The Supreme Court of India granted a clean chit to Vantara, Reliance Foundation’s animal rescue and rehabilitation initiative, after an SIT’s “exhaustive investigation” found no breach of law and cautioned against tarnishing reportage about the Jamnagar facility. The court said it would not allow speculative allegations to undermine the rescue park and accepted the SIT’s conclusions in full, bringing the proceedings to a close.
Why the clean chit
The SIT, set up by the Supreme Court of India after two writ petitions alleged unlawful procurement and mistreatment of animals, was chaired by former Supreme Court judge Jasti Chelameswar and worked with agencies including the CBI and CITES while scrutinising records and affidavits.
Its findings were categorical, concluding there was no foul play by Vantara in acquisition, care, or finances.
Key findings
- No legal violations: The SIT reported no contravention of the Wildlife Protection Act, zoo rules, CZA guidelines, the Customs Act, FEMA, PMLA or CITES, and said all animal acquisitions and imports were lawful and properly documented.
- Welfare standards: The team found Vantara’s animal care, husbandry, and veterinary infrastructure exceeded prescribed benchmarks, with mortality rates aligning with global zoological averages; the facility has also received the Global Humane Certified Seal of Approval.
- Finances and trafficking: No financial irregularities were detected, and claims about misuse of carbon credits or water resources, money laundering, smuggling links, or illegal fund flows were deemed baseless.
Court’s observations
Endorsing the SIT’s assessment, the bench described the speculative petitions as an abuse of process and said it would not allow a “hue and cry” over something it termed a matter of national pride.
The court also directed Vantara to implement the measures suggested by the SIT as part of ongoing compliance and improvement.
What is Vantara
Vantara, conceived by Anant Ambani, spans about 3,000 acres within Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery Complex as a large-scale animal rescue and rehabilitation ecosystem.
It is home to more than 200 elephants and over 300 big cats, including tigers, lions, jaguars and leopards, as well as over 300 deer and antelopes, reflecting its scope as one of the world’s largest such initiatives.
With inputs from agencies.
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