South African Animal Protection Group Raises Alarm Over Wildlife Exports to Vantara Facility

A South African animal welfare organization has called for urgent action regarding the large-scale export of wildlife to the newly established Vantara facility in India. The Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa (WAPFSA) is pressing for an independent scientific inquiry to ensure the well-being of the animals being sent to the Greens Zoological, Rescue, and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC), also known as Vantara.

The Vantara facility, which opened in February 2024 and was officially inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Wildlife Day (March 3, 2024), is owned by Anant Ambani, son of industrialist Mukesh Ambani. The facility spans 3,000 acres in Gujarat, a region known for its high temperatures, which experts believe may not be suitable for the species housed there.

Anant Ambani at Vantara

WAPFSA’s concerns were formally expressed in a letter sent on March 6, 2025, to various ministries and authorities, including South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE), the South African CITES Management Authority, and the CITES Secretariat. The letter raises questions over the export of numerous animals, including 56 cheetahs, and the potential impact of the climate on their welfare.

The GZRRC’s 2023/2024 annual report lists a variety of species that have been exported from South Africa to Vantara. These include 56 cheetahs, 19 leopards, 70 lions, 60 tigers, 52 caracals, and other animals such as aardvarks, jaguars, African wild dogs, and marmosets. WAPFSA expressed particular concern about the cheetahs, questioning the lack of non-detrimental findings for their export and the origin of these animals within South Africa.

Another issue raised by the organization is the potential exploitation of lions and tigers, which appear to be sourced from breeding facilities in South Africa. WAPFSA fears these animals could be used in breeding programs at Vantara, leading to a cycle of exploitation rather than true conservation.

In their statement, WAPFSA also emphasized a broader ethical concern about the captivity of wild animals. “Most wildlife experts agree that placing animals in any captive environment is itself a form of mistreatment,” the group stated. “No matter how advanced the zoo facilities may be, captivity cannot replicate the natural conditions in which these species thrive.”

The organization is urging for an immediate investigation to assess the situation and ensure the animals' welfare.