New Delhi: The passing of the torch to Reliance Industries’ three children is on track, but the succession has a new hurdle as a controversy regarding the family’s wildlife project Vantara continues to grow.
The wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre promoted by Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Mukesh and Nita Ambani is located in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and named Vantara. It has gained international recognition for its animal collection and wildlife management. But it has also been subjected to queries from the conservationists and groups regarding the origin of some exotic animals introduced in India.
The matter is now more relevant as Anant is playing a bigger role in Reliance in future. Mukesh has shared his major responsibilities among his three children. Isha Ambani is managing the consumer and retail operations, Akash Ambani the tech and digital verticals, while Anant is overseeing the energy business and new verticals. The daily handover of power to the next generation has neared completion, Ambani has said.
The issue with Vantara, then, could bring the name of Anant, and also ripple the entire Reliance group. Reliance has some big global investors and partners, which puts its image and corporate governance on the line as it takes a step forward in the next phase.
Vantara has already encountered some legal and regulatory attacks. In the year 2025, the Supreme Court of India has found a proper compliance of the legal provisions under the wildlife law, customs, and money laundering laws. But conservationists have persisted with questions and worries about the transport of imperiled creatures.
Vantara recently informed the India CITES management office that it will be adopting a new protocol of three-stage screening of future acquisitions. It also said that it would not import great apes, big cats or other endangered species directly from their natural habitats. Rather than that, efforts will increasingly be made to protect animals in their natural habitats.
Escalating the criticism against the project may have been averted with this switch and also, the reputational risks associated with the rising presence of Anant at Reliance may have been reduced.
The bigger challenge is much larger for Mukesh Ambani, though. He hopes that Reliance stays together even after the leadership change and doesn’t succumb to the type of family dispute that led his business empire to be split between him and his brother Anil Ambani some years ago. The company has also been cultivating an experienced management reserve in order to train the next generation.
Ultimately, the effective implementation of Ambani’s succession plan hinges on the ability of Akash, Isha and Anant to unite and operate as a professionally managed global enterprise, while retaining the confidence of investors. The move to close down Vantara’s wildlife policies is a step towards minimizing distractions as the transition occurs.
