Colombia had approved the killing of 80 hippos living in its rivers. Anant Ambani has written to the Colombian government asking them to stop, and has offered to move all 80 animals to his wildlife centre in India at his own cost.
The Background
Pablo Escobar, the Colombian drug kingpin, brought hippos to Colombia in the 1980s. After his death, the hippos from his private zoo made a new life in the lush river banks of Colombia's Magdalena River, where they have attacked fishermen, prompting moves to cull them.
Hippos are native to Africa, not South America. With no natural predators in Colombia, their numbers kept rising year after year. The Magdalena River basin is now home to an estimated 200 hippopotamuses. The population has grown significantly, leading Colombian authorities to classify the species as invasive on grounds of biodiversity loss, ecosystem damage and community safety.
Facing pressure to act, Colombian authorities recently approved the killing of 80 of these animals. That decision caught the attention of Anant Ambani.
What Ambani Is Proposing
Ambani, an executive director at Reliance Industries and founder of Vantara, wrote a letter to Colombia's environment minister Irene Velez Torres. He proposed moving all 80 hippos from the Magdalena River basin to his wildlife facility in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and offered to fund and execute the entire operation.
The proposal calls for Colombia to defer the cull while authorities review the relocation plan. Any transfer would require approvals from both Colombian and Indian governments, as well as relevant international bodies.
In his letter, Ambani wrote: "These eighty hippos did not choose where they were born, nor did they create the circumstances they now face. They are living, sentient beings, and if we have the ability to save them through a safe and humane solution, we have a responsibility to try."
He also said: "Compassion and public safety are not opposing forces. With sound science and careful planning, it may be possible to protect riverine communities, preserve ecosystems and save animal life. Vantara has the expertise, infrastructure and resolve to support this effort, entirely on Colombia's terms."
What Vantara Is Offering
Vantara is not making a vague promise. The facility has offered Colombian authorities a comprehensive proposal covering veterinary leadership, capture and transport expertise, biosecurity protocols, a purpose-designed naturalistic setting in Gujarat developed to mirror critical features of the hippos' current environment, and lifelong care for all 80 individuals.
Vantara is already home to hundreds of elephants, as well as 50 bears, 160 tigers, 200 lions, 250 leopards and 900 crocodiles, among other animals.
What Is Vantara?
For those who have not heard of it, Vantara, located in Jamnagar, Gujarat, is one of the world's largest and most advanced wildlife rescue, care and conservation centres. It provides specialist veterinary support, long term care, and species-specific facilities for elephants, big cats, primates, reptiles, and other mammals rescued from distress, exploitation or displacement.
Ambani's commitment to animal welfare also earned him the Global Humane Award, making him the youngest ever and first Asian recipient of the honour.
Are There Any Concerns?
Not everyone is fully convinced. The animal centre is located alongside the Reliance Jamnagar Refinery Complex. Summers there can get extremely hot, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius. Since hippos naturally live in tropical African climates near water, experts will want to know how the animals would cope with the dry heat of Gujarat.
There is also a broader debate around Vantara itself. Experts have repeatedly raised concerns about Vantara's massive animal intake, including the import of critically endangered and rare species.
What Happens Next?
The proposal is still in its early stages. Any implementation would be undertaken only after obtaining the necessary approvals from the Colombian and Indian governments, along with applicable clearances from relevant international authorities.
For now, Ambani has asked Colombia to pause the cull and give the relocation plan a serious look. The Colombian government has not yet responded publicly.
Eighty hippos are waiting. And so is the rest of the world.