ClimatePolitics

Do not ‘engage formally’: UK officials advised against billionaire-run zoo ahead of CITES meeting

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 03/11/2026, 06:09:24 UTC.

Briefings

UK government officials advised against formally engaging with Vantara, the zoo led by Indian billionaire Anant Ambani, ahead of a CITES meeting. This recommendation stems from internal DEFRA communications warning about the zoo's acquisition of rare species and its role in a committee chairing a CITES compliance review. The zoo claims to operate as a wildlife rescue center with over 150,000 animals, though it faced scrutiny in 2025 for alleged illegal species acquisition.

Key points

• UK officials explicitly advised against formal engagement with Vantara due to ongoing CITES compliance proceedings and scrutiny over rare species acquisition.
• The zoo operates as a wildlife rescue center with more than 150,000 animals, though it faced official scrutiny in 2025 for alleged illegal species acquisition.

Context

The recommendation arises from UK officials chairing a committee at CITES, the global treaty regulating trade in endangered wildlife. Internal DEFRA communications from July 2026 warn against ministerial interactions with Vantara, which is led by Indian billionaire Anant Ambani.

Limitations

Evidence is limited to internal government communications and a single article from Mongabay; specific names of junior officials are redacted, and the article does not confirm the zoo's operational status or provide dates for the 2025 scrutiny.

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