In brief
The Supreme Court of India has cleared Vantara, a private zoo owned by the Ambani family, of any misconduct following an investigation. Accusations regarding unlawful acquisition of animals and mistreatment were deemed baseless. The zoo, home to over 2,000 species, continues to face criticism from wildlife activists, particularly concerning the climate conditions in Gujarat.
A special investigation team appointed by India's Supreme Court has found that the acquisition of animals at Vantara, a private zoo owned by Mukesh Ambani's son, complies with all laws. The probe, established last month, aimed to address allegations of unlawful animal acquisition and mistreatment. On Monday, the team reported that it found 'no foul play' in the zoo's operations.
Despite earlier remarks from the Supreme Court suggesting that many allegations appeared unsupported, they opened the inquiry due to concerns about proper investigation into the claims.
In response to the findings, Vantara has stated that the investigation confirms that previous doubts were unfounded.
Located in Jamnagar, Gujarat, Vantara is spread across 3,500 acres and houses around 2,000 species, including elephants and tigers. The zoo was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year and was the venue for extravagant pre-wedding events of Anant Ambani that attracted worldwide attention.
Closed to the public, Vantara is subject to scrutiny by wildlife conservationists who express concerns over the region's dry climate being unsuitable for some of the animals. Additionally, the facility faced protests after a distressed elephant was relocated there following a high court order.
On Tuesday, the court rejected a petition against the elephant's transfer, citing the independent inquiry's clearance of the authorities from any wrongdoing.
