Global Zoo Summit at Anant Ambani's Vantara: 30 Nations Unite in Jamnagar
Concluding four intensive days of international deliberations on transboundary wildlife conservation, captive animal welfare, and veterinary science, the prestigious EARAZA (Eurasian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Annual Conference 2026 concluded at Anant Ambani’s flagship wildlife rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary, Vantara, situated in Jamnagar, Gujarat. Centered around the theme "Strengthening Global Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation," the summit brought together leading conservationists, wildlife veterinarians, scientists, and policy strategists representing 98 institutions across 30 nations, alongside delegates from 29 premier Indian zoological establishments. The high-level conference served as a collaborative bridge to align modern veterinary medicine, emergency crisis management, advanced rescue technology, and public-community engagement frameworks into a cohesive, borderless blueprint for protecting endangered fauna.
High-Profile Conclave: Ricky Kej’s Performance, Central Zoo Authority Presence & Yearbook Launch
The international symposium was inaugurated on October 26 with a performance by multi-Grammy Award-winning conservation musician Ricky Kej, setting the stage for discussions on ecological preservation and animal welfare ethics. The summit saw active participation from key institutional leaders, including Vantara Chief Executive Officer Vivan Karani, EARAZA President Svetlana Akulova, renowned ecologist and Asian elephant expert Professor Raman Sukumar of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and Dr. V. Clement Ben, Member Secretary of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA). Highlighting institutional advancements in wildlife research, the dignitaries officially unveiled the Indian Zoo Yearbook, Volume 11, 2026, documenting modernized habitat enrichment protocols, conservation breeding breakthroughs, and clinical veterinary standards adopted across Indian zoological centers.
Digital Conservation Breakthrough: Vantara Unveils Free Global Access to ANTZ Data Platform
In a major institutional announcement aimed at dismantling information silos across global wildlife facilities, Vantara declared that its specialized ANTZ software platform will be provided entirely free of cost to all EARAZA member institutions for an initial period of one year. Engineered for open data exchange, the digital architecture enables zoological institutions, veterinary centers, and research teams to securely share animal medical histories, dietary formulations, genetic lineage records, and behavioral health diagnostics in real time. Emphasizing the transformative value of technological integration in captive breeding and rescue operations, EARAZA President Svetlana Akulova urged member bodies to embrace unified digital infrastructure, asserting that open, interoperable global data sharing is fundamental to safeguarding endangered biodiversity and managing ecological crises across the planet.
