Investigators in India plan to visit Vantara, a private zoo owned by the Ambani family, following a Supreme Court order for an inquiry into allegations of unlawful animal acquisition and mistreatment. The inquiry will also assess potential violations of wildlife laws, as well as accusations of financial irregularities and money laundering.
The Supreme Court stated that while there was no corroborating evidence for the claims, an investigation was warranted due to allegations of negligence by relevant authorities. Vantara, which is managed by Anant Ambani, the son of Mukesh Ambani, the wealthiest individual in Asia, houses hundreds of elephants, tigers, and other animal species. The facility has declared its intent to fully cooperate with the investigation, emphasizing its commitment to transparency and compliance with the law in its work on animal rescue and rehabilitation.
Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March, Vantara is reputedly the world’s largest wildlife rehabilitation center, occupying 3,500 acres and housing approximately 2,000 species. However, it has faced criticism for being closed to the public and facing scrutiny from wildlife activists and conservationists.
The Supreme Court’s ruling came during the examination of public interest petitions, which it found to contain unsupported claims. Nevertheless, the court felt compelled to initiate an independent assessment due to concerns about the effectiveness of existing regulatory authorities. Vantara’s collection includes about 200 elephants, 300 big cats, and over 1,200 reptiles.
The facility has been the subject of protests following the relocation of an ailing elephant, Mahadevi, from a temple in Kolhapur. Maharashtra’s chief minister announced plans to file a review petition to return Mahadevi after public backlash. As the investigations continue, reports indicate that a Special Investigation Team of retired judges has met to establish roles for the inquiry, with a report due by September 12. The next hearing in court is set for September 15.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgqn5jjk55no?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss