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India has requested that a global wildlife trade organization refrain from restricting its imports of endangered species, emphasizing that it has strengthened its oversight in response to increasing reports of irregular animal shipments to a large private zoo operated by one of Asia’s wealthiest families.
Vantara, a 3,500-acre zoo in Gujarat managed by the charitable division of a conglomerate led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani and his family, has been accused of improperly importing certain animals. This has led to increased scrutiny from authorities in Germany and the European Union, according to Reuters.
Investigators appointed by India’s Supreme Court to examine these allegations cleared the sanctuary of any misconduct in September, and Vantara asserts that it complies fully with all relevant regulations.
Despite this, after visiting the facility in September, the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) released a report last week urging India to review its procedures. The report highlighted inconsistencies between export and import trade data and warned about insufficient checks on the origins of some animals.
In response to the report, India argued that imposing restrictions at this point would lack a legal basis and could disrupt the existing CITES framework, labeling the suggested measures as “premature and disproportionate.” The government stated that such actions could effectively suspend or halt lawful imports.
This official India submission—made before the upcoming CITES meeting this month—has been primarily reported by Reuters and signifies a developing dispute over Vantara’s animal imports.
CITES is an international treaty that governs the trade of endangered plants and animals, aiming to ensure their conservation. The organization acknowledged last week that Vantara maintains facilities of “exceptionally high standards,” but recommended ceasing new import permits for endangered species until additional safeguards are implemented. It cautioned that without stricter enforcement, wild-caught animals might be misrepresented as captive-bred.
India responded by asserting that it has enhanced inspection and reporting mechanisms for all recognized zoos and rescue centers, including Vantara, and instructed the Central Zoo Authority to undertake more thorough vetting of future acquisitions.
Neither CITES nor Vantara responded to Reuters’ inquiries regarding the Indian government’s submissions.
Vantara claims it is home to around 2,000 species, including imported exotic animals from South Africa, Venezuela, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, such as snakes, tortoises, tigers, cheetahs, giraffes, and chimpanzees. The shipments were declared to be valued at $9 million, reflecting transportation and insurance costs rather than payments for wildlife.
The recent CITES report noted that many animals originate from established commercial breeding facilities, which typically sell animals bred on-site. India defended its imports, asserting that they were carried out in compliance with existing regulations.
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