Lionel Messi Visits India’s Vantara with Anant Ambani, Exploring Wildlife Conservation and Cultural Traditions

Global football icon Lionel Messi made a special visit to Vantara, a wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation centre founded by Anant Ambani.

Key Highlights of Messi’s Visit
- Purpose: Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, visited Vantara in Jamnagar, India, to explore its wildlife conservation initiatives.
- Cultural Traditions:
- Welcomed with vibrant folk music, flower showers, and a ceremonial aarti.
- Participated in multiple Hindu rituals including Ambe Mata Puja, Ganesh Puja, Hanuman Puja, and Shiv Abhishek.
- Concluded with Nariyal Utsarg and Matka Phod, symbolizing goodwill and auspicious beginnings.

Wildlife Engagements
- Messi toured Vantara’s expansive ecosystem, home to rescued big cats, elephants, reptiles, and herbivores.
- Observed real‑time veterinary care at the multi‑speciality wildlife hospital.
- Fed okapis, rhinos, giraffes, and elephants.
- Played an impromptu football enrichment activity with Maniklal, a rescued elephant calf, creating one of the most memorable moments of the visit.

Humanitarian & Conservation Values
- Messi praised Vantara’s compassionate, science‑driven care for animals and expressed alignment with its mission.
- Anant and Radhika Ambani named a lion cub “Lionel” in his honour, symbolizing hope and continuity.
- Messi highlighted the importance of wildlife welfare and acknowledged India’s commitment to advancing conservation.

Messi’s Words
> “What Vantara does is truly beautiful, the work for animals, the care they receive, the way they are rescued and looked after. It is genuinely impressive. We had a wonderful time, felt completely at ease throughout, and it is an experience that stays with you. We will surely visit again to continue inspiring and supporting this meaningful work.”

This visit beautifully blended wildlife conservation, cultural traditions, and humanitarian values, reinforcing Messi’s global legacy of compassion.

Source: GlobeNewswire