Ambani Zoo Vantara : South African Groups Demand Probe 2025
The Dark Side of Vantara: How India’s Largest Private Zoo Sparks Ethical Debates
A coalition of South African animal rights groups has called on their government to investigate the alleged exports of wild animals to a private Indian zoo Ambani Zoo Vantara owned by the influential Ambani family. The Wild Animal Protection Forum of South Africa, comprising 30 groups, has written to federal environment minister Dion George, expressing “legitimate concerns” over these wildlife exports to India, set against a backdrop of international conservation laws and ethical debates.
The Ambani Zoo in Question: Vantara
The Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, popularly known as Vantara, is a sprawling 3,000-acre facility in Gujarat, India, owned by Anant Ambani, son of Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Wildlife Day, March 3, 2025, Vantara claims to be a private “wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility” housing 150,000 rescued endangered and threatened animals from over 200 species. The zoo, located at the Reliance Jamnagar Refinery Complex, gained global attention with Modi’s photos with the animals going viral on social media, adding to its high profile. However, it has faced scrutiny from wildlife activists since before its unveiling, particularly during Anant Ambani’s extended wedding ceremony last summer, raising questions about its operations.
The Complaint and CITES Concerns
On March 6, 2025, the Wild Animal Protection Forum sent a letter to South African ministries and agencies, highlighting concerns raised by CITES, an international agreement aimed at ensuring that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. India has been a signatory to CITES since 1976. The coalition noted that CITES expressed worries about India’s “potential non-compliance” following a November 2023 meeting, after receiving information about live animal imports to Vantara, including critically endangered species. The forum stated, “We are of the opinion that a significant number of captive-bred specimens in facilities in South Africa could have been and are being traded for commercial purposes,” suggesting a breach of conservation ethics and legal frameworks.
The zoo received 56 cheetahs, 52 caracals, six jaguars, 19 leopards, 90 lions, 20 African wild dogs and many other animals from South Africa, according to the 2023-24 annual report by Vantara.
“The lions and tigers exported from South Africa appear to have been purchased and exported from breeding facilities in South Africa and therefore perhaps the current living conditions offered at Vantara have improved,” the letter said. “This does not justify the reality that they will now be transformed into breeding machines, exploited within the numerous animal breeding facilities located outside the main zoo.”
In a letter dated March 6, 2025, to South Africa’s Environment minister Dion George, WAPFSA raised serious concerns regarding the legality and ethical implications of these animal transfers, specifically highlighting the export of leopards, cheetahs, tigers, and lions.
Zoo’s Response and Legal Action
Vantara has strongly refuted the allegations, dismissing the complaint as “entirely false and baseless” and serving a legal notice to the South African coalition over the report. This response underscores the tension between the zoo’s claims of being a rescue and rehabilitation center and the coalition’s accusations of commercial exploitation, adding to the controversy surrounding its operations.
Broader Implications
This dispute highlights the complex interplay between private conservation efforts, international trade laws, and animal welfare. It raises questions about the transparency and legality of wildlife exports, especially involving endangered species, and the role of high-profile figures like the Ambani family in such initiatives. The investigation, if initiated, could set a precedent for how private zoos are regulated under CITES and national laws, potentially impacting global wildlife trade practices.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen whether South Africa will launch an investigation and what findings might emerge. The controversy underscores the ongoing debate over the ethics of private zoos and the balance between conservation and commercial interests. Readers are encouraged to stay informed, as this case could influence future policies on wildlife trade and protection.
