Vantara cleared of all allegations by the Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India gave a decisive endorsement of Vantara, affirming that the wildlife conservation initiative has complied with every layer of Indian and international law.
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IN a landmark judgment delivered today, the Supreme Court of India gave a decisive endorsement of Vantara, affirming that the wildlife conservation initiative has complied with every layer of Indian and international law.
The Court’s order, dated 15 September 2025, relied on the findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that examined all aspects of Vantara’s operations.
In paragraph 5 of the judgment, the Court recorded that the SIT worked in close coordination with the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) of India, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, CITES Management Authority of India, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Customs Department, and state police agencies.
After an exhaustive investigation, the SIT found no violation of any statute.
The SIT’s conclusions, accepted in full by the Court, establish that Vantara has not breached the Wildlife (Protection) Act, Zoo Rules, CZA Guidelines, Customs Act, FEMA, PMLA, BNSS, or the CITES Convention. This confirms that all animal rescues were undertaken with valid permits and subjected to multijurisdictional scrutiny.
The Court also noted that Vantara’s animal care facilities not only meet but in many respects exceed prescribed welfare and veterinary benchmarks. Independent certification by the Global Humane Society, which awarded Vantara the “Global Humane Certified Seal of Approval,” further underscores its high standards of care.
Importantly, the SIT confirmed that multiple past inquiries and petitions against Vantara have also concluded with findings of no illegality. Conservation programs such as cheetah breeding, elephant rescue, and the reintroduction of the endangered Spix’s Macaw were highlighted as legitimate, science-based efforts.
The judgment made clear that speculative allegations against Vantara are unfounded and amount to an abuse of process.
Vantara, meaning “star of the forest,” is a groundbreaking wildlife sanctuary in Jamnagar, India, conceived by Anant Ambani, executive director at Reliance Industries. Spread over 3500 acres, it houses thousands of animals, including lions, tigers, leopards, elephants, birds, and reptiles, providing not just survival but dignity through world-class care.
Its facilities feature multispecialty veterinary hospitals with CT scans, MRIs, intensive care units, disease research labs, bio banking, surgical theatres, and nutrition kitchens led by experts like Dr Petra Wolf from Germany.
Beyond medical care, Vantara emphasises emotional recovery with enrichment centres, sensory trails, and naturalistic habitats that restore natural behaviours often lost in captivity.
The sanctuary also focuses on conservation breeding, rewilding programs, education, and international training, including participants from the Democratic Republic of Congo, fostering cross-border capacity building for veterinarians and wildlife professionals.
This model holds profound significance for Africa, where rich biodiversity faces threats like poaching, habitat loss, and neglect affecting species such as rhinos, pangolins, and cheetahs. Vantara inspires Africans to reclaim their deep connection to wildlife, which shapes our identity, by aligning compassion, science, and resources.
It addresses the paradox of abundance and loss in fragile ecosystems, offering lessons in creating sanctuaries of hope through international cooperation, such as under the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) involving South Africa.
Initiatives like rescuing African elephants from Tunisia and collaborating on cheetah reintroduction from Namibia and South Africa demonstrate how Vantara bridges continents, reminding us that healing animals and ecosystems can also heal our relationship with nature.
By upholding the SIT’s findings, the Supreme Court has cemented Vantara’s reputation as a lawful, transparent, and globally benchmarked conservation institution, operating under the strictest oversight of both national and international authorities.