In a significant development for India’s expanding wildlife conservation landscape, Reliance Vantara, the ambitious eco-initiative supported by Reliance Industries and the Reliance Foundation, is set to collaborate with the Telangana government to establish a state-of-the-art wildlife conservatory and night safari. The announcement was made during the Telangana Global Rising Summit, held at Bharat Future City near Hyderabad, marking one of the most prominent partnerships unveiled at the event.
The project is being positioned not merely as another tourism venture but as a flagship conservation-driven model designed to integrate ecological protection, scientific wildlife care, large-scale habitat management, and responsible visitor engagement. Telangana’s Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, while unveiling the partnership, emphasised that the state intends to create tourism assets that stand firmly on the principles of conservation rather than commercial exploitation.
A New Conservation Vision for Telangana
Addressing delegates at the summit, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy underscored that Telangana aims to position itself as a national hub for sustainable tourism. He said the state envisions a future where ecological protection, biodiversity enrichment, and responsible recreational experiences function hand in hand.
According to the Chief Minister, the Reliance Vantara initiative fits seamlessly into Telangana’s long-term plan to design destinations that offer global-standard tourism opportunities without compromising the ecological integrity of the region.
He said the state is committed to fostering “ecologically sensitive, internationally attractive tourism infrastructure that creates local jobs while safeguarding biodiversity.”
Officials stated that the proposed conservatory and night safari will help Telangana strengthen its position on India’s eco-tourism map, offering visitors an immersive, scientifically curated experience while simultaneously strengthening wildlife protection frameworks.
What the New Reliance Vantara Project Will Include
A formal statement released by the Telangana government described the upcoming initiative as a “flagship conservation and experiential tourism project” that seeks to elevate India’s wildlife rehabilitation and animal-care standards.
The proposed facility is expected to include:
1. A Full-Scale Wildlife Conservatory
The conservatory will serve as a multi-purpose facility integrating:
Scientific wildlife care and rescue operations
Habitat restoration and ecological rehabilitation
Field-based and laboratory-based research
Awareness and educational programs for visitors, students, and scientists
Long-term conservation breeding initiatives for vulnerable species
2. Guided Night Safari Experience
The night safari component will provide a carefully designed, controlled, and educational evening wildlife experience. Unlike conventional safari-style attractions, the state says the safari will prioritise animal well-being and natural behaviour patterns, with the aim of giving visitors an authentic understanding of nocturnal ecology in a safe and respectful manner.
3. Immersive Public Exhibits
The conservatory will also include immersive exhibits based on international zoological standards. The objective is to allow the public to engage with conservation stories, learn about species survival challenges, and better understand the role of modern rehabilitation centres in protecting endangered wildlife.
4. Scientific and Technical Collaboration
The initiative is expected to bring together wildlife biologists, veterinarians, forest officials, conservation NGOs, and researchers. Advanced veterinary care, modern monitoring systems, and long-term ecological planning will form core elements of the project.
Growing Spotlight on Reliance Vantara’s Conservation Work
Reliance Vantara, headquartered in Jamnagar, Gujarat, has rapidly gained international attention for its large-scale wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation efforts. Spread across thousands of acres, the Jamnagar facility is widely regarded as one of the largest privately operated animal- care centres in the world.
The centre hosts a wide range of wildlife species-from elephants to big cats and exotic birds-and includes modern veterinary hospitals, rescue units, nutrition labs, and conservation research departments. Reliance states that Vantara’s mission is to create global-level practices for long-term wildlife care and rescue, particularly for animals that have been injured, trafficked, abandoned, or displaced.
A Facility Surrounded by Controversy
Despite its growing footprint, the Reliance Vantara centre in Jamnagar has faced questions and allegations from various wildlife activists regarding the sourcing of animals. Concerns primarily arose over the number of animals imported into India and the origins of certain species in the facility.
Activist groups argued that the transfers required more transparency and stronger international documentation. Many of these questions centred on whether import procedures were followed appropriately under India’s wildlife laws and global wildlife trade principles.
Supreme Court Clears Vantara of Wrongdoing
In September, the Supreme Court of India examined the allegations after petitions were filed regarding the legality of Vantara’s acquisitions of animals. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was appointed to thoroughly probe the matter.
After examining extensive documentation, import records, compliance processes, and field inspections, the SIT submitted a detailed report to the Supreme Court. The Court ultimately accepted the report and granted Reliance Vantara a clean chit, stating that no evidence of illegal activity or wrongdoing had been found.
The judgment was seen as a major relief for the initiative and paved the way for its expansion into other states, including Telangana.
CITES Flags Gaps in India’s Due Diligence
However, the global wildlife trade body, CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), later published a separate report that highlighted potential gaps in India’s due-diligence procedures.
