Global football icon Lionel Messi marked a significant moment during his highly anticipated India visit by touring Vantara on Tuesday, the expansive wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
Founded by Anant Ambani, the younger son of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Vantara is a 3,500-acre facility (Vantara translates to ‘Star of the Forest’) dedicated to the rescue, treatment, care, and rehabilitation of injured, abused, and threatened animals from India and abroad. The facility is reportedly home to over 150,000 animals across more than 2,000 species, including elephants, rhinos, leopards, big cats, and reptiles. It is noted for its advanced medical facilities, such as the world’s largest multi-specialty animal hospital.
A Traditional Welcome
Messi arrived in Jamnagar, accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, following the conclusion of his three-day GOAT India Tour in Delhi on Monday.
The football delegation was received by Anant Ambani and his wife Radhika Merchant with a grand traditional welcome, featuring:
- Traditional Rituals and Folk Music
- Floral Greetings
- A ceremonial Aarti
Images shared by news agencies captured the football stars alongside the Ambani couple, participating in the rituals before commencing their exploration of the vast facility.
Inside the Conservation Ecosystem
During the guided tour, Messi and his teammates gained deep insight into the science-driven, compassionate work being carried out at Vantara:
- Specialized Care: Messi toured the conservation ecosystem, which shelters rescued big cats, elephants, reptiles, and fostered animals. He interacted closely with caregivers and veterinary professionals.
- Advanced Protocols: The group was briefed on Vantara’s specialized medical care, nutrition planning, and rehabilitation protocols used to prepare rescued animals for long-term care in a humane environment.
- Close Interaction: The officials showcased the animal welfare practices, which include state-of-the-art infrastructure like specialized hydrotherapy pools and hyperbaric oxygen chambers for elephants.
Messi’s Admiration for Vantara
Reflecting on his visit, Messi expressed profound admiration for Anant Ambani’s conservation initiative, aligning with his own humanitarian focus through the Leo Messi Foundation.
“What Vantara does is truly beautiful, the work for animals, the care they receive, the way they are rescued and looked after. It is genuinely impressive,” Messi was quoted as saying in a release.
He added that he and his teammates had a “wonderful time,” and the experience “stays with you,” promising, “We will surely visit again to continue inspiring and supporting this meaningful work.”
The Jamnagar visit followed a chaotic, but successful, conclusion to Messi’s GOAT India Tour, which spanned Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi.