Inauguration Of Taco Animal Welfare Facility In Goa
Goa, 9 May 2026: TACO (The Animal Care Organization), an initiative of the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the social impact arm of Vedanta Limited, today inaugurated its Animal Welfare facility in Sanquelim, Goa.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta Limited; Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Limited; and Founder, TACO, along with community members, animal feeders, veterinarians, animal welfare enthusiasts, and local residents committed to creating safer and healthier communities for animals in Goa.
The event marked a significant milestone in advancing humane and community-driven animal welfare systems in the state. Following the inauguration, dignitaries undertook a walkthrough of the facility and interacted with community members and animal welfare stakeholders.
Established in 2022, TACO is building a compassionate India where every animal lives with dignity and care by creating a world-class, sustainable, and scalable ecosystem for animal welfare. Guided by the One Health approach, TACO works at the intersection of animal welfare, public health, and environmental sustainability across six key pillars – Shelter, Hospital, Academy, Wildlife Conservation, Disaster Relief, and Sector Development.
The TACO Animal Welfare Facility, Goa, implemented by YODA, focuses on humane Animal Birth Control (ABC) surgeries, vaccination, consultation and treatment, rescue support, emergency on-site treatment, and community outreach initiatives.
The facility provides:
Free Animal Birth Control & vaccination, Free OPD services for community and pet animals, Emergency rescue and off-site treatment support, Ambulance services for animal transport and referrals, Kennel facilities for treatment and recovery, Community collaboration and awareness programmes
Addressing the gathering, Priya Agarwal Hebbar said: “At TACO, we believe compassion must be a part of how we build communities and shape progress. Through this centre, we hope to create a system where animals are treated with dignity and care, while also strengthening public health and community wellbeing. The inauguration of our Goa centre is an important step forward in this shared journey.”
The initiative aims to develop Sanquelim as a model for humane population management and community-led animal welfare that can be replicated across the country. Beyond population management, the programme emphasizes continuity of care and healthier lives for animals while contributing to safer and more harmonious communities.
Since its inception, TACO has positively impacted more than 1.2 million animal lives through rescue, treatment, vaccination, and sterilization initiatives across India. The organization has treated over 105,000 animals, vaccinated more than 84,000 animals, and carried out over 2,200 sterilization procedures.
In addition to integrated animal welfare by in Faridabad, Gurugram, Goa, and Varanasi, TACO is also strengthening wildlife conservation efforts through Mission VanRaksha across Kaziranga National Park, Jorhat Forest Division, Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, and Ranthambore National Park.
