CITES meeting backs India, confirms Vantara as a fully compliant and trusted global conservation centre

At a major UN-linked wildlife meeting in Samarkand on Sunday, member countries expressed strong support for India after reviewing concerns related to animal imports. Delegates at the Twentieth Conference of the Parties to CITES agreed that there was no evidence to justify any action against India, effectively reaffirming that Vantara operates legally, transparently, and in full compliance with global conservation standards. This clear endorsement enhances India’s position and recognises Vantara as a well-managed, science-based wildlife care centre.

According to the RIL press release, "On Sunday, at the Twentieth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the Standing Committee and an overwhelming majority of member nations delivered a decisive endorsement of India’s position, confirming that there exists no evidence or grounds to pursue any measures against the country with respect to animal imports. This outcome serves as a powerful validation of Vantara’s lawful, transparent, and science-driven model of wildlife care, reaffirming its compliance with global norms and its standing as one of the world’s most ethically governed and professionally run centres of wildlife conservation."

The CITES Secretariat, a UN-linked body responsible for reviewing global wildlife compliance, undertook a two-day mission to Vantara in September 2025. Their visit involved a detailed inspection of Vantara’s enclosures, veterinary systems, records, rescue operations, and welfare protocols.

In the report submitted to the Standing Committee on 30 September 2025, the Secretariat recognised Vantara as a world-class, welfare-driven institution with modern infrastructure, advanced veterinary care, and robust rescue and rehabilitation systems. It affirmed that Vantara’s work is centred on animal welfare and conservation, and that the facility does not engage in any form of commercial animal trade. The report also recorded Vantara’s openness, cooperation, and alignment with CITES processes, per the press release.

With Sunday’s discussions at the Standing Committee, where an overwhelming majority of Parties supported India’s position, the global community has effectively reaffirmed Vantara’s integrity and purpose. This outcome restores balance, dispels misplaced narratives circulated in parts of the public and advocacy space, and places on record what the facts have always shown: that Vantara stands on the right side of conservation, compliance, and care.

This broad support from Parties not only strongly endorses India’s CITES implementation framework but also recognises Vantara’s consistent adherence to those standards from the very beginning. It serves as a powerful affirmation of Vantara’s work, values, and contribution to global conservation efforts.

These international findings align seamlessly with the conclusions of the Special Investigation Team appointed by the Supreme Court of India to examine every allegation against Vantara across legal, financial, welfare, and CITES parameters. After extensive scrutiny, including document audits, consultations with national and international authorities, and on-site inspections of the Jamnagar facilities, the SIT determined that all complaints and media reports were “unfounded, baseless, and devoid of any factual or legal foundation.”

The inquiry confirmed that all animals were legally obtained for non-commercial purposes with valid import permits, that no wildlife smuggling, money laundering, or financial irregularities had taken place, and that invoicing references are standard customs documents used for valuation. It also noted that Vantara not only fully complies with Central Zoo Authority regulations but surpasses them, holds Global Humane Certified™ status, and functions not as a private collection but as a true, internationally recognised rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation centre.

Across both international and national reviews, one conclusion is clear: Vantara has operated legally, transparently, and with the highest scientific and ethical standards at every stage of its work. In a time when speculation can distort public perception, the record now stands firm. Vantara continues to show that world-class wildlife rescue and conservation, based on compliance, compassion, and scientific rigour, is not only possible but already being achieved at scale in India, press release.