Vantara Success Story: Rescued Leopard Deva Saved from Poachers, Infection – News18

As Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation on Monday announced the launch of their Vantara (Star of the Forest) programme, an umbrella initiative to focus on the rescue, treatment, care, and rehabilitation of injured, abused, and threatened animals, both in India and abroad, here’s a heartwarming rescue story.

The leopard Deva was a victim of illegal wildlife hunting by some locals. It got entangled in metal wire snare traditionally used for trapping Nilgai (blue bull) and wild boars. It was trapped in the snare for a couple of days and it got embedded in the animal’s skin and the wound was infected by maggots.

After information was received from the local forest department, a quick response team with expert veterinarians and animal care professionals from Vantara swiftly reached the site.

The animal was sedated, and the metal snare was removed. The wound was cleaned, and dressing was done.

In the next few days, supportive medication was continued and dressing was done multiple times, till the leopard recovered completely. The deep wound resulted in a permanent scar around the neck of the animal.

It was a collective approach of an expert veterinary team and advanced veterinary infrastructure present at Vantara that helped save the life of Deva. At present, Deva is around 9 years of age and doing well within the facility.

There are many such stories at Vantara. The brainchild of Anant Ambani, director on the boards of RIL and Reliance Foundation, Vantara is spread over 3,000 acres within the Green Belt of Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery Complex in Gujarat. It houses a Centre for elephants with state-of-the-art shelters, scientifically designed day-and-night enclosures, hydrotherapy pools, water bodies, and a large elephant jacuzzi for treating arthritis in the tuskers.

Jamnagar, which houses Vantara, will also host the three-day pre-wedding bash for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant from March 1 to 3 where the Who’s Who from the worlds of business, entertainment, and sports have been invited.