India's Vantara zoo, which calls itself the world's largest animal rescue centre, announced a major reset on Thursday under former global wildlife watchdog chief John Scanlon.
The move follows sharp criticism of the Gujarat facility's rapid acquisition of animals and its procedures for importing protected species.
What changes has Vantara announced?
Vantara will shift away from importing animals and towards supporting conservation in their countries of origin. It has withdrawn all pending import applications and imposed a one-year moratorium on new imports until June 2027. A newly created governing council, chaired by Scanlon, will now hold authority over animal acquisition decisions.
Which zoo is owned by Anant Ambani?
Vantara is a 3,500-acre wildlife facility in Jamnagar, Gujarat, founded by Anant Ambani, son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the site in 2025, and it sits on baking hot land beside a giant oil refinery complex. It houses more than 260 Asian elephants alongside bears, tigers, lions, leopards and hundreds of crocodiles.
The facility includes what it describes as the world's largest dedicated elephant hospital. In April, it offered to take in hippos descended from those introduced to Colombia by drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, rather than have the animals killed.
Why did Vantara face criticism over its animal imports?
Experts repeatedly raised concerns over Vantara's vast animal intake, including its import of critically endangered and rare species. The CITES Secretariat recommended serious reforms in 2025 to ensure the facility does not inadvertently drive illegal harvesting of wild animals. Vantara has since submitted voluntary commitments to CITES, also filed with India's Supreme Court.
What is Vantara's new governance structure?
Scanlon headed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, from 2010 to 2018. He now chairs Vantara's governing council, which holds authority over decisions on future animal acquisitions. "Vantara has sought, obtained, and acted upon external advice as it takes bold steps to reset its operations," Scanlon said in a statement issued by Reliance Industries.
He added that the facility has decided to voluntarily strengthen its internal due diligence, governance, expertise and processes. Vantara will pivot from ex situ rescue towards providing in situ support to countries, including India.
What conservation projects has Vantara pledged to support?
Vantara pledged to support local conservation work in India, including state forest departments, rescue centres, breeding programmes and zoo modernisation. Globally, it said it would focus on strengthening rescue centres, veterinary hospitals and conservation programmes in the countries where animals originate, rather than relocating them. Proposed projects span Brazil, to support the critically endangered Spix's macaw, as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Indonesia and Zimbabwe.
"This represents a new chapter for Vantara," CEO Vivaan Karani said in a statement. He added that the organisation wants to be judged by how many animals are helped in their natural range, the species recovered in the wild, and the people and countries supported through its work.
Comments
See what people are discussing