British officials recommended that government ministers avoid formal engagement with Vantara, a zoo founded by Indian billionaire Anant Ambani. This information comes from documents acquired by Mongabay and The Guardian through the Freedom of Information Act. Anant Ambani is the son of Mukesh Ambani, one of the wealthiest individuals in India and the head of Reliance Industries, a large company involved in petrochemicals and telecommunications.
Internal communications from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) show that civil servants advised against ministerial meetings with Vantara. They highlighted concerns due to the U.K.’s role in chairing a committee at CITES, the international agreement that governs trade in endangered species. An official from DEFRA noted in an email on July 14 that, given ongoing compliance issues and scrutiny, formal engagement with Vantara was not advisable at that time. The government often redacts the names of civil servants to protect the privacy of junior officials unless they hold public-facing roles.
Later in July, a different internal briefing document shared with Mongabay and The Guardian indicated additional worries among U.K. officials about Vantara’s attempts to acquire rare and endangered species. The zoo presents itself as a center for wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation, claiming to house over 150,000 animals. In 2025, it faced scrutiny following allegations of illegally obtaining endangered species.
What are your thoughts on the issues surrounding Vantara and its activities?
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Source: Mongabay Animals, by Andy Lehren