Investigators in India will visit a vast private zoo owned by the Ambani family, after the Supreme Court ordered an inquiry into allegations that animals were acquired unlawfully and mistreated.
The inquiry will also examine possible violations of wildlife laws at Vantara, as well as allegations of financial irregularities and money laundering.
The Supreme Court said there was no proof to support the allegations but ordered an inquiry because authorities had been accused of failing in their duties.
Vantara, run by Anant Ambani - son of Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani - is home to hundreds of elephants, tigers and other animals. It has promised full co-operation with the inquiry.
Vantara remains committed to transparency, compassion and full compliance with the law. Our mission and focus continues to be the rescue, rehabilitation and care of animals, it said, without directly commenting on the allegations.
Spread over 3,500 acres and home to some 2,000 species, Vantara bills itself as the world's largest wildlife rehabilitation centre. It was one of the venues for Anant Ambani's lavish pre-wedding events that made global headlines last year.
The animal collection is located in Jamnagar in the western state of Gujarat, not far from Mukesh Ambani's oil refinery - the largest in the world.
Activists have also claimed that Vantara's location in Gujarat state, with its hot and dry climate, as well as its location next to a giant oil refinery, was unsuitable for some of the species kept at the centre.
The Supreme Court has directed the four-member Special Investigation Team to submit its findings by 12 September, focusing on claims of illegal animal acquisition, particularly elephants, and allegations of financial misconduct. The next hearing is scheduled for 15 September.
