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JAMNAGAR (GUJARAT), NOVEMBER 26, 2025
In a landmark affirmation of India’s wildlife governance, the Twentieth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, delivered a decisive endorsement of the country’s position on Sunday, declaring that there is no evidence or basis to pursue any action against India regarding wildlife imports. The Standing Committee, backed by an overwhelming majority of member nations, upheld India’s compliance record and, in doing so, reaffirmed Vantara’s status as a fully lawful, transparent, and globally benchmarked centre of wildlife conservation excellence.
The outcome is being hailed as a powerful validation of Vantara’s science-driven and welfare-centric model of animal care. It places the Jamnagar-based institution among the world’s most ethically governed wildlife facilities, explicitly recognising its adherence to international norms.
The endorsement follows a two-day inspection mission to Vantara in September 2025 by the CITES Secretariat, the UN-linked body responsible for monitoring global wildlife compliance. The expert team undertook an extensive review of the facility’s enclosures, veterinary systems, animal records, rescue operations, welfare protocols, and conservation infrastructure.
In its report submitted to the Standing Committee on 30 September 2025, the Secretariat described Vantara as a world-class, welfare-driven institution equipped with modern infrastructure, advanced veterinary care, and a robust rescue and rehabilitation framework. Importantly, it confirmed that Vantara does not engage in any form of commercial animal trade and that its operations remain firmly anchored in animal welfare and conservation. The report also commended Vantara’s transparency, cooperation, and alignment with CITES processes.
With Sunday’s discussions at the Standing Committee overwhelmingly supporting India’s position, the global wildlife community has effectively restored balance and dispelled misleading narratives circulating in certain public and advocacy spaces. The decision puts on record what official findings have consistently shown: Vantara stands firmly on the right side of compliance, conservation, and ethical care.
This broad multilateral support also serves as a strong endorsement of India’s CITES implementation framework and recognises Vantara’s consistent adherence to those standards since inception. For India, it marks a significant moment of international validation; for Vantara, it is a resounding reaffirmation of its values, systems, and contributions to global conservation efforts.
These global findings closely mirror the conclusions of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), which conducted an exhaustive review of every allegation levelled against Vantara across legal, financial, welfare, and CITES parameters. Following detailed document audits, consultations with national and international authorities, and physical inspections of the Jamnagar facility, the SIT concluded that all complaints and media claims were “unfounded, baseless, and devoid of any factual or legal foundation.”
The SIT confirmed that all animals at Vantara were lawfully acquired for non-commercial purposes with valid import permits, and found no evidence of wildlife smuggling, money laundering, or financial irregularities. It clarified that invoicing references were routine customs documentation for valuation. The inquiry further observed that Vantara not only complies with Central Zoo Authority regulations but exceeds them, holds Global Humane Certified™ status, and operates as a genuine, internationally benchmarked rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation centre — not a private collection.
Across both international and national assessments, one conclusion emerges unequivocally: Vantara has operated lawfully, transparently, and with the highest scientific and ethical standards at every stage of its work.
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