Anant Ambani Zoo: Vantara Faces Global Backlash Over Wildlife Sourcing and Transparency

Anant Ambani Zoo: officially known as Vantara, is under international scrutiny. This massive wildlife sanctuary, located in Jamnagar, Gujarat, is being hailed as India’s largest private conservation effort. But it has also sparked serious concerns over its animal sourcing practices, transparency, and the suitability of its location for endangered species.

How Did the Controversy Begin?

In early March 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Anant Ambani Zoo and shared a video on Instagram where he is seen lovingly interacting with lions, tigers, and other animals.

He captioned it:

“An effort like Vantara is truly commendable — a vibrant example of our centuries-old ethos of protecting those we share the planet with.”

However, just days later, the Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa (WAPFSA) — a coalition of 30 wildlife groups — wrote to their environment minister asking for an investigation into the export of wild animals to India’s Vantara sanctuary. They also questioned whether Gujarat's climate is suitable for the exotic species being housed there.

What Did International Media Report?

Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) published a detailed investigative article titled:
“The Billionaire and His 181 Lions”

According to the report:

Over 39,000 animals were imported to Anant Ambani Zoo from 32 countries.
This includes endangered species such as chimpanzees, orangutans, mountain gorillas, anteaters, and rare monkeys.
Many animals came from known wildlife trafficking hotspots like the UAE, Venezuela, and Congo.
The UAE-based Kangaroo Animals Shelter Center, which reportedly supplies only to Vantara, is cited as the largest exporter.

Vantara’s Response: “Baseless and Misleading”

Anant Ambani Zoo has firmly denied all allegations. In its official statement, the zoo clarified that:

All animals were acquired legally with CITES permits.
The animals were rescued from zoos, private collections, and other facilities where they were either abandoned, surrendered, or no longer cared for.
Vantara is not a commercial zoo and does not operate for profit.
The zoo also emphasized:

"Questioning the CITES permits undermines international legal frameworks and the sovereignty of the issuing nations."

Is Jamnagar the Right Location?

Several conservation experts have raised concerns:

Jamnagar’s climate may not be suitable for animals that originate from rainforests and colder climates.
A forest officer from Assam questioned why healthy elephants from the region were transported over 3,000 km to Gujarat.
Critics ask: Are all animals in Vantara truly “rescued,” or are some healthy animals being relocated for optics?

Media Suppression in India?

According to The News Minute, several Indian websites including Northeast Now and Down To Earth received emails requesting them to take down articles about the Vantara controversy.

Down To Earth was even served a defamation notice demanding ₹1,000 crore in damages from lawyers representing Anant Ambani.
Despite this, international media coverage like that from SZ and Himal Southasian remains online and uncensored — raising the question:

Does Ambani’s media influence stop at India’s borders?

Image Control Beyond Borders

The Indian government and corporates have shown a consistent interest in controlling narratives. From proposals to set up AI-powered media monitoring cells in Maharashtra to the Centre’s push for Press Information Bureau (PIB) fact-checking, efforts to manage negative media coverage are increasing.

A recent article by The Plank titled “Inside India’s Battle to Control the Democracy Narrative” explains how the government actively tries to improve global rankings on indices like Ease of Doing Business and Democracy Index, as they affect sovereign credit ratings and foreign investments.

Conservation or Controlled Narrative?

The story of Anant Ambani Zoo raises important questions:

Is this a genuine effort to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife?
Or is it part of a larger image-building campaign involving both the corporate and political elite?
Until clearer answers are made public, Vantara will remain a global topic of debate, highlighting the thin line between conservation and curation.