A special investigation team appointed by India's top court has declared that the acquisition of animals at Vantara—a private zoo run by the son of Asia's richest man, Mukesh Ambani—was compliant with all laws. The team, established last month to look into allegations of unlawful acquisition and mistreatment of animals, concluded there was 'no foul play' in the zoo's management, based on their findings released on Monday.
The Supreme Court previously stated that the allegations appeared unsupported but had mandated an inquiry after concerns were raised about insufficient investigations into the zoo's practices. Despite these findings, the Reliance Foundation, which operates Vantara, has not yet provided comments on the latest order.
Vantara is home to approximately 2,000 species, including a variety of large mammals such as elephants and tigers, and is situated over 3,500 acres in Jamnagar, Gujarat, near the world's largest oil refinery owned by the Ambani family. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2025, the zoo was also the location for extravagant pre-wedding celebrations last year for Anant Ambani.
However, Vantara has faced criticism from wildlife activists concerned about the appropriateness of its hot and dry climate for some animals and its private status, which means it remains closed to the general public. The facility has been the center of protests, particularly after an ailing elephant was relocated there following a court order, which led to further scrutiny of the zoo's practices.
On Tuesday, the court dismissed applications opposing the transfer of the ailing elephant, reaffirming that an independent inquiry had already cleared authorities of any misconduct regarding the animal’s relocation.
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