NGOs call on Vantara to end all wild animal imports permanently

A coalition of 27 wildlife conservation and animal welfare groups has urged Vantara, a billionaire-owned zoo in India, to permanently cease all imports of wild animals. The zoo, which is funded by the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries, the world's largest corporation, has faced criticism for questionable acquisitions of its animals.

In an open letter dated September 22, 2026, the NGOs addressed to Mr. Amit Aggarwal, the president of regulatory affairs at Vantara, provided recommendations for improving their practices and outcomes. The letter was in response to Vantara's announcement on August 19, 2026, of "voluntary commitments" including a 12-month moratorium on all animal imports, effective from June 5, 2026.

Vantara stated that it has withdrawn all pending import applications and will not make any new ones. The zoo also submitted a letter to India's CITES Management Authority, which regulates international trade in endangered species. Following the one-year moratorium, Vantara planned to import animals only from "recognized and accredited zoological facilities," "CITES registered facilities," or for "conservation breeding programs undertaken in cooperation with a range State."

Additionally, the zoo announced an "independent" governing council headed by John Scanlon AO, the former CITES Secretary General, and a "mandatory three-stage review" process to oversee any future animal acquisitions. Vantara has already acquired Tapanuli orangutans, one of the rarest ape species in the world.