India’s Anant Ambani Receives Global Humane Award for Wildlife Conservation

Indian conservation leader Anant Ambani has become the first Asian recipient of a major animal-welfare award from the Global Humane Society in the United States.

Anant Ambani, an Indian conservation philanthropist known for developing one of the country’s largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation programmes, has received the Global Humanitarian Award for Animal Welfare from the Global Humane Society in the United States. He is the first Asian and the youngest person to receive this honour.

Ambani oversees Vantara, a large wildlife care and conservation facility located in the western Indian state of Gujarat. The centre focuses on rescuing injured or exploited animals, providing long-term medical treatment, improving habitats and supporting species-protection research. While relatively unfamiliar to Japanese readers, Vantara has drawn increasing attention from international conservation groups for applying scientific management and strict welfare standards across a large campus.

The award was presented in Washington, D.C., during a gathering of global wildlife and animal-welfare experts. The Global Humane Society — the international arm of the American Humane Society — said Vantara met some of the most rigorous certification requirements in the sector.

Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of the organisation, said Ambani’s leadership shows how conservation initiatives in Asia can operate at a global standard. “Vantara demonstrates that compassion and scientific care can coexist on a large scale,” she said.

In his address, Ambani noted that the recognition reflects India’s long cultural tradition of protecting animals. He said Vantara’s mission is not limited to rescue work but also includes long-term conservation and ensuring dignity for every rescued animal.

Previous recipients of the award include former U.S. presidents such as John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, as well as American entertainers involved in animal-welfare causes.

The ceremony was attended by researchers, conservation-group representatives and members of international bodies such as the IUCN. Indian conservation scientists also joined, underlining the growing international profile of South Asian environmental initiatives at a time when biodiversity protection is a major concern across Asia, including Japan.