The world\u2019s top wildlife watchdog has recommended that India temporarily halt the import of endangered species after discovering irregularities in the acquisition of thousands of animals for a massive conservation facility, which is owned by one of the country\u2019s richest families.<\/p>\n
A report<\/a> prepared by the secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) documented shortcomings in the oversight of animals imported to the Vantara refuge run by Anant Ambani, the son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani.<\/p>\n Branded as a world-class rescue and rehabilitation center, the sprawling Vantara complex is located at the site of a refinery owned by the Ambani family\u2019s Reliance Industries in the western state of Gujarat. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated<\/a> the facility in March, celebrating it for \u201cpromoting ecological sustainability and wildlife welfare.\u201d<\/p>\n Vantara is home to a staggering total of nearly 48,000 animals \u2014 roughly four times the number at the San Diego Zoo. Over 10,000 animals have been imported into the center, and more than 2,000 of those are endangered, according to CITES.\u00a0<\/p>\n The CITES report found that a number of wildlife imports since 2021 contained irregularities that \u201cshould have triggered additional due diligence from India.\u201d The report \u2014 which will be submitted at the CITES meeting in Uzbekistan this month \u2014 recommended measures to mitigate the risk of the Vantara complex becoming \u201ca driver of demand for illegally sourced animals.\u201d<\/p>\n The authors of the report advised that \u201cIndia not issue any further import permits\u201d on certain species of animals until it has \u201cprovided evidence to the satisfaction of the Secretariat that these recommendations have been implemented.”<\/p>\n Vantara did not respond to an emailed request for comment, but said later in a public statement that CITES had “lauded the exemplary operations and practices” at the facility.<\/p>\n “The investigation found that all animals were brought into India under valid CITES export or re-export permits, and that no animal was imported without a permit. Moreover, there was no indication of any import or sale of animals for commercial purposes,” Vantara said.<\/p>\n Investigative reporting by the regional magazine Himal Southasian last year raised questions<\/a> about how Vantara had managed to rapidly stock its menagerie, which includes endangered animals not found anywhere on the Indian subcontinent.<\/p>\n India\u2019s Supreme Court ordered a brief probe into allegations raised by Himal and other media, and last month ruled that \u201cthere had been no violation of law in the running of Vantara,\u201d the Times of India reported<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n