Animal Rights Groups Demand Probe into Controversial Vantara Zoo

Animal rights activists protest against alleged illegal wildlife trade at Vantara Zoo, raising concerns over ethical conservation practices.

A coalition of South African animal rights groups has urged their government to launch an investigation into alleged exports of wild animals to Vantara, a private zoo in India owned by the influential Ambani family. The Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa, which represents 30 animal welfare organizations, has written to South African environment minister Dion George, calling for an inquiry into what they describe as "legitimate concerns" over wildlife exports to India.

Vantara, officially known as the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, spans 3,000 acres in Gujarat and is managed by Anant Ambani, the son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani. Despite its claim to function as a "wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility," the zoo has faced mounting scrutiny over its alleged involvement in large-scale animal imports.

The controversy surrounding Vantara escalated after prime minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the facility on World Wildlife Day, 3 March, drawing widespread attention. The zoo, located within the Reliance Jamnagar Refinery Complex, boasts a vast collection of endangered and threatened species, claiming to house 150,000 animals from over 200 species. However, conservationists and animal welfare activists argue that the true nature of its operations remains dubious.

Concerns Over Animal Transfers

The South African coalition raised concerns about the role of Vantara in global wildlife trade, citing a November 2023 meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), where India’s "potential non-compliance" was discussed. According to CITES reports, large numbers of wild animals have been exported to Vantara, including critically endangered species.

A report detailing these concerns alleges that 56 cheetahs, 52 caracals, six jaguars, 19 leopards, 90 lions, 20 African wild dogs, and numerous other animals were sent from South Africa to Vantara in 2023-24. Activists fear these animals may have been sourced from unethical breeding programs, raising further ethical and legal questions.

"The lions and tigers exported from South Africa appear to have come from commercial breeding facilities," the coalition’s letter states. "While their living conditions at Vantara may have improved, this does not justify the likelihood that they will now be used for breeding and commercial purposes."

Vantara Denies Allegations

Vantara has strongly refuted the allegations, dismissing them as "entirely false and baseless." In response to the South African coalition's claims, the zoo issued a legal notice and maintained that all animal transfers were conducted in full compliance with international regulations. The facility also insisted that compliance concerns raised at the CITES standing committee's 77th meeting (SC77) in February 2025 had been fully addressed and resolved.

"The compliance concerns initially raised at SC77 were thoroughly addressed, and there are no ongoing investigations or pending compliance actions against Vantara," the zoo stated.

Despite these assurances, the Wildlife Animal Protection Forum remains skeptical, demanding verifiable, independent proof that the animals exported to Vantara were genuinely rescued rather than acquired for breeding and display.

As the controversy unfolds, global conservation groups continue to monitor the situation, with growing calls for greater transparency in the international wildlife trade. Whether Vantara’s operations align with ethical conservation principles remains a matter of intense debate, fueling broader concerns about the role of private entities in wildlife management.