to deliver something practical and lasting for wildlife.”
Danny Gunalen, CEO, Faunaland, said, “Indonesia is blessed with extraordinary wildlife and biodiversity, and protecting this natural heritage is a responsibility we all share. We are pleased to work alongside the Government of Indonesia and Vantara, bringing together our respective experience and expertise to strengthen wildlife health and care across the country. 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.”
The programme will strengthen Indonesia’s wildlife health infrastructure and field capabilities, with Vantara providing specialist veterinary expertise, technical support, infrastructure assistance and capacity building in support of programmes led by the Indonesian authorities.
Among the major initiatives announced are capacity building trainings for elephant caregivers, veterinarians and other officials involved in wildlife management in Indonesia, 10 Hospitals on Wheels which would cater to the requirements of wild animals across Indonesia in situ, and the upgrade of Way Kambas Elephant Hospital into the Elephant Treatment and Care Centre with advanced equipment, tools and technologies. The upgraded hospital will support 62 Sumatran elephants under human care and nearly 100 wild Sumatran elephants in the surrounding landscape.
The initiatives form part of the broader cooperation between the Government of Indonesia and Vantara under an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which provides a framework for collaboration across wildlife health, animal welfare and conservation. Under the MoU, the parties have identified priority areas of cooperation in line with Indonesia’s national conservation priorities.
Vantara will contribute its veterinary, animal care and conservation expertise, technical capabilities, infrastructure support and capacity building programmes, working closely with the Government of Indonesia, relevant national institutions and Fauna Land.
The broader cooperation covers wildlife health and veterinary care, in situ and ex situ conservation, animal welfare, conservation breeding, rehabilitation, rewilding and capacity building, alongside other mutually agreed areas of collaboration.
For Vantara, the collaboration follows the release of its Five Year Plan and marks a significant expansion of its international conservation engagement, extending the expertise and capabilities developed at its Jamnagar facility to support wildlife health, animal care and in situ conservation initiatives. The partnership is also aligned with Vantara’s recent voluntary commitments to the CITES management authority of India to enhance further its support to conservation in the natural range of wildlife (in situ).
The Government of Indonesia and Vantara will continue to develop the agreed areas of cooperation in accordance with Indonesia’s national conservation priorities and applicable laws and policies.
About Vantara
Vantara, founded by Anant Ambani, Executive Director of Reliance Industries Limited, is an animal welfare and conservation organisation. Its ex situ programmes at its facility in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, encompass rescue, rehabilitation, treatment and, where required, long term care. These programmes are supported by advanced veterinary medicine, species specific nutrition, specialised infrastructure and multidisciplinary teams. Vantara is extending its expertise in animal health, veterinary care and animal husbandry through collaborations and partnerships that support wildlife welfare and conservation efforts globally.
Vantara also undertakes conservation breeding programmes to support the future restoration of viable populations in suitable natural habitats through rewilding, both in India and globally. It’s in situ conservation work supports native species restoration, habitat restoration, local community engagement and human wildlife conflict mitigation, in collaboration with government authorities, conservation institutions and other partners in India and internationally.
About Fauna Land
Fauna Land is a leading Indonesian wildlife organisation working to support wildlife conservation, animal welfare and the protection of Indonesia’s biodiversity. With experience in wildlife care, conservation and field based programmes, Fauna Land works in collaboration with government authorities, conservation institutions and other partners to strengthen the protection and welfare of wildlife across Indonesia.