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The Vantara zoo houses around 2,000 species, including
exotic animals imported from South Africa, Venezuela and the
Democratic Republic of Congo, such as snakes, tortoises, tigers,
giraffes and spiny-tailed lizards
By Reuters
Updated – November 23, 2025 at 03:51 PM.
A UN wildlife trade body
decided on Sunday not to restrict India from importing
endangered animals, after many countries supported reversing an
earlier stringent recommendation that had embroiled the private
zoo run by Asia’s richest family.
Vantara, a 3,500-acre zoo in Gujarat run by the
philanthropic arm of the Reliance conglomerate led by Mukesh
Ambani and his family, had faced allegations from non-profit and
wildlife groups of improper imports of some animals, triggering
higher scrutiny by Germany and the EU.
After visiting the facility in September, the Secretariat of
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) issued a report this month asking
India to “not issue any further import permits” as discrepancies
had been found between exporter and importer trade data and
there were insufficient checks on the origin of some animals.
At the CITES meeting in Uzbekistan live streamed on Sunday,
the recommendation was reversed after many countries including
India, the United States, Japan and Brazil said the measure was
too premature, with some also saying there was no evidence of
illegal imports into India.
“There doesn’t seem to be enough support for retaining (the)
recommendation,” Naimah Aziz, Chair of the CITES Standing
Committee, told the delegates, adding it could consider if
further regulatory measures were needed.
CITES is a global treaty that regulates trade in endangered
plants and animals.
India had earlier opposed the UN recommendation.
Vantara, which previously said it remains committed to
transparency and legal compliance, did not immediately respond
to a request for comment.
Vantara zoo has animals from around the world
The Vantara zoo houses around 2,000 species, including
exotic animals imported from South Africa, Venezuela and the
Democratic Republic of Congo, such as snakes, tortoises, tigers,
giraffes and spiny-tailed lizards.
While India’s delegate affirmed the country’s commitment to
CITES compliance, Belgium and at least one conservation group,
the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance, on Sunday pushed to suspend
exports to India until concerns were addressed.
In September, an Indian Supreme Court-appointed
investigation cleared Vantara of wrongdoing, while the facility
said it complies with all laws.
European Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall said in
August that EU states “will pay particular attention to any
export requests directed towards India and the facility in
question”.
Published on November 23, 2025