Ambani’s Vantara Zoo exposed by German magazine, many questions raised
#News India Bureau March 15,2025
The Vantara Zoo in Gujarat, run by Anant Ambani, son of India’s leading industrialist Mukesh Ambani, is now at the centre of international controversy. Though the Vantara Zoo is promoted as a wildlife conservation and rehabilitation centre, an investigative report by German magazine Süddeutsche Zeitung has raised serious questions about the intent behind the project and its operations. The report claims that the sprawling 3,000-acre centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, which is home to over 39,000 animals, may be linked to the wildlife trade in the name of conservation.
According to Süddeutsche Zeitung, many of the animals at Vantara, such as lions, leopards, jaguars and exotic species, may have been captured from the wild. Some of these have reportedly been brought in through international animal traders, making the conservation claims questionable.
The Vantara Zoo in Gujarat, run by Anant Ambani, son of India’s leading industrialist Mukesh Ambani, is now at the centre of international controversy. Though the Vantara Zoo is promoted as a wildlife conservation and rehabilitation centre, an investigative report by German magazine Süddeutsche Zeitung has raised serious questions about the intent behind the project and its operations. The report claims that the sprawling 3,000-acre centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, which is home to over 39,000 animals, may be linked to the wildlife trade in the name of conservation.
According to Süddeutsche Zeitung, many of the animals at Vantara, such as lions, leopards, jaguars and exotic species, may have been captured from the wild. Some of these have reportedly been brought in through international animal traders, making the conservation claims questionable.
The report quoted the South African wildlife conservation organisation, Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa (WAPFSA), as saying that a large number of animals were exported from there to this private zoo in India, demanding an investigation into this.
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The magazine also wrote that Vantara has the support of the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated it on March 3, 2025. However, despite this government support, experts say that the facility could be dangerous for many species in the hot and dry climate of Gujarat. Because the animals of South Africa will not like the hot environment of Gujarat.
Ambani family’s response: Vantara officials rejected these allegations and said that the center is completely dedicated to conservation. All imports have been done legally under the rules of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). They claimed that all the issues raised earlier have been resolved and no investigation is pending.
The revelation has sparked a debate on social media. Some see it as an abuse of the power and influence of the Ambani family. Some see it as a positive move that is being unfairly maligned. Wildlife experts say that keeping animals in any closed facility, no matter how modern, cannot be equivalent to natural life.
Highlights from the German magazine
Vantara in India has been built as a luxury refuge for animals in distress. It is being funded by one of the world’s richest families. But have thousands of animals really been saved? An obscure zoo project that is at risk of global smuggling of wild animals.
This huge zoo is located near the city of Jamnagar in the state of Gujarat in the west of India. Spread over about 1200 hectares, the complex is the size of about 1500 football fields. This land was given to Ambani’s Reliance Refinery to plant trees. But now a zoo has been built here. It is home to around 200 elephants, 300 big cats including lions, tigers and leopards, as well as rhinos, crocodiles and countless birds and reptiles. In total, there are more than 43,000 animals from over 100 species.
Zoo operators claim that many of the animals have come from circuses or poorly managed zoos and have been rescued from abuse. Some animals are said to have been injured in the wild or confiscated from illegal trafficking.
वनतारा में जानवर ऐसी स्थितियों में रह रहे हैं जो अधिकांश पारंपरिक चिड़ियाघरों में अकल्पनीय हैं: यानी विशाल स्थान, विशेष देखभाल और 500 से अधिक पशु डॉक्टरों और रखवालों की टीम क्या सरकारी चिड़ियाघरों में संभव है।
The origin of many animals is still unclear, with no information available about where they came from.
The animals at Vantara live in conditions unimaginable in most conventional zoos: vast spaces, specialized care, and a team of more than 500 veterinarians and keepers, unlike what is possible in government zoos.
The illegal trade in wild animals is a global problem. According to the United Nations, between $7 and $23 billion is earned through illegal trade each year, making it the most profitable criminal industry after drug and arms trafficking.
Protected species such as lions, tigers, or rhinos are hunted in Africa or Asia. They are smuggled across borders, and often end up in private zoos, circuses, or the collections of wealthy individuals.
Last year, Mexican authorities confiscated several lions and tigers from a private zoo whose owner could not prove their legal origin. The animals were later transferred to Vantara.
The German magazine said that Vantara seems more of a matter of prestige than animal protection. A billionaire’s luxury hobby that exploits animals rather than protects them.
Accusations against Indian media
Major news outlets like Deccan Herald, Financial Express and Telegraph removed or edited reports that questioned the operations of Vantara. When Ambani started getting defamed on social media over Vantara, a lot of tweets were made on X. Some big celebrities endorsed it. Alt News investigated this. Watch the video of their report.
