Vantara : A private zoo

10 NOVEMBER 2025

Vantara

Vantara is a massive wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation centre located in Jamnagar district, Gujarat, India.
It is an initiative of the Reliance Foundation (philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries) and led by Anant Ambani.
The facility spans approximately 3,000–3,500 acres and reportedly houses over 150,000 animals across 2,000+ species (according to their own claims).

Criticism:

Allegations of unethical sourcing of animals and links to the global wildlife trade.
- Concerns that housing large numbers of rare species in a former refinery / industrial region may not replicate their natural habitat.
- Questions about transparency, public access, and whether the project is partly a “vanity” initiative rather than purely conservation-driven.

SC’s SIT clears Vantara

A Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) reportedly cleared Vantara of wrongdoing (in animal acquisition) in September 2025.
- The SIT said that Vantara had the right permits; had followed norms in acquiring wild animals from abroad; it and had facilities for the upkeep of over 30,000 animals and that any criticism or aspersion of its activities on these grounds were wholly “unjustified”.
- The Court chose not to make the report public and only appended a summary in its order with the operative observations.

CITES Committee visit

The CITES committee (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) — the world’s most influential agreement regulating cross-border wildlife trade — visited the Vantara facility in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

1. Appreciation of Infrastructure

CITES praised Vantara’s world-class infrastructure, animal care, and veterinary expertise.
This shows the facility itself was not the problem — it met global standards for animal welfare.

2. Concerns Over Permit Accuracy

The report raised issues with documentation and permit codes used in importing animals.
Example: The Czech Republic stated it sold animals to Vantara’s procurement arm, while India claimed it was not a sale, only reimbursements for costs (like insurance or transport).
This distinction matters, because under Indian law, zoos cannot commercially buy animals — only exchange or receive them for conservation purposes.

3. India’s Wildlife Management Oversight

CITES’s concern was not with Vantara, but with India’s regulatory authorities — suggesting that the Management Authority under CITES in India should:
- Verify that import/export codes correctly represent the transaction.
- Engage more closely with exporting countries to confirm animal origins and legality.
- Strengthen traceability to ensure no wildlife trafficking or misreporting.

4. Recommendation to Pause Permits

CITES recommended India temporarily pause issuing new permits for importing endangered animals for zoos until the system is reviewed and made more transparent.
This is a compliance recommendation, not a sanction — but it reflects concern about procedural integrity.