Anant Mukesh Ambani, Executive Director of Reliance Industries Limited and founder of Vantara, has urged the Colombian government to reconsider its decision to lethally remove 80 hippopotamuses from the Magdalena River basin, offering a humane alternative through relocation to India.
Ambani has written to Irene Vélez Torres, Colombia’s Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, requesting that the decision be paused while authorities evaluate a scientifically managed translocation of the animals to Jamnagar, Gujarat, according to a statement from Vantara.
The proposal includes full scientific, logistical and financial support, with all operations to be carried out under the supervision and approval of Colombian authorities.
Ambani, the youngest and first Asian recipient of the Global Humane Award, emphasised the ethical responsibility to protect the animals. “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 said.
Vantara has presented a detailed plan covering veterinary oversight, safe capture and transport, biosecurity measures, and the development of a naturalistic habitat in Gujarat designed to replicate key aspects of the animals’ current environment. The facility has also committed to providing lifelong care for all 80 hippopotamuses.
“Compassion and public safety are not opposing forces,” Ambani added. “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.”
The organisation has requested that the culling be deferred while its proposal is assessed and has expressed readiness to engage with Colombian authorities with detailed scientific and operational plans.
The appeal comes amid rising global attention on the issue. The Magdalena River basin is home to around 200 hippopotamuses, descended from a small group introduced in the 1980s. With no natural predators and favourable conditions, the population has grown rapidly, leading authorities to classify them as an invasive species due to ecological damage and risks to local communities.
Colombian authorities recently approved a lethal control measure targeting 80 animals, prompting renewed calls for humane, science-led alternatives.
Vantara, based in Jamnagar, Gujarat, is among the world’s largest wildlife rescue and conservation centres, offering specialised veterinary care and long-term rehabilitation for animals rescued from distress, exploitation and displacement, while working with governments and global conservation bodies.
