The Business Bytes
Jamnagar, November 1, 2024 (TBB Bureau): Three African forest elephants—two females and one male, aged between 28 and 29—are preparing to embark on a journey from Tunisia to India, where they will find a new home at Vantara Wildlife Rescue Center in Jamnagar. Vantara, one of the world’s most respected wildlife rescue facilities, founded by Anant Mukesh Ambani, has been selected as the ideal sanctuary to provide the elephants with the care and enriched environment they need.
The elephants, named Achtaum, Kani, and Mina, were originally transferred from Burkina Faso to Friguia Park, a private zoo in Tunisia, over two decades ago. Financial constraints at the zoo recently limited its ability to meet the animals’ dietary, housing, and veterinary needs, prompting the decision to retire the elephants and find them a more suitable habitat. After a thorough search, Vantara was identified as the optimal choice to provide them with a compassionate and well-equipped sanctuary.
The transfer has received full regulatory and legal clearances, including compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The elephants will be transported via a chartered cargo aircraft to ensure their comfort and safety during the journey.
Vantara’s veterinary experts conducted a detailed health assessment of the elephants, uncovering multiple issues resulting from years of limited resources and inadequate living conditions. The assessment revealed that Achtaum has a split tusk and a molar infection requiring careful surgical and medical intervention. Kani shows signs of cracked nails, likely caused by prolonged exposure to hard flooring, and all three elephants suffer from untreated skin conditions, which have led to hair loss and matted skin.
Currently, the elephants are housed in a poorly ventilated concrete shelter with minimal access to natural light and enrichment, living in a paddock that lacks stimulation necessary for their mental and physical health. Their diet has largely consisted of dry hay, with limited access to clean water, further exacerbating their health challenges. The zoo in Tunisia acknowledged that the elephants, accustomed to human care and extended captivity, could not be reintroduced to the wild and needed a supportive sanctuary capable of meeting their specialized care needs.
At Vantara, the elephants will enjoy expansive, carefully designed enclosures that replicate the environment of their native Central and West African tropical forests. While African forest elephants are indigenous to dense, forested regions where they roam freely, there are no wild populations of this species in Tunisia. Vantara’s enriched enclosures feature native flora, mud pools, and custom food enrichments that encourage natural foraging behaviors and support their physical and psychological well-being.
The elephants will benefit from regular access to mud wallows, which play a crucial role in skin health, and a diverse diet closely mimicking their natural food sources. Vantara’s veterinary and animal care team will provide round-the-clock monitoring and tailored medical care to ensure that Achtaum, Kani, and Mina receive the attention needed to address their health concerns and adapt comfortably to their new environment.
The arrival of Achtaum, Kani, and Mina at Vantara highlights the center’s ongoing mission to rescue and rehabilitate animals facing adverse conditions. With a team dedicated to advancing animal welfare and conservation, Vantara offers rescued animals a chance to live out their days in an environment designed for comfort, dignity, and fulfillment.
“The decision to bring these elephants to Vantara is a testament to our commitment to providing animals with a sanctuary that emphasizes compassion and world-class care,” said a Vantara spokesperson. “Our team has worked meticulously to recreate an environment that closely mirrors their natural habitat, offering these elephants the dignity of a peaceful and enriched retirement.”
For the elephants, this transition to Vantara signifies the beginning of a new life where they will experience the benefits of a well-resourced and dedicated sanctuary—a place designed not merely to house them but to allow them to thrive in surroundings that respect and nurture their natural behaviors and well-being.
