International Tiger Day: The Animal Care Organisation Bolsters Anti‑Poaching Efforts at Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve

Marking the occasion of International Tiger Day on July 29, 2025, The Animal Care Organization (TACO) inaugurates a set of critical conservation infrastructure developments at the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. Operating under the aegis of the Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF), the social impact arm of Vedanta Ltd., TACO reinforces its commitment to wildlife protection and ecological sustainability.

TACO has undertaken the construction of five double‑storey anti‑poaching camps at the Tiger Reserve. Each camp spans approximately 762 sq ft and is entirely solar‑powered to support sustainable, round‑the‑clock surveillance. These state-of- the-art camps significantly strengthen patrolling efforts and ensure a sustained presence of forest staff, acting as critical sentinels in the fight against poaching. Complementing this infrastructure, TACO has also deployed dedicated surveillance vehicles to forest department authorities, ensuring enhanced rapid response and mobility across the reserve’s challenging terrain.

Located in Bundi district, Ramgarh Vishdhari is Rajasthan’s newest tiger reserve and the 52nd in India. Spanning over 1,500 sq. km across core and buffer zones, the reserve plays a vital role as a corridor linking the Ranthambhore and Mukundra Tiger Reserves. It facilitates tiger movement, enabling genetic diversity, strengthening regional biodiversity and conserving a wide range of species including leopards, sloth bears, hyenas, jackals, chinkaras, and diverse avian populations.

TACO’s interventions are designed to improve protection infrastructure, support forest staff, and reduce threats such as poaching, illegal encroachment, and habitat disturbance. The support is aligned with Rajasthan’s broader conservation efforts, which include the formulation of an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around the reserve and active consideration of tiger translocation programs to strengthen the population base.

Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Anchor, TACO and Non-Executive Director, Vedanta Ltd, said, “At TACO, our vision of conservation is rooted in action and accountability. With the inauguration of anti-poaching camps and surveillance vehicles at Ramgarh Vishdhari, we are strengthening the protection network of one of Rajasthan’s most vital tiger corridors. These steps support 24x7 vigilance and create safer spaces for both wildlife and forest staff.  We’re proud to have partnered with the Government of Rajasthan to build infrastructure that helps protect wildlife and strengthens ecosystems for generations to come.”

Highlighting the significance of this partnership, Shikha Mehra, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Government of Rajasthan said, “Strengthening Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve’s protection mechanisms is key to ensuring a long-term survival of endangered species like the tiger. TACO brings critical infrastructure and technology into the reserve, aligned with our vision of proactive and sustainable wildlife management. We welcome such collaborations in future to safeguard our bio-ecosystem.”

Tiger conservation is critical to India’s ecological and biodiversity goals, as tigers are an umbrella species whose protection supports entire ecosystems. With over 70% of the world’s wild tiger population, India plays a central role in their global survival. Ramgarh Vishdhari is among the reserves covered under Project Tiger, the Government of India’s flagship conservation programme launched in 1973 to protect tigers and their habitats. The reserve became part of the Project Tiger network in 2022, joining over 50 protected areas under this initiative.

The inauguration ceremony on International Tiger Day will mark a significant milestone in collaborative conservation efforts between the state forest department and non-government partners. TACO’s intervention in Ramgarh Vishdhari follows its work across other tiger-bearing areas, including Ranthambhore and Kaziranga, under the broader umbrella of ecosystem restoration and animal welfare.

About Vedanta Limited

Vedanta Group is a global leader in critical minerals, energy transition metals, power, and technology, with operations spanning India, South Africa, Namibia, Liberia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. As the world’s largest integrated producer of zinc, the fourth-largest global producer of silver, and one of the top producers of aluminium globally, Vedanta plays a pivotal role in the global supply of essential materials for the energy transition. The company is also India’s only private oil and gas producer and one of the largest private power producers. A global ESG champion, Vedanta is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. Through its transformative social impact initiatives, the company has improved the lives of nearly 7 million people in underserved regions. For more information, please visit www.vedantalimited.com

About The Anil Agarwal Foundation

The Anil Agarwal Foundation is the umbrella entity for Vedanta’s community and social initiatives. The focus areas of the Foundation are Healthcare, Women and Child development, Animal Welfare Projects, and Sports Initiatives. Anil Agarwal Foundation aims to empower communities, transform lives, and facilitate nation building through sustainable and inclusive growth.

About The Animal Care Organization (TACO)

The Animal Care Organization (TACO) is a unique animal welfare project under the aegis of Anil Agarwal Foundation. It is aimed at providing world-class infrastructure, veterinary services, a training facility, and animal shelters to heal and protect animals. TACO’s six pillars of shelter, hospital, academy, wildlife conservation, disaster relief efforts and sectoral development, aim to develop international standards for animal welfare. Advanced animal healthcare, preventive veterinary care, a spay and neuter program, diagnostics, and mobile emergency care units are the main priorities of the multi-specialty veterinary hospital and Animal Birth Control Centre in Faridabad. TACO academy offers short-term courses for a variety of target groups, including veterinarians and para-vets, the animal shelter concentrates on rescue, rehabilitation, geriatric and palliative care, animal housing services, nutrition, and well-being. Its mission is to establish a sustainable and scalable ecosystem for the well-being of animals based on the principles of ‘One Health’. For more information, visit: https://www.vedantalimited.com/eng/social_impact_taco.php