Lions, tigers and a billionaire’s private Noah’s Ark: Inside India’s controversial Vantara sanctuary
JAMNAGAR, Oct 31 — Behind guarded gates resembling an Indian maharajah’s palace are hundreds of elephants an...
In the heart of western India, nestled within sprawling grounds resembling an Indian maharajah's palace, lies Vantara: billed as the world's largest animal rescue centre. The sanctuary, the brainchild of 31-year-old Anant Ambani, a scion of Asia's wealthiest man Mukesh Ambani, spans over 3,500 acres across multiple sites. It is home to over 200 lions, 200 cheetahs, and 150 tigers among hundreds of other animals, including 260 elephants, giraffes, chimpanzees, and orangutans.
Critics, however, have long questioned the legality of Vantara's acquisitions. Over 150,000 animals from more than 2,000 species have been brought from at least 30 countries. Despite these figures, annual reports record far fewer. Critics label it a "private megazoo," citing concerns over the origins of animals like the Tapanuli orangutan and Spix's macaws that have arrived in India through questionable trade routes.
The sanctuary has pledged a reset, stating it will halt imports and shift towards helping wildlife in their natural habitats, but conservationists demand full public transparency over the origins of every animal.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