According to the report, certain wildlife imports into India-across the country, not exclusively linked to Reliance Vantara-may have been processed with insufficient scrutiny. This theoretical oversight, the report suggested, could inadvertently lead to violations of CITES protocols, which regulate the international movement of endangered species.
The CITES report did not accuse Reliance Vantara directly of any wrongdoing but pointed to systemic issues in India’s paperwork and compliance checks. Experts believe the Telangana partnership may prompt a fresh wave of attention to India’s wildlife import and export processes, encouraging authorities to strengthen monitoring mechanisms.
Telangana’s Green Push and the Role of Reliance Vantara
Telangana has, over the past decade, increasingly invested in ecological preservation, urban forestry, and long-term environmental strategies. Initiatives such as:
Haritha Haram (mass plantation programme)
Urban forest parks
Lake rejuvenation drives
Tiger and wildlife corridor protection plans
have contributed to the state’s reputation as one of India’s most environmentally ambitious regions.
By bringing Reliance Vantara into the state’s conservation framework, Telangana aims to:
Expand scientific resources for wildlife protection
Create thousands of direct and indirect local jobs
Boost eco-tourism in surrounding regions
Offer global-level experiences for both residents and international travellers
Strengthen its biodiversity management systems
Officials also noted that the collaboration could serve as a blueprint for other states wishing to modernise their wildlife rescue and rehabilitation infrastructure.
How the Project May Impact Telangana’s Economy and Biodiversity
The conservatory and night safari are expected to transform selected regions of Telangana into major conservation-tourism hubs. Although the exact site of the facility has not yet been revealed, sources suggest it may be strategically positioned near existing forest zones to ensure ecological continuity.
Potential Economic Benefits Include:
Increased tourist inflow from across India and abroad
Job creation in conservation, hospitality, transportation, research, and maintenance
Boost for local artisans, food industries, and eco-tourism operators
Enhancement of Telangana’s profile as a sustainable development leader
Likely Environmental and Biodiversity Benefits:
Stronger rescue and rehabilitation pipelines for injured and trafficked wildlife
Greater awareness among local communities and students
Opportunities for scientific research and species-specific studies
Replication of successful conservation models in other districts
Improved habitat restoration programs using modern ecological techniques
A Sensitive Balance: Conservation vs. Commercial Tourism
While night safaris and wildlife conservatories can become major tourist attractions, conservationists caution that projects of this scale must prioritise animal welfare and ecosystem stability.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy directly addressed this concern, stating that Telangana will not allow conservation initiatives to be overshadowed by commercial interests. He reiterated that Reliance Vantara has agreed to state guidelines that emphasise scientific care, ethical display, and minimal disturbance to natural wildlife behaviour.
State officials added that the conservatory will not operate like a traditional zoo; instead, it aims to emulate international wildlife rehabilitation centres that focus on ecological integrity, scientific evaluation, and responsible public participation.
Reliance Vantara’s Rapid Expansion Across India
Following its recognitions and recent clean chit from the Supreme Court, Reliance Vantara has begun collaborating with multiple state governments and global conservation networks.
Its focus areas include:
Elephant rescue and rehabilitation
Big-cat care and management
Anti-poaching collaborations
Wildlife nutrition and medical research
Habitat renewal and climate-resilient ecosystems
The Telangana partnership is expected to be one of the biggest expansions of Vantara’s model outside Gujarat.
Public Reaction and Global Interest
The decision has attracted attention from both supporters and critics.
Supporters highlight:
The world-class veterinary expertise Vantara brings
Potential job creation and tourism growth
Opportunities for children and researchers
Telangana’s strong environmental commitments
The Supreme Court’s clearance of Vantara
Critics caution:
The need for transparent documentation of imported wildlife
Ensuring CITES compliance
Ensuring animal welfare remains the top priority in night safari operations
Avoiding commercial overreach
Nevertheless, Telangana officials expressed confidence that the project will meet all national and international guidelines.
Conclusion: A Transformative Step for India’s Wildlife Future
The collaboration between Reliance Vantara and the Telangana government marks a significant milestone in India’s conservation journey. By integrating science-backed animal care, ecological restoration, and responsible tourism, the project has the potential to become a model for future wildlife initiatives across the country.
As global attention turns to India’s conservation efforts-especially following the CITES observations and the Supreme Court’s ruling-Telangana’s move signals a proactive step toward improving wildlife governance, strengthening transparency, and building world-class infrastructure for the protection of endangered species.
If implemented as envisioned, the new wildlife conservatory and night safari could become one of India’s most influential nature-based institutions of the coming decade, reflecting both the state’s environmental aspirations and Reliance Vantara’s growing role in shaping the nation’s ecological future.