Ambani's son has come forward to save the 80 hippopotamuses Escobar brought to Colombia

Indian billionaire Anant Ambani has come forward to prevent the euthanasia of 80 hippopotamuses, originally brought to Colombia by former drug trafficker Pablo Escobar, by taking them to India. This decision was announced after Colombia's Ministry of Environment recently authorized their culling to control this invasive animal species.

He plans to take these animals to his own 'Vantara' wildlife rescue center, located in the state of Gujarat, Western India, where primates, elephants, and other rescued animals reside.

Ambani stated in a press release that these animals did not choose where they were born or their current circumstances, and if there is a possibility to save them through a safe and humane solution, we have a responsibility to do so. In 2025, Colombian President Gustavo Petro had also commented on a plan to save these animals, and Mukesh Ambani, Anant's father and the 11th richest person in the world, had also previously expressed interest in these animals.

Anant Ambani, who has undertaken this massive environmental operation, is the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, chairman of 'Reliance Industries' and Asia's richest person. Inheriting a family fortune of $118 billion, he completed his education at Brown University and now serves as a non-executive director, playing a key role in the growth of the energy sector of the family business. This business empire, founded by Anant's grandfather Dhirubhai Ambani in the 1970s, now spans from energy to telecommunications, becoming a major driver of India's economic growth.

His private life and extravagant luxurious lifestyle have also been widely discussed internationally. Notably, his wedding to Radhika Merchant in 2024 is considered one of the most expensive wedding ceremonies in history, costing between $580 million and $600 million. For a private concert at this event, attended by many world-renowned figures such as Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Hillary Clinton, singer Rihanna was paid nearly $9 million alone.

The social and economic power of the Ambani family is also well reflected in their residence; their 27-story home named 'Antilia' in Mumbai is considered one of the most expensive houses in the world. Built at a cost of over a billion dollars, it employs more than 600 staff for its maintenance. Additionally, Anant Ambani possesses a collection of high-end luxury items, such as a lion-shaped brooch studded with diamonds and emeralds worth approximately $3 million, Patek Philippe wristwatches valued at millions of dollars, and Rolls-Royce cars worth over $600,000.